Obj. ID: 53932
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Shemirah le-Yeled ule-Yoledet, Tunis, circa 1940

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

In Tunisia many Jewish amulets were printed in red ink, the color itself providing amuletic protective value. This example is in the style of those pages and so is probably from Tunisia, although there is neither a printer nor a place mentioned.  both the symbols illustrated and the texts printed provide the protection of a birth amulet. The fish are for fertility and plenty while the hamsah brings general protection against the evil eye. The texts include the prayer "shir le-malt", so often seen on such amulets, as well as specific formulas against the evil intentions of Lilith. An unusual feature is a text against the evil eye by the "chidah", chaim david Azulay, a famous Sephardic rabbi of the 18th century. Seemingly sure of the efficacy, the publishers of the amulet have also included the blessings for the circumcision of a young male child on the eighth day after birth.