Obj. ID: 35796 Amulet, Ukraine, circa 1800
sub-set tree:
The following description was prepared by William Gross: From earliest times, man has tried to protect himself from misfortune by the use of objects which he considered holy or otherwise (e.g., magically) potent. Amulets and talismans are items generally worn around the neck or wrist, carried in a pocket or purse or hung on a wall. They are meant to protect or aid those who carried or wore them. The Hebrew word for amulet, kame‘a, has the root meaning "to bind". Jewish amulets are usually comprised of texts (either letters or graphic symbols) that are inscribed on some sort of material; some may also contain plant matter or precious stones. The texts of amulets usually include holy names that are believed to have the ability to affect reality, along with incantations summoning angels or other magical powers. For the most part, an amulet has a specific purpose: to ease childbirth, facilitate recovery from illness, improve one’s livelihood, and so on, but in the modern world many are also made for general protection.
This is a special amulet used in the area of Galicia. It was made to be placed on the neck of a first-born son who, for whatever reason, cannot be redeemed in the Pidyon ha-ben ceremony. Until the ceremony is carried out, he wears this protective amulet. Agnon deals with this custom and describes a similar amulet in one of his stories. Such amulets are very rare, as the situation was also an unusual one. This example is inscribed with a part of the formula that is used on German Torah binders (Wimpels) as well. In the center is a large letter "heh" enclosing the letter "aleph". Such "heh" amulets are found mainly in Germany and locations to which German Jews immigrated. Inscription: May he be raised to the marriage canopy and to good deeds, Heh Sleph Yegadlo la-Chupah u-Ma'asim Tovim