Obj. ID: 37484  Amulet, Poland, circa 1875

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The knife or sword is an often used image against Lilith, appearing on amulets from both Morocco and Kurdistan. The use of an actual knife or sword is rare, but found in Morocco and  Alsace. In Morocco, just prior to the birth or the arrival of the new-born to the home, a Rabbi would go through all the rooms and wave a sword above his head to frighten away Lilith. This example is from Poland, an amulet knife with two holes from which to hang it near the new-born child's bed for protection from Lilith and the evil eye. The inscription records both the quotation from the Bible against witches and the name of the community, Rawa, in which it was used, probably as communal property.