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Jewish Amulets · c. 600 BCE – today

Silver kame’ot & Shaddai plaques

Meaning

A kame'a is a Jewish amulet made of divine names (Shaddai, 'Almighty', written on the mezuzah and on countless amulets), angel names, verses, the menorah, the Tablets of the Law, the Priestly Blessing and the hamsa.

Intent

It protected against the evil eye (ayin hara), demons, illness and misfortune, and brought blessing and success. Many were made for a named person, and silver ones were hung on children and in homes.

Significance

Jewish amulets show the practical side of Kabbalah and the variety of Jewish communities, from Italian baroque silver to Persian and Yemeni styles. Rabbis debated them for centuries, and some famous rabbis were renowned amulet writers.

History

The tradition runs from Ketef Hinnom (c. 600 BCE) through Talmudic times. Most surviving silver kame'ot date from the 18th to early 20th centuries, from Italy, North Africa, Persia, Kurdistan, Yemen and Eastern Europe.

Making yours
4–10 cm silver sheet, repoussé or engraved, often with a crown above and stones or bells below.
Jewish Amulets: the tradition

Jewish amulets go back to the silver scrolls of Ketef Hinnom (c. 600 BCE), inscribed with the Priestly Blessing. The Talmud discusses 'proven' amulets (kame'a mumheh) and permits them on the Sabbath. Medieval Kabbalah developed a rich practical magic of divine names, angel names and letter permutations, recorded in books like Sefer Raziel. Amulets for mothers and newborns, against the demoness Lilith, were universal from Morocco to Iran to Eastern Europe. Italian, Persian, Yemeni, Kurdish and Moroccan Jewish silversmiths each developed distinctive styles, many now in the Israel Museum and Jewish museums worldwide.

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Jewish amulet, silverJewish amulet, silverNorthern Italy · 17th century?Silver gilt hand-shaped amulet with Hebrew inscription, Izmir (Turkey), 1850-1870Silver gilt hand-shaped amulet with Hebrew inscription, Izmir (Turkey), 1850-1870Izmir · 1850-1870Astronomical amulet, with Hebrew inscriptionsAstronomical amulet, with Hebrew inscriptionsUnited Kingdom · 16A Jewish girl standing in the yard with an amulet over her shoulderA Jewish girl standing in the yard with an amulet over her shoulderTripolis, LibyeAmulet in the shape of a choshen (breast plate of the Jewish high priest)Amulet in the shape of a choshen (breast plate of the Jewish high priest)Czech RepublicCabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.United KingdomHamsaHamsaChabad Sukkat Shalom Synagogue in Ramat Gan, May 2024Chabad Sukkat Shalom Synagogue in Ramat Gan, May 2024IsraelSacred Talisman with divine names to cure diseases, 16th c.Sacred Talisman with divine names to cure diseases, 16th c.art02024 Silver miniature bottle for perfume, filigree02024 Silver miniature bottle for perfume, filigreePolandManuscript amulet, single leaf, squareManuscript amulet, single leaf, squareBelt buckles and amulet holder from the Friedmann CollectionBelt buckles and amulet holder from the Friedmann CollectionJewish girl in wide pants with amulet over her shoulderJewish girl in wide pants with amulet over her shoulderTripolis, LibyeManuscript amulet, single leaf, squareManuscript amulet, single leaf, squareUnited KingdomBrockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369Hebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueCabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.United KingdomInscription of Abraham son of Sarah from Mtskheta, Georgia. 4th-6th cc CEInscription of Abraham son of Sarah from Mtskheta, Georgia. 4th-6th cc CEfrom 4 th century date QS:P,+350-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 until 6 th century date QS:P,+550-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Hebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueSymbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. Engraving.Symbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. Engraving.United KingdomHungarian Jewish Museum, AmuletHungarian Jewish Museum, Amulet18 th century date QS:P,+1750-00-00T00:00:00Z/7Hebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueMenorah TokenMenorah Token4 th century date QS:P571,+350-00-00T00:00:00Z/7 (Late Antique)Cabbalistic amulet for the protection of Bela, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the protection of Bela, 18th c.Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 359-0Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 359-0Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-2Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-2Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-8Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-8Symbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. Engraving.Symbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religions illustrating superstition. Engraving.Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-4Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-4Vol. II. Les Clavicules de R. SalomonVol. II. Les Clavicules de R. SalomonBrockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 371-0Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 371-0Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.ChaiChaiHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueJewish AmuletsJewish AmuletsMusee Juif de Belgique- L'autre c'est moi 3Musee Juif de Belgique- L'autre c'est moi 3Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-4Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-4Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-6Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-6Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for the cure from jaundice, 18th c.Collection of khamsaCollection of khamsaHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueHebrew Manuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueJudaicaJudaicaManuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueManuscript amulet for the protection...from the plagueSymbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religionsSymbols and talismans from Hindu, pagan and Jewish religionsTableau-amulette protégeant les femmes en couches-Musée alsacien de StrasbourgTableau-amulette protégeant les femmes en couches-Musée alsacien de Strasbourgקמיע מר׳ משה חדאד בורתא זצ״לקמיע מר׳ משה חדאד בורתא זצ״לPapercut amulet for mother and childPapercut amulet for mother and childBrockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 366-0Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 366-0Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-6Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 367-6Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-2Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-2Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-8Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia e2 369-8Cabbalistic amulet for safe pregnancy, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet for safe pregnancy, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet the safe pregnancy, 18th c.Cabbalistic amulet the safe pregnancy, 18th c.Hebrew - Jewish - Kabbalah charmsHebrew - Jewish - Kabbalah charmsKabbalah Protection and Good Luck PendantKabbalah Protection and Good Luck PendantMedieval amulet to protect mother and child.Medieval amulet to protect mother and child.Shiviti in Chesed-El Synagogue, SingaporeShiviti in Chesed-El Synagogue, SingaporeSilver amulet with pendantsSilver amulet with pendants

More from Jewish Amulets: Childbirth & protective papers · Judeo-Moroccan hamsas & amulets · Other & unsorted Jewish Amulets
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