Important amulet for fertility, wealth and protection from the evil eye, and to guard against damagers, written in Assyrian script on parchment. The amulet is made of the verses comprising birkat hakohanim and from the 22-letter Tetragrammaton that results from the priestly blessing and is designated for protection and guarding. The amulet is designed for hanging or wearing. Italy, 18/19th century.
Using the verses from birkat kohanim as an amulet is an ancient practice. The Midrash Rabbah (Naso, passage 12) already relates to the priestly blessing as an amulet, as follows: “When the mishkan came to dwell within them, what was done? First the priestly blessing was written as an amulet, so that no evil eye would rule in it.” The earliest amulet ever found in archaeological digs was a silver amulet with the priestly blessing engraved on it, found in 1979 in the Hinnom shoulder southwest of the Old City. It is dated to the period of the First Temple, the 7th century CE. The Peninei HaParashah pamphlet (2007, issue 398) tells a story about the Kabbalist Rabbi Kalfon HaKohen of Djerba, “Rabbeinu’s granddaughter suffered tremendously during childbirth … and in addition, she lost several pregnancies … In her distress, she appealed to her great grandfather, telling him her woes. She requested that he do her a favor and write her an amulet that would end her suffering … after the granddaughter came and cried several times … mercy overwhelmed him … He took a simple piece of paper and a pen, dipped it in an inkwell, and wrote out birkat kohanim … without sacred Names, nor pictures or angels’ oaths. From the moment his granddaughter placed the amulet upon her, she no longer miscarried and she gave birth with ease. Word quickly spread across Djerba about the wondrous amulet.”
Following the words of the priestly blessing on this amulet is the 22-letter sacred name beginning with “אנקת”ם which comes from the verses with birkat kohanim and it is capable of protection and defense. This sacred Name comes from switching the letters from the first half of birkat kohanim . This Name is generally used [in thought only] once a year, in the most lofty moments of the year, while the shofar is being blown on Rosh HaShanah.
Kabbalist interpret this Name with the four Names mentioned, and each has its own segulah. The first, “אנקת”ם” is for prayer to be heard, and it is like the two words אנק תם, which is interpreted אנקת תמים. The second, “פסת”ם” gives a bit of food [פסת בר] to those in need. The third, “פספסי”ם” is for the words “ועשה לו כתונת פסים” which is giving clothes to wear. The fourth: “דיונסי”ם” is for miracles and wonders and was used by Ya’akov Avinu when he said: “Grant me bread to eat and clothes to wear” and when he said “If Hashem will be with me and protect me” which is the Name known among Kabbalists as the 22-letter Name, and Rabbi Nechunia Ben HaKaneh related it to Tiferet .
[1] sheet of parchment 7×9 cm.
Fine condition. Aging stains. Four perforations in the four corners of the amulet, for hanging.
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This is an especially important amulet, with the most important blessings in the Torah – birkat hakohanim, about which it says in the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 11:5):
May Hashem bless you with wealth and protect you from bandits
May Hashem bless you with money
May Hashem bless you with children
May Hashem bless you with wealth and protect you that you use it for mitzvahs
May Hashem bless you with the explicit blessing in the Torah (Devarim 7:14): May you be most blessed of all the nations …
May Hashem bless you in your property and protect you in our body
May Hashem bless you and protect you – with the blessing for protection
And protect you from the evil inclination, and protect you that others do not rule over you
And protect you from the damagers that surround you, as it says (Tehillim 91, 7 11): May a thousand fall aside … because His angels command for you …
And protect you, protect the covenant of your forefathers, as it says (Devarim 7:12) “Hashem protected the covenant for you and the lovingkindness He swore to your forefathers
And protect you, guard The End for you, as it says (Yeshayah 21:11): A prophesy for Duma: He calls out to me from Se’ir …
And protect you, protect your soul at the time of death, as it says (I Shmuel 25:29): May my lord’s soul be bound in the bundle …
And protect you, protect your legs from Gehinnom, as it says, (I Shmuel 2:9): The legs of his followers guard … (The Midrash ends with this.)
