The text and translation of an amulet bowl discussed in “‘Gabriel is on their Right’: Angelic Protection in Jewish Magic and Babylonian Lore” by Dan Levene, Dalia Marx, and Siam Bharyo in Studia Mesopotamica (Band 1: 2014) pp.185-198. The apotropaic ward found in the amulet bowl, SD 12, contains an “angels on all sides” formula similar to that appearing in the Jewish liturgy of the bedtime shema.

Categories:

Bedtime Shema, Incantations, Adjurations, & Amulets, Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

amulet bowls, קמעות qame'ot (amulets), Angelic Protection, Angels, apotropaic prayers of protection, mid-first millennium CE, prophylactic, שכינה Shekhinah

Contributor(s):

Dan Levene, Dalia Marx and Aharon N. Varady (translation)

קמע לשמירה מפני לילית | Apotropaic ward for the protection of pregnant women and infants against Lilith & her minions (CUL MS General 194, Montgomery 1913 Amulet No. 42)

An apotropaic ward for the protection of women in their pregnancy and of infant children against an attack from Lilith and her minions, containing the story witnessing her oath to the prophet, Eliyahu along with one variation of her many names.

Categories:

Incantations, Adjurations, & Amulets, Conception, Pregnancy, and Childbirth, Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

Angelic Protection, Angels of Healing, apotropaic prayers of protection, אליהו הנביא Eliyahu haNavi, entering magical territory, epical narrative as ward, historiola, infants, קמעות ḳame'ot, prayers concerning children, prayers for pregnant women, prophylactic

Contributor(s):

James Alan Montgomery (translation), Richard Gottheil (transcription), Unknown and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

קמע לשמירת המגפה | Amulet for Protection from the Plague, attributed to Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum (ca. 19th c.)

A popular prophylactic amulet in the event of an epidemic.

Categories:

Incantations, Adjurations, & Amulets, Epidemics & Pandemics, Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., קמעות qame'ot (amulets), apotropaic prayers of protection, Epidemic, in the merit of Amtalai bat Karnavu, קמעות ḳame'ot, prophylactic

Contributor(s):

Moshe Teitelbaum and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

בִּרְכָּת הָבָּיִת | Birkat haBayit (Blessing for the Home)

The Birkat Habayit is perhaps the most popular blessing in the Jewish world, appearing as a hanging amulet inside the entrance of many houses of Jews of all streams. I have added niqud to the blessing and I am very grateful to Gabriel Wasserman for his corrections to my vocalization.

Categories:

Incantations, Adjurations, & Amulets, Homes & Community Centers, Theurgy

Tags:

19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., קמעות qame'ot (amulets), Asiatic Cholera, ברכת הבית birkat habayit, dedications and consecrations, Epidemic, קמעות ḳame'ot, Needing Attribution, Pandemic

Contributor(s):

Unknown and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

תפלה למשה | Prayer of Gratitude at the Consecration of the Montefiore Synagogue at Ramsgate, by Sir Moses Montefiore (1833)

This prayer by Sir Moses Montefiore appears in Order of Service at the Dedication of the Synagogue Founded by Moses Montefiore and Judith his Wife, in commemoration of the happy event of their visit to the holy city of Jerusalem, the inheritance of their forefathers and as an humble tribute to the Almighty for his great and manifold blessings (Ramsgate: 30th Sivan (16th June) 5593 [1833]. — Eve of Rosh Ḥodesh), pp 9-10.

Categories:

Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

19th century C.E., 56th century A.M., British Jewry, dedications and consecrations, Early Religious Zionism, Montefiore Synagogue, Needing Vocalization, Ramsgate, synagogue consecration

Contributor(s):

Moses Montefiore and Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים | El Malé Raḥamim – Interfaith Memorial Service for the Homeless, by Rabbi Victor Reinstein (2014)

This paraliturgical adaptation of the El Malei prayer for an Interfaith Memorial Service for the Homeless was offered by Rabbi Victor Reinstein in 2014.

Categories:

Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., ecumenical prayers, אל מלא רחמים El Malé Raḥamim, English vernacular prayer, homeless and unhoused, interfaith prayer, Memorial prayers, paraliturgical el malé raḥamim

Contributor(s):

Victor Reinstein

A Prayer for the Steadfast on the Global Shabbat Against Home Demolitions, by Rabbi Brant Rosen (2016)

A prayer for the Global Shabbat Against Home Demolitions in response to the State of Israel’s policy,under the military occupation of Area C in the West Bank, of demolishing structures without building permits.

Categories:

Conflicts over Sovereignty and Dispossession, Homes & Community Centers

Tags:

21st century C.E., 58th century A.M., English vernacular prayer, ארץ ישראל Erets Yisrael, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, מדינת ישראל Medinat Yisrael, Needing Translation (into Arabic), Needing Translation (into Hebrew), فلسطين Filasṭīn Palestine

Contributor(s):

Brant Rosen

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Associated Image:

Ḥamsa qame'a with Birkat haBayit

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." (Psalms 90:17)

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