Talisman, between 1850 and 1899.
קמיע

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Contributor:

Karp, Abraham J., former owner.

Abraham J. and Deborah Karp Collection of Judaica (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

Hebrew

Subjects (All):

Jews.

History.

Talismans.

Ukraine.

Poland.

Talismans--Specimens.

Kavvanot (Cabala).

Gematria.

Magen David.

Jews--Poland--History--Sources.

Jews--Ukraine--History--Sources.

Genre:

Sources.

Specimens.

Talismans.

Amulets.

Penn Provenance:

Formerly in the collection of Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Karp.

Physical Description:

1 item (1 leaf) : parchment ; 75 x 68 (60 x 68)mm

Place of Publication:

between 1850 and 1899.

בין 1850-1899.

Language Note:

In Hebrew.

Summary:

This is a manuscript talisman written to surround a letter structure combining the two Divine names of four letters (יאהדונהי); other Divine names are written around it in a Magen David motif. The written names in the Magen David are written in a gematria style called Mispar mispari (מספר מספרי), an alphanumeric system which converts letters to number multiples by writing the spelling of each individual letter as a word. The choices and combinations of names which merge into one another in the Magen David were added by the scribe for meditating on the esoteric meaning of the combinations of each merging Divine name. Written in an Ashkenazic square script typical of Poland or the Ukraine, with ritual script used for writing a Torah scroll (Safrut). Item likely originated as a combination of a talisman and a teaching document, and subsequently was folded to wear in a locket as an amulet.

Cited as:

UPenn Karp BIII.3m.

OCLC:

1264226780