VICTORIA HANNA

SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017

MAGIC SPELLS
AMULET FOR THE PROTECTION OF PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEWBORN CHILDREN
Collected in India (before 1976)
Hebrew, Aramaic, and Judeo-Spanish, Hebrew square script
Ink on vellum, pasted on stitched cardboard
Judah L. Magnes Museum purchase, Bernard Kimmel collection, 68.83

Amulet for the protection of pregnant women against infertility and miscarriage, and of
newborn children against "the evil Lilith" on the eve of the ritual circumcision. Lilith is
depicted at center as a bird of prey, surmounting a throne or chair (possibly a depiction
of the "chair of Elijah," or kise shel eliyahu, used in the circumcision ritual). The central
figures are inscribed and surrounded by multiple texts (Hebrew, Aramaic and Judeo-
Spanish, in Hebrew square script) of various origins and significance, relating to magic
and mysticism, within a rectangular outer frame.
Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
AMULET FOR THE PROTECTION OF A NEWBORN CHILD
Hebrew
Iran, 18th century
Silver

Amulet for the protection of newborn boys, featuring a visual representation of the demonic Lilith
and an invocation of the angels Sanoi, Sansanoi, and Semangalaf, who protect against her. The
amulet includes the 42-letter name of God (ana be-koach) , the priestly blessing (birqat ha-kohanim),
the Tetragrammaton, and verses from Genesis 49. Notably, this amulet is made of silver, and was
meant to be worn or hung.

Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
SHIVITI AMULET
Hebrew
Morocco, 19th century
Ink, lacquer on parchment
Judah L. Magnes Museum purchase, 89.0.3

Shiviti devotional plaque consisting of Hebrew texts designed to remind one of Gods
omnipresence. As is typical, this shiviti includes in the center at the top a
tetragrammatonthe four Hebrew letters yud, he, vay, he, indicating the four letter,
ineffable name of Godand two psalms (67 and 121) and a kabbalistic liturgical poem,
ana be-koach. This shiviti includes, the 42 and 72-letter names of God, the Ten
Commandments, and the names of the protective angels, Sanoi, Sansanoi, and
Semangalaf. The visual symbols featured in the document attest to the intended
amuletic and protective powers of the manuscript.
Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
AMULET FOR HEALTH PROTECTION
Hebrew
n.d.
Ink on paper or parchment, tin or copper, glass
Gift of Mrs. Bernard Kimmel, 2008.27.7

Amulet for health protection that invokes the names of guardian angels, Sanoy, Sansanoy, and
Semangalof, the protective and ineffable names for God, shaday and the Tetragrammaton, and the
defending Star of David.

Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
ALEF BIRTH CERTIFICATE AMULET
Hebrew
Greece or Egypt, 1871
Magenta, yellow, and black ink on paper
Judah L. Magnes Museum purchase, 75.99

Alef amulets are birth amulets. They include mystical and magical formulate, and
angelic invocations to ward off the demonic Lilith, who is identified as Adams first wife
and is believed to seduce men and kill male infants. The "alef"includes the following: the
priestly blessing (birqat ha-kohanim), Song of Songs (shir ha-shirim), Psalms 20, 34, 36,
67, 91, and 127, names of the protective angels, Sanoi, Sansanoi, and Semangalaf,
names of the Archangels, Michael, Gavriel, Nuriel, Raphael, and Uriel, biblical texts from
Genesis and Deuteronomy, reference to forefathers and mothers, and Elijah the Prophet.
The amulet includes the childs fathers name, Elia Yosef, and his date of birth, 5
Heshvan [5]632 (20 October 1871).
Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
QAMEAH VE-SHEMIRAH LE-SREFAH VE-LE-YOLEDET VE-MIKOL DAVAR RAH
AMULET FOR PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE, DURING PREGNANCY, AND FROM ALL EVIL
Hebrew
Jerusalem, Palestine, 1874
Ink on paper
2010.0.31

The amulet, naming itself as such, calls for protection against fire, during pregnancy, and from all
evil. It was printed by Frumkin and Friends Printing Press, a notable publisher of the Chavatzelet
newspaper. The amulet includes the names of myriad guardian angels, including depictions of
Sanoi, Sansanoi, and Semangelaf (who protect newborn boys against Lilith), the 42-letter name of
God and kabbalistic liturgical poem, ana be-koach, and enumerates a variety of mental and physical
ailments it guards against.

Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu
VICTORIA HANNA
SCHUSTERMAN VISITING ISRAELI ARTIST, FALL 2017
MAGIC SPELLS
AMULET FOR ALL ENCOMPASSING PROTECTION FROM EVERY BAD THING
North Africa, N.d.
Hebrew
2009.0.43

Amulet for general and all encompassing protections. The author of this amulet calls for
protection indoors and outdoors, at sea, in the city and beyond the city,by day and by night, from
any kind of injury, from sadness, from all damages,from any kind of danger, from falling walls,
from falling stones, from fire and from water, for his travels and journeys, from pain and illness,
from Lilith, from evil magical spells, and from every bad and evil thing possible. The author quotes
from Psalms andfrom other liturgical passages. The amulet includes several kabbalistic
references to guardian angels and Gods many powerful and protective names.

Residency supported by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel.

The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life | University of California, Berkeley
2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-6300 | magnes.berkeley.edu