From Amulets to Instructions

Ms. Gross KU.011.018 – An Edition and Research Chen Avizohar-Hagay, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Abstract

This article examines a nineteenth-century magic manuscript from the Gross Family Collection (KU.011.018) containing detailed instructions for producing a series of four childbirth amulets. Designed to be hung on the four walls of the birthing room, these large and intricate amulets created a protective space for the mother and child. The study highlights a rare reverse dynamic in the history of Jewish magic – moving from existing amulets to written instructions, rather than from text to object. The first section outlines the amulet series, composed of Psalms, incantations, divine names, and depictions of four winged angels guarding against Lilith. The analysis of the manuscript shows that the scribe knew the amulets but only partially understood their complex iconotextual system. Comparison between the manuscript and surviving examples reveals both consistencies and deviations, reflecting acts of copying, interpretation, and visual reconstruction. The article concludes with a critical edition that illuminates the interplay between magical manuals and performative artifacts in modern Jewish magic.