Protective rites
Writing a Jewish amulet (kame'a)
A written amulet of psalms and names on parchment, made by a scribe for a mother, a newborn or a house.
Presented by ClearTrust Customs described as customs, free to read.
A kame'a is a Jewish written amulet, made on parchment or paper, bearing verses from Psalms, divine and angelic names and sometimes diagrams. It is made by a trained scribe or a learned man, in a set state of ritual purity, for a particular person or purpose. Common uses were protection of a woman in childbirth and her newborn, a sick person, and a home.
This is an outline of a custom, said as belief and practice. It is not instruction, it does not say that the rite works, and it is not medical advice.
What goes into it
- Parchment or paperObjectThe ground for the amulet.
- Ink and quillToolUsed by a trained scribe.
- Psalms and divine namesWordThe written text.
- Angelic namesWordAdded for protection in some forms.
- Case or pouchObjectHolds the folded sheet.
- Cradle or bedsideSpaceWhere it is hung.
- Object
- Tool
- Word
- Space
Each part has an equal wedge. The ring shows what goes into the rite, not how much. Colour is the part's role.
The steps, drawn
Each drawing shows the kind of act in that step. Details differ from place to place, family to family and practitioner to practitioner.
Step 1: Cleanse The scribe purifies himself and prepares the ink and the sheet. Step 2: Speak Verses and names are said as they are written. Step 3: Cast The text is written in a set order. Step 4: Bind The sheet is folded and sealed in a small case. Step 5: Close The amulet is hung near the person it is made for.
What is written
Texts commonly cited include Psalm 121, the Song of Ascents, and names of angels linked with the child's protection against a female demon named Lilith in popular lore. The sheet is folded, put in a small case of metal or cloth and worn or hung over a bed. Many rabbis of the past held that amulets are allowed when written by an expert, while others, such as Maimonides, were severely critical of the use of names without meaning.
Open and closed
The inner methods of the practical Kabbalah, in which names and letters are combined, are held by a small circle of scholars and are not published here. The related hamsa, a hand-shaped charm, is worn in Jewish and Muslim communities of North Africa and the Middle East. Collectors and museums now hold many Jewish amulets from Iraq, Morocco and Eastern Europe, and scholars treat them as a record of everyday belief.
What it is for
- Protect a mother and a newborn
- Guard a home
Who does it
Related entries
Also part of it, and being written: Practical Kabbalah (The system behind it.).
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Sources and further reading
Original text and drawings by the EveryJaadu desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Closed or sacred detail is left out. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Amulet: Anonymous ( Egypt ) Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Hamsa: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0, source