OBJECTS OF JEWISH CEKEMONIAL. 559 



V. MISCELLANEOUS. 



40. Mezuzaii. — The uitzuzdlt consi.sts of the ixtssagcs Doutcrononi}' 

 vi, 4-9, and xi. 13-21, written on parchment in the same manner as the 

 Torah scroll and tlie i)]iylaoteries^ and inserted in a wooden or metal 

 case or glass tube. On the outer side is written the Hebrew name of 

 God, Shaddai, "Almighty," and a small opening- is left in the case 

 opposite this word. The case is fastened in a slanting position to the 

 right-hand side of the doorpost, in compliance with the words: "And 

 thou shalt write them (the words of the Lord) on the doorposts of thj- 

 house and within thy gates."" Pious Jews touch and kiss the mezuzah 

 as they pass through the door. Some Jews in the Orient nail to the door- 

 way the entire Decalogue inclosed in a tin case. The custom has been 

 widely adopted by other peoples of the East, particularly by Mohamme- 

 dans, who write passages from the Koran over the doors and windows 

 of their homes. (Plate 29, fig. 1, mezuzah incased in a quill; fig. 2, 

 mezuzah in a tin case; fig. 3, mezuzah in a glass tube; fig. 4, mezuzah 

 unfolded. U.S.X.M. No. 154584.) 



47. Amulet of parchment. — Written for Hadji EphraimBenguiat 

 when he was sick in childhood. Length, 9i inches; width, If inches. 

 (Plate 29, fig. 5, U.S.N.M. No. 154011.) 



Amulets are charms, or preservatives against evil spirits, witchcraft, 

 the evil e3^e, or disease. They are made of stone, metals, animal prod- 

 ucts, etc., in fact of any substance. The most common consists of 

 words, characters, or sentences ranged in a particular order and written 

 on parchment, or engraved upon wood, stone, or metal, and worn 

 about the neck or some other part of the body. Amulets are found in 

 use among nearly all peoples and religions of ancient and modern times. 



48. Silver medallion, used probably as an amulet. — Filigree 

 work. On one side is, in gilt relief, the Hebrew name of GoA^Shaddal., 

 ("Almighty"), on the other the figure called "Shield of David" {magen 

 David) with a fleur-de-lis inside. Height, 2t inches; width 1| inches. 

 (Plate 28, fig. 0. U.S.N.M. No. 154613.) 



49. Two SILVER rings, used as amulets. — Engraved with the name 

 of the owner: "Ephraim Benguiat," and kabbalistic words. Diameter, 

 three-fourths inch. 



50. Silver medal. — Struck in commemoration of the edict of Em- 

 peror Francis Joseph I of February 18, 1800, granting the Israelites 

 of his Empire the right to own real estate. On the obverse are in 

 relief, to the right, a crowned female figure holding a scroll inscribed 

 in Hebrew, "One people and one nation;" to the left, the figure of a 

 boy holding in his right hand a wreath, in liis left a palm branch. 

 Between the figures are, above, two tablets inscribed in Hebrew, "One 

 law for us all;" beneath, the bust of the Emperor and the double eagle 



^See above under 1 and 21, p. 546 and 551. ^Deuteronomy vi, 9; xi, 20. 



