Bidspirit auction | A rare amulet for protection

A rare amulet for protection and wealth in the holy handwriting of the Ben Ish Chai - A rare and exceptional holy amulet, unlike any known example, containing powerful blessings—double, triple, and quadruple (!)—for protection, success, redemption, and wealth, written in the very holy handwriting of the great Kabbalist of Baghdad, the “Ari HaChai, ” our master Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad. [Baghdad, second half of the 19th century]. Manuscripts written by the Ben Ish Chai are renowned throughout Eastern Jewry as proven and time-tested amulets for protection and success. The reason why his handwritten texts are considered amulets to an even greater degree than those of other sages and kabbalists of his generation is because the Ben Ish Chai would conclude most of his sermons with the explicit blessing: “El Shaddai will be our aid, He will guard us and assist us always, Amen, may it be His will.” Presented here is a genuine holy amulet that, in an extraordinary manner, contains this wondrous blessing in full, repeated no fewer than four times, in the very holy handwriting of the Ben Ish Chai: “אל שדי יהיה בעזרתינו וישמרינו ויעזרינו תמיד אכי”ר” “אל שדי יהיה בעזרתינו וישמרינו ויעזרינו תמיד אכי”ר” “אל שדי יהיה בעזרתינו וישמרינו ויעזרינו תמיד אכי”ר” “אל שדי יהיה בעזרתינו וישמרינו ויעזרינו תמיד אכי”ר” This unique amulet—unlike anything ever seen—containing the blessing that made the Ben Ish Chai’s manuscripts into sacred protective charms, now strengthened through four repetitions, serves as a tremendous and inexhaustible source of protection, success, and blessing—like four holy amulets working together. It may even be divided into four separate amulets, each with the power to alter and supersede the laws of nature. Along the margins of the amulet, the Ben Ish Chai added another line: a verse from the prophet Isaiah relating to the coming of the Messiah: “And you shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel.” Next to it he added the comment: “תלקטו כתיב”—indicating that the word “teluktu” appears in the verse in defective spelling, read like the word “tillaktu” found in the chapter of the manna, symbolizing the blessing of wealth. Rabbi Yosef Chaim of Baghdad (1833–1909)—author of Ben Ish Chai and the foremost sage of Eastern Jewry in his time. Born to Rabbi Eliyahu Chaim son of Rabbi Moshe Chaim, rabbi of Baghdad, and a disciple of Rabbi Abdallah Somekh. Already in his youth he became famed for his genius and piety. At age 26 he began delivering sermons in the Great Synagogue, and from then delivered sermons every Shabbat and festival for over fifty years. Thousands would gather to hear his sweet and lengthy discourses. He became known worldwide as a “unique figure of the generation” in both revealed and hidden Torah, and was famed for his holiness. In 1869 he traveled to the Land of Israel to pray at the graves of the righteous, where it was revealed to him from Heaven that he was of the soul-root of Benaiah ben Yehoyada. For this reason he titled many of his works with names reflecting that identity: Ben Ish Chai, Ben Ish Chayil, Ben Yehoyada, Rav Pe’alim, Od Yosef Chai, and others. [1] Single sheet, 15 × 10 cm. Amulet in manuscript, ink on fine paper with an embossed seal at bottom. Approximately [50] words in the Ben Ish Chai’s own handwriting. Condition: Good to very good. A tiny tear at upper right corner.