Amulets from around the Jewish world take many forms – rolled scrolls, jewelry, wall hangings. They include words considered sacred, symbols, and dedications. Amulets fall under the category known as ‘sympathetic magic’ – attributing magical powers to an object and the belief that it can change reality.
What makes an amulet a mystical object? What can we learn from this about Jewish communities? Are amulets still as popular as they used to be? And is a mezuzah an amulet?