The Palestinian Talmud on Amulets on the Sabbath

y. Shabbat 6:2, 8b

220–400

Hebrew

What is an expert [or, proven] amulet?

Any [amulet] with which one has healed two or three [people].

R. Abahu [said] in the name of R. Yoḥanan: The physician is to be trusted who says: With this amulet I have healed once, [and I healed again] a second and a third [person].

R. Samuel [said] in the name of R. Zeira: If it [the amulet] healed one person, it is proven effective for one person; if [it healed] two, it is proven effective for two; if [it healed] three, it is proven effective for everyone.

Thus, one may go out with it whether it is written or [made] with herbs.

Translated by Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus.

Credits

y. Shabbat 6:2, 8b, trans. Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus, publication forthcoming. Copyright Markham J. Geller and Lennart Lehmhaus. Used with permission of the translators.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.

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