SATURDAY PRAYER: HOD-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p114

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

“Nor with phylacteries;” but if he went out with them on, he is not liable for a sin-offering. Said
R. Saphra: This is not only in accordance with him who holds Sabbath is a day for (wearing)
phylacteries, but it is even in accordance with him who holds that it is not. What is the reason?
Because phylacteries are put on in the same manner as a garment.

“And not with an amulet,” etc. Said R. Papa: “Do not presume that both the maker and the
amulet must be reliable; it is sufficient if the maker only is reliable.” So it seems to be from the
statement in the Mishna: “And not with an amulet that was not made by a reliable expert.” It
does not say with a reliable amulet.
The rabbis taught: Which are to be considered such? If they have cured three times, no matter
whether they contained inscriptions (of mystic forms) or (certain) medicaments. If the amulet is
for a sickness, be it serious or not, or if it is for one afflicted with epilepsy, or only serves as a
preventive, one may fasten or unfasten it even in public ground, provided he does not fasten the
amulet to a bracelet or a finger-ring, to go out with it in public ground, lest those who see it
think that it is being worn as an ornament. Did not a Boraitha state that only such amulets as
cured three different parties are reliable? This presents no difficulty. Here we are taught as to the
reliability of the expert who made the amulet, while in the latter Boraitha we are taught as to the
reliability of the amulet itself.
Said R. Papa: It is certain to me that where three different amulets were given to three different
(human) sufferers at three different times (and a cure was effected), both the amulets and the
expert who made them are reliable. Where three different amulets were given to three different
sufferers only once, the expert is reliable, but not the amulets. Where one and the same amulet
was given to three different sufferers, the amulet is reliable, but not the expert; but how is it with
three different amulets given to one man for three different diseases? Certainly, the amulets are
not reliable (for each cured only once), but how is it with the expert? Should he be considered
reliable or not? If we say that the expert cured him, perhaps it was only the fate of the sufferer
that he should be cured by a script? This question remains. The schoolmen propounded a question: Is there any sanctity in an amulet or not? For what purpose are we to know this? In order to enter a privy; if there is any sanctity in the amulet this would not be allowed, otherwise it would