An Amulet on Parchment “Which Shakes All the Worlds” in the Handwriting of the Lofty Tzadik the Rebbe Rabbi Yeshayale Krestirer. Extremely Rare

Before us is an amulet given by Rabbi Yeshayale of Krestir for protection and to be hung at the entrance to the home. The writing on the amulet is a Holy Name which appears in the Tikkunei Zohar (Tikkun 70) and in the writings of Rabbi Chaim Vital in various different forms, and there is a debate among Kabbalists how this Name should be written. In the book ‘Toldot Adam’ by Rabbi Eliyahu Ba’al Shem (letter tzadik) is written: “For women giving birth… and at the entrance to the house write this vow on the aforementioned parchment with the awesome and great Name which shakes all the worlds (here the Holy Name written on the parchment appears with a slight change)… I vow that all evil forces and demons will not have permission to come to this entrance…”. The Rebbe of Sadigura, Rabbi Mordechai Shalom Friedman author of “Hachnasat Mordechai” gave such an amulet for protection of the house, and the researcher of Chassidut Avraham Yaakov Zilbershlag wrote as follows: “Rabbi Moshe Spund, one of the most senior members of our group was often called by our Rabbi to write amulets based on Kabbalah. The Rebbe warned him not to reveal the content of the amulets and the manner they were written to anyone. As guided by the Rebbe, Rabbi Moshe would immerse himself in the Mikveh before preparing the amulets, and not utter a single word until they were complete. The amulets were written based on the tradition from the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, which was only passed down verbally. When a case which required it was brought before the Rebbe, he would call the important scribe to write the amulet and instruct him exactly what to write”. This precise wording of an amulet and its photograph appear in the catalog ‘L’Kol HaRuchot V’HaSheidim’ which was published by the Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem 2010 (page 69) where it is stated that the amulets were made ‘By the Rabbi of Ruzhin Chassidut’ and originate in Hungary. We found an example of this amulet in the Gross Family Collection and the two types of amulets together which were traditionally given by Rabbi Yeshayale - the first amulet is the famous amulet with two lines of the Holy Names (which first appeared in our sale no. 12, refer to that catalog for its interpretation) and an additional amulet with the Holy Name before us (a photograph of the two together is enclosed). It seems that they were hung together in the house for protection. It should be noted that most of these amulets were framed in frames with hooks for hanging. Enclosed is a document attesting that the amulet was in the family of the Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, and also noting the amulet’s source: “It is attributed in our family with definite knowledge that it originates with the Rabbi, the miracle worker Rabbi Yeshayale Krestirer which they received from him…”. Rabbi Yeshaya Steiner (1852-1925) of Krestnir (Bodrogkeresztur) was one of the most famous and foremost Rebbes in Hungary. The Rebbe, who was orphaned from his father at the age of three, was sent by his mother the widow at the young age of 12 to Rabbi Zvi Hirsch of Lisska, where he stayed until his Rabbi died and later succeeded him, but he always remained humble and did not consider himself to be important. Rabbi Yeshayale was considered to be a miracle worker and there are many stories related about him. To this very day many people travel to his grave to pour out their hearts in prayer and many miraculous stories are told about prayers at his grave. The Tzadik of Krestir was known for his merciful heart and his concern for the livelihood of all Jews. The amulets he gave during his life to those seeking salvation were written on parchment by expert scribes who were his students, and he would hold them and bless them before giving them over. Many stories were passed around about the miracles which occurred to those in possession of the amulets. His picture is known as a segulah for protecting the house from mice, after stories in which his blessing successfully rid people of mice. 8x2.8 cm.