Auction 41
Lot 169:
Coin with minting of the letter “hay” that Rabbi Yitzhak Khadouri would use to carry out the tikkun pidyon nefesh. The coins were minted especially for Rabbi Khadouri following his instructions. This coin is one of 160 coins that he would use. Embossed in the coin are the words “pidyon nefesh”. Included is a certificate of authenticity from the rabbi’s son, Rabbi David Khadouri, who writes, “I hereby certify…that these are the original coins used by Rabbi Yitzhak Khadouri for pidyon nefesh innumerable times, and they are the only coins that he would use apart from a few coins that remain in the possession of his successors…and in his merit whoever holds them will have all the blessings and yeshuot.” The book Sefer Yeshuot Yitzhak (p. 299) states that this coin was a segulah for a successful conception (more below) and also to safeguard a small baby: “Rabbeinu also said…to guard a small baby one should hang it on a chain upon which is hanging the silver fish (bolded in the original) and a silver plate on which is engraved the letter hay. So is written in the holy works of the Hida and the Ben Ish Hai. Diameter: 1.9cm. Weight: 0.8g. Very good condition.
The segulah of amulets with the letter hay for a successful conception is mentioned in ancient books, and a remez for it is in Genesis 47:23. The addition of the letters hay to Avraham and Sarah’s names preceded their giving birth to Yitzhak. An additional kabbalistic remez is located in Genesis 2:4, based on a midrash in Bereishit Rabba.
Rav Khadouri was born at the end of the 19th century in Baghdad (Iraq), in his youth he knew and met the Ben Ish Hai, he received Torah and kabbalah from Baghdad’s sages and from Jerusalem’s sages after he moved there in 1922. During his first years in Jerusalem he made a livingbinding books and studied at the Beit El and Porat Yosef yeshivot in the Old City. Over the years, his wisdom became famous, his knowledge of mysticism—many went to his home to receive blessings and advice from him, and to receive amulets for their welfare. Died in 2006 after living more than 100 years, and thousands of Jews from all walks of life participated in his funeral.
Share this lot:
