The vast majority of my research in Jewish magic takes place in Hebrew manuscripts, but sometimes the scribe will switch to his local "Jewish language". For example, a Middle Eastern manuscript might have Judaeo-Arabic while an European manuscript can contain Judeo-German ("Yiddish"). Join me in this post as I transcribe instructions for a Judaeo-German amulet into Latin characters and translate it!
First, a short word on the language is in order.There are two main branches of the Yiddish language: "Western Yiddish" (aka Jüdisch-Deutsch) is the older dialect of the Germanic Jews and very much resembles German, whereas "Eastern Yiddish" spoken by Polish, Lithuanian, Russian etc. Jews has more loan words from Polish and Slavic languages. The text we are dealing with is very short so it's hard to say with certainty but I would say its the Western dialect.
The amulet is found in manuscript Or. 10326 from the British Library (London, UK) folio 17a. This manuscript contains 37 pages of Hebrew amulets and segulot (magical remedies and charms) in a cursive European Hebrew script. A few Yiddish amulets/segulot is spread throughout.
Here is a transcription of the Yiddish text into Latin characters. The few words that were Hebrew I just left in English translation except for the Angel names and rivers:
An amulet for fever. Tried and tested: Nehm ein pen un’
schreib druch auch einer seiten סינוי וסנסנוי וסמנגלוף
un’ auch der ander seite schreib פישון גיחון חדקל פרת lad
eins an “hecken(?)” of his right.
Translation:
An amulet for fever. Tried and tested: Take with a pen and write on one side Senoy and Sansenoy and Semangelof and on the other side write Pishon Gihon Hidekkel Perat lay it on his right "hecken".
Unfortunately I do not know what the "hecken" is. I'm not even fully confidant I transcribed it correctly as I'm not sure what this word is.
BL, Or. 10326 fol. 17a
Although at the moment one pivotal point of using the amulet remain elusive, I will comment that these three angels, Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof are better well known for their ability to protect newborns against the dangers of Lilith. Towards the end of Sefer Raziel HaMalach (The book of the angel Raziel) an amulet using these angels is given along with their likeness. Here's how they look according to the standard Hebrew printings:
Adam and Eve without Lilith
Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof
Besides for the angels, the four rivers that come out of the Garden of Eden mention in the biblical account in Genesis is also used in our amulet.
I don't recall ever seeing these angels paired up with these rivers as a remedy for fever, but I did find this combination of angels and rivers in an amulet in Rabbi Moshe Zacuto's Shorashei HaShemot for ease in childbirth. Without use of these angel names I did find the use of the rivers specificaly against fever. These rivers are used in a different magical remedy in Rabbi Chaim Vital's "Sefer HaPeulot" against fever that involve writing them on almonds and then eating them.
I'll be keeping an eye out for this trio along with the rivers vis-a-vis fever, so don't forget to check on the blog from time to time for updates!
