«Three Scroll Amulets (Apotropaic Rotuli) from the Parisian Collections: Bodily Imaginaire and Ritual Healing»

Scroll-written amulets are personal protective and healing tools ubiquitous in Jewish tradition since antiquity. Once redacted, they are rolled up or folded, inserted in cases and worn on the body. Scribal devices and magical techniques are used in their production, and their contact with the body seems to be an integral part of their effectiveness. They are intended to protect against demons, to prevent and treat disease, and to ensure bodily functions and wellness (love, reproduction, birth, etc.). This contribution focuses on the link between scroll amulets and the body by providing an exemplary analysis of three modern scroll amulets MSS Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, héb. 1415/39, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, héb. 1415/40 and Paris, MAHJ, Inv. 2002.01.0208).