Shabbat

with a ring or a bracelet and go out therewith into the street, for appearances sake.  But it was taught: What is an approved amulet? One that has healed three men simultaneously?  — There is no difficulty: the one is to approve the man; the other is to approve the amulet. R. Papa said: It is obvious to me that if three amulets  [are successful for] three people, each [being efficacious] three times,  both the practitioner  and the amulets are [henceforth] approved. If three amulets [are successful for] three people, each [being efficacious] once, the practitioner is [henceforth] approved, but not the amulets. If one amulet [is efficacious] for three men, the amulet is approved but not the practitioner. [But] R. Papa propounded: What if three amulets [are efficacious] for one person?  The amulets are certainly not rendered approved: but does the practitioner become approved or not? Do we say, Surely. he has healed him! Or perhaps, it is this man's fate  to be susceptible to writings?  The question stands over. The scholars propounded: Have amulets sanctity or not? In respect of what law? Shall we say, in respect of saving them from a fire?  Then come and hear: Benedictions  and amulets, though they contain the [divine] letters and many passages from the Torah, may not be saved from a fire, but are burnt where they are. Again, if in respect to hiding,  — Come and hear: If it [the Divine Name] was written on the handles of utensils or on the legs of a bed,  it must be cut out and hidden.  Rather [the problem is] what about entering a privy with them? Have they sanctity, and it is forbidden; or perhaps they have no sanctity, and it is permitted? — Come and hear: NOR WITH AN AMULET, IF IT IS NOT FROM AN EXPERT. This [implies that] if it is from an expert, one may go out [with it]; now if you say that amulets possess sanctity, it may happen that one needs a privy, and so come to carry it four cubits in the street?  The reference here is to an amulet of roots.  But it was taught. Both a written amulet and an amulet of roots? — The reference here is to an invalid whose life is endangered.  But it was taught: 'Both an invalid whose life is endangered and one whose life is not endangered'? — Rather [this is the reply]: since it heals even when he holds it in his hand, it is well.