Jewish amulet plate

From the centre of a small silver plate a left (protective) hand with outspread fingers rises up. The Hebrew letter He is visible on the hand plate. It is the fifth letter in the Hebrew alphabet and has the numerical value of five. He stands for HaSchem – "the name" (of God). The name of God is unutterable, its pronunciation unknown and forbidden. The term God is neutral. Around the circumference of the plate, Jacob's blessing to Joseph is engraved: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall." (Genesis 49, 22). May Joseph have many descendants, and may they be protected against envy!