A Review of the Rabbis' Rules about Kameot
To review, the rabbis of the Bavli and the later halakhic codes have established a set of rules about kameot:
- Uncertified kameot (whether written by unexpert scribes or are amulets that have failed to heal) may not be worn in the public domain on Shabbat
- Kameot with sanctity may not be worn in the bathroom
- Kameot are distinct from jewelry
- Despite rule #1, kameot are not remedies, but preventative measures
- Mezuzot, while similar to kameot, may not be employed as personal charms, as this negates the mitzvah of mezuzah itself