What is a hamsa?
A hamsa is an open right hand, drawn with the thumb and little finger often curving outward in the same way, so the hand looks the same on both sides. The word comes from the Arabic khamsa, five, for the five fingers. In Hebrew it is sometimes called hamesh (חמש), also five.
Where does it come from?
The open hand is older than any one religion. It appears in amulets and decoration across North Africa and the Middle East for many centuries, and it was carried by Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities alike. In Muslim tradition it is called the Hand of Fatima; some Jewish families call it the Hand of Miriam, after the sister of Moses and Aaron.
What does it mean in Jewish homes?
- Blessing. It is hung by the door or above a crib as a wish for the people who live there.
- Protection. The eye at its center stands for protection from the evil eye, ayin hara.
- The number five. Many families link the five fingers to the five books of the Torah.
- Heritage. For Sephardi and Mizrahi families, it is a link to homes in Morocco, Tunisia, Iraq, Yemen and beyond.
“The LORD shall keep thee from all evil.”
Psalm 121:7
Up or down?
You will see both. Popular custom reads fingers up as a shield against harm, and fingers down as a wish for blessing and plenty. Neither is wrong, and there is no religious rule on it.
Is it a lucky charm?
Some rabbis have been wary of amulets treated as magic. Most families see the hamsa differently: not as something that works on its own, but as a sign of blessing and a reminder of who protects the home. That is how we describe it on our pages.
Wearing and giving a hamsa
A hamsa necklace is a common gift for a Bat Mitzvah or a birthday, and a hamsa for the wall is a classic housewarming gift. Sterling silver suits everyday wear. If you like the blue eye, look for a stone that is described honestly: our blue opal is lab-created, and we say so.