חַמְסָה
chamsa
Hamsa means five, and it names a hand-shaped amulet worn against the evil eye
What it means
Hamsa comes from the Arabic khamsa, five, for the five fingers of the hand. Jews from Arabic-speaking countries brought it into Hebrew as chamsa, and it names a palm-shaped amulet in the form of an open hand. It is believed to protect against the evil eye, in Hebrew ayin hara.
When Israelis say it
A chamsa is hung at a door or on a wall and worn as jewelry, in Israel and across North Africa and the Middle East. Hebrew has fixed phrases with the word, such as chamsa chamsa chamsa and chamsa alecha. In Jewish use the hand is also called the hand of Miriam; the label hand of Fatima was popularized by Europeans in colonial North Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Is the hamsa Jewish, Muslim or Christian?
It is a protective sign in Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities of the Middle East and North Africa. Jews call it the hand of Miriam, and Christians in the Levant the hand of Mary.
How do you say hamsa in Hebrew?
Chamsa, חמסה, from the Arabic word for five. The Hebrew word for five, hamesh, is sometimes used as its name too.