subject: Jewish High Holidays: History Of Hamsa [print this page] September is truly the month of Jewish high holidays. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot are all special holidays that I can celebrate with my family where we reflect on the rich, deep-rooted history of our religion. There is nothing more I cherish than spending time with my family. Recently, I have noticed the increase popularity among the younger generations and their admiration of the hamsa amulet in Jewish jewelry.
The hamsa is an amulet in the shape of a five-fingered hand or a hand with three fingers and a thumb on either side. The hamsa amulet has become so popular that celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie have been photographed sporting the now-fashionable amulet. Well, for those of you who don't know, the hamsa is an ancient symbol that provides protection for its wearers. Today, this article will discuss the history of hamsa bracelets.
The hamsa, also called the hamsa hand, was worn by people in ancient times for magical protection against evil. It was and still is commonly hung on walls of households throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Jewish homes today. Although the hamsa is mainly associated with Arabs and Jews, its exact origin is unknown. Some theorize its origin is in ancient Phoenicia, where people used hamsa as a symbol of the goddess Tanit. Others believe it originated as a Hindu symbol of a god or goddess. Another suggestion is that ancient Jews were probably the first to use the hamsa as a protective item.
The hamsa is also commonly displayed with an eye in the center of the palm of the hand, as a symbolism to ward off the eye evil. The hamsa is used for many things, wall plagues and hangings, keychains, amulets, and many different types of jewelry like earrings, rings and bracelets.
Due to hamsa's ambiguous origin, it also has different terms it's referred to as. In Islam, it is called the Hand of Fatima, named after a daughter of the prophet Muhammad. Sometimes, the hamsa is also called the Hand of Miriam, named after the sister of the Hebrew biblical leaders Moses and Aaron.
In Judaism, specifically, the fingers of the hamsa are said to represent the five books of the Torah and is believed to remind a student the value of education and might prevent him or her from forgetting lessons.
The popularity of hamsa has increased because of people's growing interest in the intertwining of spirituality and symbolism (especially Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism). The hamsa amulet has steadily reincarnated in hamsa bracelets because they are relatively easy to make, are simple in design, and represent spirituality.
by: Mark Etinger
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