“The Hamsa in Jewish Mysticism and Art”
October 30th, 2008 by Menachem Wecker
My article about hamsas in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions appears on MyJewishLearning.com. Here’s a selection:
The symbol of an eye embedded in the palm of an open hand has had several names throughout the ages, including the hamsa, the eye of Fatima, the hand of Fatima, and the hand of Miriam. The form is sometimes rendered naturally and other times symmetrically with a second thumb replacing the little finger.
The hamsa has been variously interpreted by scholars as a Jewish, Christian, or Islamic amulet, and as a pagan fertility symbol. Yet even as the magical form remains shrouded in mystery and scholars debate nearly every aspect of its emergence, it is recognized today as a kabbalistic amulet and as an important symbol in Jewish art.
Yona Says
This is one of the most comprehensive articles I have read on the hamsa. Thanks!
Nov 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 am