Description
The Chamsa (Hamsa) symbol is often used as an amulet. It is said to have the power to ward off evil and to provide a sense of security to those who behold it. The Chamsa is shaped like a hand facing downward. It is said to represent G-d’s Hand reaching down from the heavens to protect His people. The word Chamsa comes from the Hebrew “Hamesh” which means five. The five fingers correspond to the five books of the Torah. It is through the Torah that G-d protects us. In this Chamsa papercut by Marci Wiesel, each of the Five Books of Moses is named. The names intertwine with each other unifying the five fingers into one protective unit.
