This Hamsa Keychain from the Jewish Museum is an adaptation of a 20th-century Moroccan Hamsa - the Arabic word for a hand-shaped amulet commonly used by Muslims and Jews as a protective charm to ward off evil. The original hamsa is found on a synagogue hanging lamp in the collection of the Jewish Museum. Plated brass. Made in the USA.

The hamsa is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The hamsa is often incorporated in jewelry and wall hangings, as a defense against the evil eye. Jews sometimes call it the hand of Miriam referencing the sister of Moses and Aaron. Five (hamesh in Hebrew) represents the five books of the Torah, as well as the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Heh", which represents one of God's holy names. Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hamsa hand remind its wearer to use their five senses to praise God. There are two main styles of a hamsa hand: the most popular is the stylized hamsa with two symmetrical thumbs, but the hamsa can also be asymmetrical and shaped like an actual hand. Either hamsa hand can be worn with the fingers pointing up or down. The hamsa is popular as a charm most often worn as a necklace, but can be found as a decorative element in houses, on key chains, on other jewelry items, and is quickly gaining popularity as an amulet in baby carriages. Many artists are using the image of the hamsa hand in various aspects of their art including jewelry, paintings, sculptures, wall decorations, and amulets. The renewed interest in Kabbalah and mystical Judaism is a factor in bringing the hamsa pendant back into vogue. In Jewish mysticism, fish are a symbol of good luck, so many hamsas are also decorated with fish images. Sometimes hamsas are inscribed with Hebrew prayers, such as the Sh'ma, Birkat HaBayit (Blessing for the Home), or Tefilat HaDerech (Traveler's Prayer).