Jewish lore as the
Hand of Miriam, from the Hebrew and Arabic words for "five", serves
as an ancient talismanic way of averting the evil eye, or more
generally of providing a "protecting hand" or "Hand of God." It
appears, often in stylized form, as a hand with three fingers
raised, and sometimes with two thumbs arranged symmetrically.
The symbol is
used in amulets, charms, jewelry, door entrances, cars, and
other places to ward off the evil eye.
