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