Hamsa Hoodie

It’s a palm-shaped amulet used by Muslims and Jews throughout the Middle East and North Africa. It shows the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many cultures and is believed to work as a defense against the evil eye but also represents blessings, power and strength. It’s seen as a bearer of good fortune among Christians in the region as well. It’s believed to have originated in Punic Carthage, modern-day Tunisia, and was associated with the Goddess Tanit. As Westerners might use the phrase “knock on wood” or “touch wood”, a common expression in Israel is “Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, tfu, tfu, tfu”, to spit out bad luck.