Blessing, Luck and Strength: The Little Girl Behind Our Hamsa

Some pieces we make are about style. The Hamsa has always been something more for us. Before we tell you what the symbol means, we want to tell you who it means something to.

A symbol older than any of us

The Hamsa is a hand, five fingers open, and it has been worn for protection for thousands of years. In Jewish tradition it's known as the Hand of Miriam. It recalls God's "strong hand and outstretched arm," and its five fingers are a reminder of the five books of the Torah. Across the Middle East and North Africa, it's also known as the Hand of Fatima, and today it's worn by people of many faiths and backgrounds.

At its heart, the Hamsa is a symbol of divine protection, blessing and strength.

The eye that looks back

Many Hamsas carry an eye in the palm. It guards against the ayin hara, the evil eye in Hebrew: the envy or ill will people believed could bring misfortune. The eye is meant to look back at that harm and push it away.

Her story

In 1980, a little girl who was dear to our family was diagnosed with leukemia. She was just a little girl.

Her family fought for her with everything they had. Everyone around her gave all they could.

In the end, it wasn't enough to save her. She passed away that year.

That same period was one of the hardest our family has ever lived through. There were moments we weren't sure Heights Jewelers would survive.

What kept us going was her. Through everything she endured, she was strong and hopeful. If she could face what she faced, we could keep our doors open and keep making jewelry. She gave our family the strength to go on.

Why the Hamsa carries her

When we think of what the Hamsa stands for, blessing, luck and strength, we think of her. She was a blessing to everyone who knew her. She reminded us how lucky we were to have each other. And her strength became the foundation this business was rebuilt on.

That's why every Hamsa that leaves our workshop is made with care. We cut, solder and finish each one by hand, in the same family workshop that has been making jewelry since 1938.

Making it yours

A Hamsa guards. A Hamsa with a name or initial inside guards someone in particular. That's why we make ours personalized: a child's initial, a loved one's name, or your own.

• The Hamsa Personalized Necklace, with a name or initial, in sterling silver or gold-plated sterling silver.
• The Personalized Double Hamsa Necklace, two hands for double the protection. It's a meaningful gift for a parent and child, or two people who carry each other.
• The Hamsa Personalized Initial Earrings.

Every piece is backed by our lifetime guarantee.

In her memory

We tell this story because she's part of who we are. When you wear a Hamsa from Heights, you carry a little of her with you: the blessing, the luck and, most of all, the strength.