The oldest archeological hamsa is found in Mesopotamia, in 2000 BCE. That is a >2600 years before Islam even exists (610 CE). The most closely related extant descendents of the Mesopotamians are the Assyrian people, who are not Islamic.
Additionally, there are ancient israelite tombs dating to 800 BCE with hamsas on them, 1400 years before the existence of Islam.
The symbol is literally older and been used by Jews longer than the Magen David. Is it uniquely Jewish? No. But neither is the Magen David, which originally appeared in ancient alchemical writings. However, it is absolutely not Islamic.
Finally, Jews and kabbalists have been using amulets for thousands of years, whether it's an hamsa or an amulet of Lilith. You don't have to like them or agree with them, but they are a deep part of our history and identity.
Side note: superstition is not inherently wrong in Judaism, only divination and fortune telling are expressly forbidden. Jews are some of the most superstitious people I know, we don't (ashkenazim at least) even name our children after living relatives in case the angel of death makes a mistake. Sephardim are more attuned to evil eye superstition, which is also very ancient. Spitting three times? Etc. Cmon now, THIS IS who we are and have been, whether we like it or not.
In reply to The Hamsa was not Jewish. It… by R' Sheryl
This is remarkably ahistorical.
The oldest archeological hamsa is found in Mesopotamia, in 2000 BCE. That is a >2600 years before Islam even exists (610 CE). The most closely related extant descendents of the Mesopotamians are the Assyrian people, who are not Islamic.
Additionally, there are ancient israelite tombs dating to 800 BCE with hamsas on them, 1400 years before the existence of Islam.
The symbol is literally older and been used by Jews longer than the Magen David. Is it uniquely Jewish? No. But neither is the Magen David, which originally appeared in ancient alchemical writings. However, it is absolutely not Islamic.
Finally, Jews and kabbalists have been using amulets for thousands of years, whether it's an hamsa or an amulet of Lilith. You don't have to like them or agree with them, but they are a deep part of our history and identity.
Side note: superstition is not inherently wrong in Judaism, only divination and fortune telling are expressly forbidden. Jews are some of the most superstitious people I know, we don't (ashkenazim at least) even name our children after living relatives in case the angel of death makes a mistake. Sephardim are more attuned to evil eye superstition, which is also very ancient. Spitting three times? Etc. Cmon now, THIS IS who we are and have been, whether we like it or not.