זַעַף/Za'af/Fury 2023. Gouache, acrylic, ink. ✡🕊🧿☪️The Hamsa, the Hand of Miriam or the Hand of Fatima, is a special symbol with ancient roots that directly represents protection in both Jewish and Islamic cultures. It is one of the oldest Jewish symbols; its imagery has been found on ancient Israelite tombs dating all the way back to the 8th century BCE. In Islam it is associated with Muhammad's daughter Fatima. This is a shared symbol believed to safeguard and neutralize negative energies particularly the Evil Eye (a broad concept dating back to the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians) and to bring harmony, something direly needed now. I draw the hamsa to invoke the protection and shared heritage of Jews, Palestinians, Arabs, Bedouins, Druzes, Circassians, and Arameans. A prayer for protections needed, the shared liberation and justice that is necessary. A hope for protection against extreme actions, violence, and war yelled hollowly in our names but ultimately serving as a cudgel flattening who we are. Our liberation is intertwined and shared. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve to live in peace and safety. We must embrace humanity of those around us; to resist the urge to flatten, simplify, minimize the experience of others, to eviscerate nuance and broadly Westernize conflicts cultures and histories to suit a narrative and box. People are not their governments, and conversely there must be real genuine policy solutions with willing negotiation partners interested in working towards similar goals.Show up for your local Jewish, Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab communities and speak against bigotry present in the here and now. Antisemitic and islamophobic incidents are spiking across Western worlds. It is becoming incredibly unsafe to be visibly Jewish, Palestinian, or Muslim especially in the West. Additionally we are all being severely traumatized in a hyper specific ways with algorithms serving us likely 5x the horrific news stories, images than if you are not one of those identities. Hold empathy your heart and do not be selective with your empathy. I am holding deep sorrow in my heart for loss of lives and for the fear permeating.