Mimouna (Hebrew: מימונה, Arabic: ميمونة, Berber: Mimuna, ⵎⵉⵎⵓⵏⴰ) is a traditional Maghrebi Jewish[1][2] celebration dinner, that currently takes place in Morocco,[3]Israel,[4]France,[5] Canada,[6] and other places around the world where Jews of Maghrebi heritage live. It is held the day after Passover, marking the return to eating hametz (leavened bread, etc.), which is forbidden throughout the week of Passover.
Though the practice only began to be recorded in the middle of the 18th century,[7][unreliable source?] its derivation and etymology are ancient. Possible derivations for the name Mimouna are: "Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef" (father of the RambamMaimonides). Thus, the Mimouna might mark the date of his birth or death;[7][8] the Hebrew word "emuna" (Hebrew: אמונה, meaning "faith") or "ma’amin" (Hebrew: מאמין, meaning "I believe");[7][8] the Arabic word for "wealth" or "good luck"[8] as on this day, according to midrash, the gold and jewelry of the drowned Egyptians washed up on the shore of the Red Sea and enriched the Israelites.[7]Mimouna is associated with "faith" and "belief" in immediate prosperity, as seen in its customs of matchmaking, and well-wishes for successful childbearing;[9]manna, which was the food God provided following the Exodus, and during the subsequent wandering in the desert.[7] The name of a Berber goddess is also a possible etymology.[10]
Mimouna celebrates belief in both the past Jewish redemption from the Egyptians and the future Messianic redemption: "In Nisan (the month in which Passover falls), the Jews were redeemed and in Nisan they will be redeemed in the future. When Passover ends and the Jews are still not redeemed, the Moroccan Jews do not lose their faith; as the Sages said: 'Even if he tarries, I will expect him every day.'"[11]
It was at the crossing of the Reed Sea on the final day of Passover that the entire nation witnessed the awesome power and might of God which was an experience that strengthened their faith.[7] "And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the LORD; and they believed in the LORD, and in His servant Moses." – Exodus 14:31
In Morocco, on the afternoon of the last day of Passover, Jewish families prepare flour, honey, milk, and butter to be used to prepare post-Passover chametz celebration dinners.[12] Historically, Jewish congregations would walk to an orchard in order to recite Birkat Ha'Ilanot, and following the conclusion of Passover, would recite passages from the Book of Proverbs and the Mishna.[7]
The celebration begins after nightfall on the last day of Passover. In many communities, non-Jewish neighbors sell chametz back to Jewish families as a beginning of the celebration. Moroccan and Algerian Jews throw open their homes to visitors, after setting out a lavish spread of traditional holiday cakes and sweetmeats. One of the holiday favorites is mofletta.[11] The table is also laid with various symbols of luck and fertility, with an emphasis on the number "5," such as five pieces of gold jewelry or five beans arranged on a leaf of pastry. The repetition of the number five references the five-fingered hamsa amulet common in both Jewish and Muslim North African and Middle Eastern communities from pre-modern times.[13] Typically all those in attendance at a Mimouna celebration are sprinkled with a mint sprig or other green dipped in milk, symbolizing good fortune and new beginnings.[14]
Early in the day of the Mimouna, families go to the sea, splash water on their face, and walk barefoot in the water, to replay the scene of the miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea, which is held to have taken place on the last day of Passover.[15]
In Israel, the Mimouna has become a popular annual happening featuring outdoor parties, picnics, BBQs, and politics: A central celebration in Jerusalem’s Sacher Park draws about 100,000 people, usually including the president and prime minister. Israeli law now requires employers to agree to grant an employee unpaid leave for Mimouna if asked.[16] One source estimated that in 2012 nearly two million people in Israel participated in Mimouna festivities.[15]
^Haim Yacobi; Mansour Nasasra (1 July 2019). Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities. Taylor & Francis. p. 51. ISBN978-1-317-23118-9.
^André Levy. “Happy Mimouna: On a Mechanism for Marginalizing Moroccan Israelis.” Israel Studies, vol. 23, no. 2, 2018, pp. 1–24. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/israelstudies.23.2.01.
^"Post-Passover Feast: How Moroccan Jews Celebrate 'Mimouna'".
^"What is a Mimouna and why are Israel's MKS wearing fezes?".
^"La mimouna, fête juive typiquement marocaine, adoptée en Israël". Franceinfo (in French). 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
^"Canada : La communauté juive marocaine célèbre la Mimouna à Toronto". 29 April 2019.
^ abcdefgEnkin, Ari (April 13, 2014). "Mimouna: A Moroccan Jewish Celebration". unitedwithisrael.org. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
^ abcJewish Agency (June 26, 2005). "Mimouna". jewishagency.org. The Jewish Agency for Israel. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
^Sharaby, Rachel. "Political Activism and Ethnic Revival of a Cultural Symbol." Ethnicities 11.4. 495
^Lieber, Ron (2018-04-02). "Celebrating Mimouna and Its Dose of Post-Passover Carbs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
^ abJewish Agency (May 11, 2015). "Mimouna Customs". jewishagency.org. The Jewish Agency for Israel. Retrieved September 23, 2015. Formerly, this wikipedia article referred to a currently unavailable page that might have been this source's predecessor:"Mimouna in Israel". Jewish Agency for Israel. 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^Bin-Nun, Yigal (8 April 2007). "Lady Luck: In Morocco, Mimouna was a feast day designed to appease a local she-devil, and contained no religious components. In Israel, however, its pagan origins have been ignored". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
^Waskow, Arthur (1990). Seasons of Our Joy: A Modern Guide to the Jewish Holidays. Boston: Beacon. pp. 133–164. ISBN978-0807036112.
^ ab"Une fête peu connue en Europe, La Mimouna". Harissa.com (in French). 25 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
^Jeffay, Nathan (12 April 2012). "Mimouna Revelries Mark End of Passover". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
External links
History of the Moroccan Jews (in French)
(in Dutch)
Kordova, Shoshana. "Word of the Day / Mimouna." Haaretz. April 2, 2013.
Goldberg, Harvey E. (1978). "The Mimuna and the Minority Status of Moroccan Jews". Ethnology. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh. 17 (1): 77. doi:10.2307/3773281. JSTOR 377328.
January 07, 2023
mimouna, hebrew, מימונה, arabic, ميمونة, berber, mimuna, ⵎⵉⵎⵓⵏⴰ, traditional, maghrebi, jewish, celebration, dinner, that, currently, takes, place, morocco, israel, france, canada, other, places, around, world, where, jews, maghrebi, heritage, live, held, afte. Mimouna Hebrew מימונה Arabic ميمونة Berber Mimuna ⵎⵉⵎⵓⵏⴰ is a traditional Maghrebi Jewish 1 2 celebration dinner that currently takes place in Morocco 3 Israel 4 France 5 Canada 6 and other places around the world where Jews of Maghrebi heritage live It is held the day after Passover marking the return to eating hametz leavened bread etc which is forbidden throughout the week of Passover MimounaMimouna celebration at Yarkon Park in Tel AvivOfficial nameמימונה Observed byMaghrebi JewsSignificanceCelebration of the end of lekhem prohibition and of PassoverBegins21st day of Nisan in Israel 22nd day of Nisan outside of IsraelEnds22nd day of Nisan in Israel 23rd day of Nisan outside of IsraelDate21 Nisan 22 Nisan 23 Nisan2022 dateSunset 23 April nightfall 24 April2023 dateSunset 13 April nightfall 14 April2024 dateSunset 30 April nightfall 1 May2025 dateSunset 20 April nightfall 21 AprilRelated toPassover Mofletta and other holiday confections Contents 1 History 2 Holiday customs 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThough the practice only began to be recorded in the middle of the 18th century 7 unreliable source its derivation and etymology are ancient Possible derivations for the name Mimouna are Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef father of the Rambam Maimonides Thus the Mimouna might mark the date of his birth or death 7 8 the Hebrew word emuna Hebrew אמונה meaning faith or ma amin Hebrew מאמין meaning I believe 7 8 the Arabic word for wealth or good luck 8 as on this day according to midrash the gold and jewelry of the drowned Egyptians washed up on the shore of the Red Sea and enriched the Israelites 7 Mimouna is associated with faith and belief in immediate prosperity as seen in its customs of matchmaking and well wishes for successful childbearing 9 manna which was the food God provided following the Exodus and during the subsequent wandering in the desert 7 The name of a Berber goddess is also a possible etymology 10 Mimouna celebrates belief in both the past Jewish redemption from the Egyptians and the future Messianic redemption In Nisan the month in which Passover falls the Jews were redeemed and in Nisan they will be redeemed in the future When Passover ends and the Jews are still not redeemed the Moroccan Jews do not lose their faith as the Sages said Even if he tarries I will expect him every day 11 It was at the crossing of the Reed Sea on the final day of Passover that the entire nation witnessed the awesome power and might of God which was an experience that strengthened their faith 7 And Israel saw the great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians and the people feared the LORD and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses Exodus 14 31Holiday customs Edit United States Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro at a Mimouna celebration in Ashkelon 2013 In Morocco on the afternoon of the last day of Passover Jewish families prepare flour honey milk and butter to be used to prepare post Passover chametz celebration dinners 12 Historically Jewish congregations would walk to an orchard in order to recite Birkat Ha Ilanot and following the conclusion of Passover would recite passages from the Book of Proverbs and the Mishna 7 The celebration begins after nightfall on the last day of Passover In many communities non Jewish neighbors sell chametz back to Jewish families as a beginning of the celebration Moroccan and Algerian Jews throw open their homes to visitors after setting out a lavish spread of traditional holiday cakes and sweetmeats One of the holiday favorites is mofletta 11 The table is also laid with various symbols of luck and fertility with an emphasis on the number 5 such as five pieces of gold jewelry or five beans arranged on a leaf of pastry The repetition of the number five references the five fingered hamsa amulet common in both Jewish and Muslim North African and Middle Eastern communities from pre modern times 13 Typically all those in attendance at a Mimouna celebration are sprinkled with a mint sprig or other green dipped in milk symbolizing good fortune and new beginnings 14 Early in the day of the Mimouna families go to the sea splash water on their face and walk barefoot in the water to replay the scene of the miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea which is held to have taken place on the last day of Passover 15 In Israel the Mimouna has become a popular annual happening featuring outdoor parties picnics BBQs and politics A central celebration in Jerusalem s Sacher Park draws about 100 000 people usually including the president and prime minister Israeli law now requires employers to agree to grant an employee unpaid leave for Mimouna if asked 16 One source estimated that in 2012 nearly two million people in Israel participated in Mimouna festivities 15 See also Edit Morocco portal Judaism portalCulture of Morocco Culture of Israel Moroccan Jews in Israel Jewish holidaysReferences Edit Haim Yacobi Mansour Nasasra 1 July 2019 Routledge Handbook on Middle East Cities Taylor amp Francis p 51 ISBN 978 1 317 23118 9 Andre Levy Happy Mimouna On a Mechanism for Marginalizing Moroccan Israelis Israel Studies vol 23 no 2 2018 pp 1 24 JSTOR www jstor org stable 10 2979 israelstudies 23 2 01 Post Passover Feast How Moroccan Jews Celebrate Mimouna What is a Mimouna and why are Israel s MKS wearing fezes La mimouna fete juive typiquement marocaine adoptee en Israel Franceinfo in French 2018 04 06 Retrieved 2021 04 12 Canada La communaute juive marocaine celebre la Mimouna a Toronto 29 April 2019 a b c d e f g Enkin Ari April 13 2014 Mimouna A Moroccan Jewish Celebration unitedwithisrael org Retrieved September 23 2015 a b c Jewish Agency June 26 2005 Mimouna jewishagency org The Jewish Agency for Israel Retrieved September 23 2015 Sharaby Rachel Political Activism and Ethnic Revival of a Cultural Symbol Ethnicities 11 4 495 Lieber Ron 2018 04 02 Celebrating Mimouna and Its Dose of Post Passover Carbs The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 08 08 a b Jewish Agency May 11 2015 Mimouna Customs jewishagency org The Jewish Agency for Israel Retrieved September 23 2015 Formerly this wikipedia article referred to a currently unavailable page that might have been this source s predecessor Mimouna in Israel Jewish Agency for Israel 2011 Retrieved 22 July 2013 Eating Jewish Mufleta Bin Nun Yigal 8 April 2007 Lady Luck In Morocco Mimouna was a feast day designed to appease a local she devil and contained no religious components In Israel however its pagan origins have been ignored Haaretz Retrieved 21 June 2011 Waskow Arthur 1990 Seasons of Our Joy A Modern Guide to the Jewish Holidays Boston Beacon pp 133 164 ISBN 978 0807036112 a b Une fete peu connue en Europe La Mimouna Harissa com in French 25 March 2013 Retrieved 22 July 2013 Jeffay Nathan 12 April 2012 Mimouna Revelries Mark End of Passover The Jewish Daily Forward Retrieved 22 July 2013 External links EditHistory of the Moroccan Jews in French Stichting Maimon in Dutch Kordova Shoshana Word of the Day Mimouna Haaretz April 2 2013 Goldberg Harvey E 1978 The Mimuna and the Minority Status of Moroccan Jews Ethnology Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh 17 1 77 doi 10 2307 3773281 JSTOR 377328 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mimouna amp oldid 1121955614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
