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Mimouna in Jerusalem

Mimouna celebrations signal end of Passover

Politicians join country-wide holiday feasts, which originated from Moroccan tradition celebrating end of Passover, coming of spring.

From the Golan Heights in the north to Eilat in the south, hundreds of thousands of Israelis lined the streets Monday evening for the celebration of Mimouna, a prominent part of Passover and a sign of the significant impact of Moroccan traditions on Israeli culture.

 

 

Cities across Israel organize their own celebration every year marking the end of Passover according to Moroccan tradition. Mimouna is a popular Jewish holiday celebrated the after the end of Passover which originated in North Africa. The name of the celebration comes from the death of Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon

 

Large tents were erected in most places and decorated with Moroccan clothing. Moroccan music plays a large part in the celebration filling the air, while inside and outside the tents tables are laden with traditional sweets marking the return to eating bread and assorted bread products.

 

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Israel's prominent politicians took part in celebrations across the country gorging themselves on ethnic treats prepared specifically for the event.

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon spent the evening in Modi'in where he was a guest at the Keslassy family Mimouna and told participants about his personal connection to the event.

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon at Mimouna celebrations (Photo: Motti Kimchi) (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon at Mimouna celebrations (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

 

"My wife comes from a Moroccan family and just recently left for a trip to Morocco to learn more about her roots, so I know the holiday from the home. We are entering a spring of flourishing and prosperity – so many sweet things that the Moroccan people brought to Israel have been adopted by all."

 

Meanwhile Opposition Chariman Isaac Herzog was in the north, where he played the violin while Nesher mayor Avi Binamo backed him up on the drums.

 

MK Isaac Herzog (middle) played violin for guests in Nesher (Photo: Kfir Peretz) (Photo: Kfir Peretz)
MK Isaac Herzog (middle) played violin for guests in Nesher (Photo: Kfir Peretz)

 

Afterwards, Herzog entered a tent and enjoyed at hot mofletta. "The tastes here are amazing. They aren't exactly the tastes I know from my father's house," he laughed. "Although my mother is Egyptian, I'm happy to come to this huge celebration which is so Israeli. Though I don't like that it's become another event for politicians." .

 

Some speculate that because Mimouna begins with the ceremony of the kneading of the dough, the role of the holiday is to bridge between the week of Passover when it's forbidden to eat bread or related products.

 

The tradition began in Israel in 1966 when 300 immigrants from the city Fez in Morocco celebrated the holiday. By 1968, more than 5,000 Israelis enjoyed the holiday and today as many as 250,000 people are expected to partake in the festivities.

 

The main celebration is held annually at Gan Sacher in Jerusalem.

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.22.14, 01:40
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