Mimouna: The Holiday of Good Neighbors
At the end of Passover (or on years like this year, at the end of Shabbat adjacent to the end of Passover), households around Israel celebrate the “Mimouna” holiday, a holiday filled with baked sweets, good cheer, and open doors. The holiday, which came to Israel from North Africa, connects to many themes, including faith, redemption, and neighborly relations. This study looks at a few different aspects of the holiday in order to lead to a deeper understanding of its customs and their meaning. The texts used in this study are taken from the KIAH (Kol Israel Haverim) booklet, entitled “And I Will Betroth You to Me with the Mimouna.”