(Hai Fa) – On the evening after the seventh of Passover, when spring merges with the sweet aromas of homemade desserts, Aliza Elkayim Abadi, 72, a mother of four and grandmother of eleven grandchildren, opens the door of her home with a wide heart and invites anyone who wishes to celebrate the holiday of Mimouna with her. For fifteen years, since the passing of her parents, she has made a point of celebrating this holiday every year anew – with kindness, generosity, and a real sense of mission.
On the evening after the seventh day of Passover, when spring is already spreading in every corner and hearts are open to renewal, the holiday of Mimouna arrives—a traditional holiday full of joy, flavors, colors, and a spirit of brotherhood and generosity. It is an event that illuminates homes with a unique light and fills hearts with love.
The doors of the houses open wide and lovingly welcome anyone who wishes to participate. The family members, dressed in colorful and decorated button-downs, welcome the guests with wide smiles and happy hearts. The atmosphere is vibrant, sweet smells fill the air, and the table – a table that is heaven on earth.
On the Mimouna table you will find a wealth of traditional and indulgent delicacies – the handiwork of women who have lovingly preserved the tradition of cooking and baking. The mufflats, the heroine of the evening, are placed one on top of the other on a shiny copper plate, dripping with butter and honey, and emitting a tempting aroma that warms the heart. Alongside them, you will find traditional cookies, colorful mini sweets, dates, candied fruits, homemade jams and cool, refreshing drinks.
Aliza's Mimouna – Tradition, Roots, and Love of Man
In an interview with Haifa, Aliza talks about her deep connection to the holiday, and although she didn't grow up as a "typical Moroccan," she says the culture has been alive and well in her home since childhood. "I grew up in Eilat until I was 18, and at home we spoke Hebrew, but Moroccan customs were an inseparable part of our lives," she recalls. "When we arrived in Haifa, to my extended family, I experienced the Mimouna in all its glory for the first time – tables full of people, people who never stop coming, and joy that never ends."
Curiosity led Aliza to search for the roots of the colorful celebration. Aliza, who holds four academic degrees and is currently also a student of gerontology, is a creative, writes poetry, and has even published a children's book, says she learned that the origin of the Mimouna is not unambiguous.
"Some believe that it marks the transition between spring and summer, others claim that it is the day of the passing of Rabbi Maimon – the father of Maimonides. There is also the interpretation that it is auspicious – 'maimon' in Moroccan. Some also see it as a ceremony of peace and friendship between Jews and Arabs – after Passover, when the leaven that was sold to the Arabs was returned, the Jews would host their neighbors with honor and joy."
One of the exciting features of the Mimouna holiday, in her eyes, is the way the door is open – literally. “It’s not a holiday of invitations. You see a house with a Mimouna table – you enter. Everyone is welcomed.” And that’s exactly how things are at her house: “In my house, we don’t put in any leaven until after the holiday. When the children arrive – we set up a table full of goodies, with everyone who wants to come. Every year there are also new guests.”
Aliza not only lives the tradition – she passes it on to the next generation. "Last year, the children took on the Moffat project, and I was the main hostess. It's important to me to instill this legacy in the grandchildren's memories.
But Aliza's story is much more than just slurs and mint. A warm, intelligent woman, full of positive energy and a rare joy of life. In the past, she even donated a kidney to her husband, who was not Moroccan but was completely assimilated into the culture. "Although he passed away, I continue the tradition with pleasure. Even during Corona - we celebrated without people, but I prepared and distributed from the door."
Her message is simple, but profound: "Live with a consciousness of blessing, abundance, and hospitality. Whoever comes – welcome. There is always room. Open your heart, be inclusive, look at those who are different with a kind eye. If each of us does a small thing – once a day, once a week or once a month – we will build a better and healthier society here."
And Aliza, like Mimouna itself, is a wonderful combination of tradition, acceptance, sweetness, and hope.
Aliza invites you to celebrate Maimuna at her home
Text of a poem written by Aliza on the eve of Mimouna:
A glorious evening has arrived, a happy and good day,
The house was opened with joy to many guests,
The hosts are dressed in beautiful hats,
Decorated with beads and colored threads,
And the whole sight is so magnificent and pleasant,
Like a dream on a hot and humid summer night.
...
Maymuna, maymuna, a holiday of joy and light,
Shulchan Aruch is like a flourishing garden of Eden,
Sweet, colorful, and delicious flavors,
From the hands of amazing artistic women,
A taste of the Garden of Eden on the face of the earth.
The Shulchan is full of all goodness and pleasure,
In the glorious harvest, magnificent in beauty and color,
The white and the yellow are served in separate pots,
Acts of faith done with great love,
And the smell of the food is intoxicating,
Like a rare and expensive perfume.
...
Maymuna, maymuna, a holiday of joy and light,
Shulchan Aruch is like a flourishing garden of Eden,
Sweet, colorful, and delicious flavors,
From the hands of amazing artistic women,
A taste of the Garden of Eden on the face of the earth.
The emissions on a shiny copper plane,
And the oil shines like the light of the stars,
Scented with honey and sweet honey,
Rolled or folded into small thirds,
And the taste melted in his mouth with great pleasure,
A sweet and heartwarming experience.
...
Maymuna, maymuna, a holiday of joy and light,
Shulchan Aruch is like a flourishing garden of Eden,
Sweet, colorful, and delicious flavors,
From the hands of amazing artistic women,
A taste of the Garden of Eden on the face of the earth.
Teacups shimmer in tall pitchers,
With fresh and wonderful scents of mint,
The sweet taste blends with sweetness,
With the refreshing scent of mint,
And the call is received with joy and pleasure,
A night filled with life and love.
...
Maymuna, maymuna, a holiday of joy and light,
Shulchan Aruch is like a flourishing garden of Eden,
Sweet, colorful, and delicious flavors,
From the hands of amazing artistic women,
A taste of the Garden of Eden on the face of the earth.
The heart is filled with joy and gratitude,
On the beautiful holiday and the wonderful tradition,
Family together, close friends,
Celebrating with song and dance and sweeping illnesses,
And hope for a good and blessed year,
Filling the souls with great light.
Noga, thank you very much for contacting me and to Samar for the interview and writing the article. Thank you very much. May you be blessed.
The article promotes multiculturalism in Israeli society. It was an exciting, pleasant, bright, delicious, colorful, and most of all, social and family-friendly evening. The older grandchildren especially participated in setting the tables and preparing the trays of sweets, cookies, jams, and all sorts of thanks to the loving guests who came.
It's an honor for me.
"You must not distort history-"
"The Moroccans acted most of the time with cruelty towards the Hebrew minority."
These words were written in an extensive article by Dr. Gabi Butbol, born in Morocco and also a researcher of Jewish communities and a writer.
It is recommended to read his article on the Makor Rishon website, and on other informative websites about the disturbances that took place, and not only in Morocco, speaking of these days that those celebrating may have forgotten, and this was before 1948.
So what kind of peace and what kind of evil are we talking about exactly??