Moufletta Cooking Demo 1 of 2: SHIN-DC Mimouna at the Smithsonian 2022 (1/12)

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Sephardic Heritage International Celebrates Mimouna Festival at the Smithsonian, First in-Person Mimouna Since the Pandemic Began

WASHINGTON DC - On April 24, Sephardic Heritage International in Washington (SHIN-DC) celebrated its 8th annual "Mimouna at the Smithsonian - A Festival of Good Neighbors", as a hybrid event (both in person and virtual) in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution.

Israeli Cultural Attaché Michal Ofek, Congressional Affairs Advisor Hatim El Fethouni of the Embassy of Morocco, Mr. Kevin Craft from the office of the Governor of Maryland, Reverend Thomas Bowen from the Mayor of Washington’s Office of Religious Affairs, Former U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain J. Adam Ereli, and other public figures participated in this year’s Mimouna with SHIN-DC.

The Embassies of Israel and Morocco in Washington continue to be partners with SHIN-DC for Mimouna. “Mimouna at the Smithsonian” was co-sponsored by the Embassy of Israel, the State of Maryland, renowned art collector Dr. Kenneth X. Robbins, Casablanca Travel and Tours, and the Washington Moroccan American Club, with support from the Embassy of Morocco.

Over 500 participants who participated in “Mimouna at the Smithsonian” experienced traditional Jewish-Moroccan dishes with cooking demonstrations by Moroccan-Israeli chefs Doron Azrad and Rachell Bitton.

Furthermore, the event featured live music by Muslim and Jewish musicians from Israel, Morocco, and the United States, including Cantor Michael Kakone (vocals) and Chakib Hilali (oud).

Special tours of artworks that express the interfaith and neighborly themes inspired by the Mimouna festival of good neighbors included jewelry made by Moroccan Jewish artisans - part of the National Museum of African Art’s collection.

“It is very encouraging to see Moroccan traditions and Mimouna being kept alive at a great institution like the Smithsonian and also to have so many people from diverse backgrounds show up for SHIN-DC’s first in-person event since the pandemic began,” Sephardic Heritage International director Franz Afraim Katzir said in a statement.

“It is also very encouraging to see the Embassies of Israel and Morocco take the lead in preserving Moroccan Jewish traditions both at home and in the diaspora" added Katzir, who is also Commissioner for Middle Eastern American Affairs for the State of Maryland.

“Mimouna marks the end of Passover and is inspired by Moroccan Jewish and interfaith narratives of unity, commemoration, goodwill and neighborliness. During Mimouna, Jewish families would open their homes to Jews and non-Jews alike, and enjoy leavened foods in a neighborly celebration.”

Since SHIN-DC's Mimouna initiative was founded 8 years ago by Moroccan Muslims and Jews in Washington, this is the first year that the festival intersects with Ramadan. Accordingly, this year, Muslims in attendance both celebrated the Mimouna culinary festival and broke their fast.

“We heard from our older generation about the good relations between the Jewish and Muslim communities in Morocco, and wanted to experience that for ourselves here in Washington,” Katzir said.

Back in December SHIN-DC's director celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the normalization agreement between Israel and Morocco, as a special guest of Morocco's Ambassador Princess Lalla Joumala and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog.

The last in-person Mimouna at the Smithsonian was in 2019. Last year, SHIN-DC’s Mimouna was co-hosted by the Israeli and Moroccan embassies in Washington. That event featured Moroccan musician Ismail Bouzidoune and Moroccan-Israeli musician Mor Karbasi.

SEPHARDIC HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL (SHIN-DC)
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