A Moroccan Henna or "Beberiska"
A Henna is a traditional ceremony performed for the bride prior to the wedding ceremony.
In actuality, it WAS the wedding ceremony in the arab lands some 200+ years ago. Today, we continue
the tradition in dressing the bride, singing ancient songs, and annointing the palm of guests with
a unique smear called the "Henna".
Picture taken in Mid 60's of the Wedding of Avraham Pinto to Esther Bitton.
Today Esther Pinto is one of the select few Moroccan women who has sewn her own
Henna dress (Bestido) and has volunteered the dress & her service to the
Moroccan community in the geater Toronto, Canada region. Send an e-mail to
include your name and phone number, if you would like to have a Henna
performed for a friend or family member getting married soon.
3 Color pictures taken June 10,1995
Here is a list of names used most exclusively by Moroccan Jews
Shemot
| Male | Female | Description |
| Mochluf | Messody |
| Ishoa | Estrella | translates to "Star" |
| Mesod | Perla | translates to "Pearl" |
| Le'on | Racquel | Pronounced "Rakel" |
| Jimol | Mercedes |
| Tamito | Sol | Sol means "Sun" |
| Amran | Luna | Luna means "Moon" |
| Habib | Biba | Biba means "Life" |
| Alegria | means "Hapiness" |
| Rica | means "Wealth" |
| Molly | |
| Simha(Simy) | probably from the root of "Simcha" |
| Anita | |
| Sara | |
Sephardic Genealogy Great source of information on Sephardic Jewish Names.
What
are the Origins of Mimuna?
The seventh night of Pessah (the
eighth day in the Diaspora), while most of the communities of
Israel bid farewell to the holiday, Sephardic Jews from North
Africa continue to rejoice, in celebration of the
Mimuna.
