Henna Party: Celebrate Middle Eastern Jewish Wedding Traditions

Join the Magnes and JIMENA, Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa for Henna Party: Celebrate Middle Eastern Jewish Wedding Traditions and experience the special garments, tastes, songs, and spirit of a traditional Sephardic and Mizrahi Henna Ceremony!

In person at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life, 2121 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA

Program will include:

• A Mizrahi Jewish Henna ceremony led by Rabbi Tsipora Gabbai, the world’s first female Moroccan Rabbi
• Middle eastern food by Hummus Bodega
• Live music
• Private guided tour of the Magnes exhibition
• An opportunity for 12 volunteers to model the wedding costumes of the wedding party

A Mizrahi Jewish Henna ceremony is a traditional pre-wedding celebration, deeply rooted in the cultural practices of Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa. As with many Jewish diaspora traditions, the Henna ceremony evolved through the dynamic interplay between Jewish customs and the cultural influences of the non-Jewish societies in which these communities lived. Jewish communities in countries like Morocco, Libya, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran adapted local customs—including the ancient practice of using henna to mark life events—to suit Jewish values and practices. The ceremony typically takes place a few days before the wedding and centers around the symbolic application of henna paste onto the hands of the bride, and in some traditions, the groom as well. This reddish-brown dye is meant to bestow blessings, protection, and good fortune, while warding off the evil eye and ensuring a prosperous future for the couple. During the event, family and friends gather to sing, dance, and dress in ornate traditional clothing, often reflecting the styles of the couple’s ancestral communities. The celebration is marked by music, festive meals, and the sharing of sweets, symbolizing the joy and unity of the extended family. This unique blend of local cultural influences with Jewish traditions highlights the adaptability and resilience of Mizrahi Jews, resulting in a beautiful expression of their diverse heritage and history.

About the exhibition
Co-curated by Magnes Curator Dr. Francesco Spagnolo and scholar of Islamic art Dr. Qamar Adamjee, shares a selection of artworks and objects from the Magnes’s permanent collection that challenge common views about historical dualities and creative engagement among Muslim and Jewish artists and patrons. The exhibition highlights rootedness in diaspora, shared graphic forms and visual landscapes, attitudes towards sacred texts and human bodies, and networks of trade and knowledge exchange, all centering around the fundamental role of light in Jewish and Muslim prayer space.

Host or Publisher JIMENA