Mimouna: A Mouthwatering Moroccan Moed

(2) For they will bestow on you length of days, years of life and well-being. (3) Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you; bind them about your throat, write them on the tablet of your mind,

(4) And you will find favor and approbation in the eyes of G-d and man. (5) Trust in HASHEM with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.

(22) It is the blessing of HASHEM that enriches, and no toil can increase it.

(3) Entrust your affairs to HASHEM, and your plans will succeed.

(21) He who strives to do good and kind deeds attains life, success, and honor.

(18) He who tends a fig tree will enjoy its fruit, and he who cares for his master will be honored.

(10) The name of HASHEM is a tower of strength to which the righteous man runs and is safe.

(11) For through me your days will increase, and years be added to your life.

(53) Blessed is HASHEM forever; Amein and Amein.

(1) Moses received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be patient in [the administration of] justice, raise many disciples, and make a fence round the Torah.

(1) Rabbi Said: which is the straight path that a man should choose for himself? One which is an honor to the person adopting it, and [on account of which] honor [accrues] to him from others.

(1) Akabyah ben Mahalalel said: mark well three things and you will not come into the power of sin: Know from where you come, and where you are going, and before whom you are destined to give an account and reckoning. From where do you come? From a putrid drop. Where are you going? To a place of dust, of worm and of maggot. Before whom you are destined to give an account and reckoning? Before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be he.

(1) Ben Zoma said:Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99).

(1) With ten utterances the world was created. And what does this teach, for surely it could have been created with one utterance? But this was so in order to punish the wicked who destroy the world that was created with ten utterances, And to give a good reward to the righteous who maintain the world that was created with ten utterances.

(1) The sages taught in the language of the mishnah. Blessed be He who chose them and their teaching. Rabbi Meir said: Whoever occupies himself with the Torah for its own sake, merits many things; not only that but he is worth the whole world. He is called beloved friend; one that loves G-d; one that loves humankind; one that gladdens G-d; one that gladdens humankind. And the Torah clothes him in humility and reverence, and equips him to be righteous, pious, upright and trustworthy; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to merit. And people benefit from his counsel, sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is said, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine” (Proverbs 8:14). And it bestows upon him royalty, dominion, and acuteness in judgment. To him are revealed the secrets of the Torah, and he is made as an ever-flowing spring, and like a stream that never ceases. And he becomes modest, long-suffering and forgiving of insult. And it magnifies him and exalts him over everything.

Rav Mesharshiya said: Over this garden daffodil one recites: Who creates fragrant trees, while over a wild daffodil that grows in the field, one recites: Who creates fragrant plants. Rav Sheshet said: Over fragrant violets one recites: Who creates fragrant plants. Mar Zutra said: One who smells a citron [etrog] or a quince recites: Blessed…who gave pleasant fragrance in fruits. On a related topic, the Gemara cites that Rav Yehuda said: One who goes out during Nisan and sees trees that are blossoming recites: Blessed is He who has withheld nothing from His world, and has created in it beautiful creatures and trees for human beings to enjoy. Rav Zutra bar Toviya said that Rav said: From where is it derived that one recites a blessing over scent? As it is stated: “Let every soul praise the Lord” (Psalms 150:6). He explains the verse: What is it from which the soul derives benefit and the body does not derive benefit from it? You must say: That is scent. Even over items from which only the soul derives benefit, one must recite a blessing and praise G-d.

(1) One who goes out in the month of Nisan and sees trees that have put forth flowers says, "Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has not left anything lacking in the world and who has created in in good creations and good trees from which people can benefit." And this blessing can only be made once each and every year and if one delays until after the fruit has grown on the tree it is too late.

(4) If a tree blossomed in Nissan but one did not see it until later he may say the bracha as long as the fruit on the tree has not yet ripened.

(5) However, one who saw a fruit tree in bloom during the month of Nissan but forgot or neglected to recite a blessing, may only recite the bracha up until the fruit has begun to grow.

On Shabbat and Yom Tov, one is not to recite Birkhat ha'Ilanot, lest the trees be shaken or the flowers thereof taken in their hands to smell them or they be torn off. Malach there is the letter teyt and it seems from the words of the Mako who wrote that through this blessing the sparks of holiness from the plant are clarified. There is another word of prohibition and therefore it is forbidden to bless this blessing on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

(4) (Lift Cup)

(5) The Cup of Salvation, I shall Lift & in the Name of HASHEM I Shall call.

(6) Please HASHEM Save Now. Please HASHEM Save Now.

(7) Please HASHEM Give Success Now. Please HASHEM Give Success Now.

(8) Give us success & make prosper our matters & our [Torah] learning & send blessing, abundance & success to all our undertakings. As it is written “He shall receive a blessing from the HASHEM & benevolence from the G·d of his Salvation.” “To the Jews there was light & joy, happiness, & honor.” And as it is written “And David was prosperous in all his matters & G·d was with him.”

Thus should be with us always.

(9) Hearken, our masters / To Life

(10) Blessed are You, HASHEM, Our G·d, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

(15) Blessed are You, HASHEM, Our G·d, King of the Universe, Who distinguishes between the Holy & the mundane, & between light & dark, & between Yisrael & the Nations, & between Seventh Day & the Six Workdays. Blessed are You, HASHEM, Our G·d, King of the Universe, Who distinguishes between the Holy & the mundane. ...

(16) (Drink wine or juice.)