Facts in Judaism
Yitro's Feast: Eating Doves and Singing Hymns
This unique Tunisian Jewish custom has several different sources, including one in this week's parasha. Children are the stars of this colorful evening celebration, which is why this feast, also known as 'The Children's Feast,' is served in tiny dishes with miniature portions.
This evening, Tunisian Jews will observe a special tradition known as 'Yitro's Feast.' This custom is unique to the Tunisian Jewish community, and three different explanations are offered for this unusual practice. It is commonly explained that this celebration marks the end of a deadly plague that afflicted the community and claimed the lives of many young boys on the week that Parashat Yitro is read. According to tradition, they would feed the sick children dove meat, which was believed to have medicinal value. For this reason, the dove is at the center of the feast.
Others explain that this celebration can be traced to this week's Torah portion, which states: "Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat bread with Moshe's father-in-law before Hashem." In other words, this feast commemorates the festive meal that Aaron and the Jewish elders shared with Yitro..
The dishes are served in miniature (Illustrations: shutterstock) Still others maintain that this practice is linked to the Ten Commandments, which are found in Parshat Yitro. On the Shabbat when this parsha was read, the young children who were taught to read the Torah in 'Kuttab' (Torah school) would read the Ten Commandments from the Torah for the first time. To mark this festive occasion, parents would hold a special feast, and this feast is still commemorated today.
"Yitro's Feast" is a joyful, colorful, and unique meal that features tiny utensils made for children. For example, the plates are the size of coffee coasters. Dove meat, or stuffed dove, is served as the main course. At the end of the meal, children are given sweets and miniature versions of Purim pastries. Not only are the utensils used at this meal pint-sized, but the food is also served in small amounts. Salads are served in tiny saucers, as are other foods.
What else will you find on the table at "Yitro's Feast?" The table often features small beans (usually green), small candlesticks with tiny colored candles, and bite-sized Tunisian cookies soaked in honey syrup. Participants customarily study holy texts, sing hymns, and share words of Torah at the feast, in the merit of the members of their families.
