A Custom for Rosh Hodesh Nisan
My Djerban-born friend Yael G. introduced my family to a custom observed on Rosh Hodesh Nissan by Jews from Libya and Tunisia. The custom is called פשישה/בסיסה. See here and here. There are three reasons given for this custom:
1. According to Megillat Ta’anit, from Rosh Hodesh Nisan until the eighth of the month the altar for the תמיד offering was built. (see here).
2. According to the Mishnah, Rosh Hodesh Nisan is one of the new years. (see here)
3. Many conversos from Spain and Portugal settled in these communities and this ritual was a way of both celebrating Spring and announcing the soon to be celebrated holiday of Passover.
The ritual is observed by first making a mixture made from roasted and ground wheat, barley, chickpeas, and fennel seeds. Some people add other ingredients. The parents then take olive oil and pour it into the mixture while the other members of the family hold out their pinkie finger and the oil is poured over the pinkie. The pinkie is then used to stir the mixture. For Libyan Jews it doesn’t seem to be the pinkie, just any old finger. Then a key, or another piece of jewerly, is taken and used to stir the mixture. After the mixture is stirred a blessing in said. The first version is from Djerba and is in Arabic written in Hebrew letters and the second version is in Hebrew. For the Libyan version see here.
“הפותח בלי מפתח פתח לנו בלי מפתח, פתח לנו את הדלתות, שבור מעלינו את המנעול. ערבוב הבשישה במפתח חון אותנו אתה הפותח כל. חון ורחם עלינו רבי ניסים המצרי”.
Translation: The one who opens without a key, open for us without a key. Open for us the doors, break open from upon us the lock. The one who mixes the beshishah with a key, show favor to us you who opens all. Show favor and mercy upon us Rabbi Nissim the Egyptian.
As explained to me by Yael, according to Djerban folklore, Rabbi Nissim the Egyptian is none other than Elijah the Prophet, a figure associated with Passover. See here (short/Hebrew) and here (long/Hebrew with English summary) for a description of the background for this association.
I’ll tell you how the בשישה tastes after this evening.
Update: Here are some pictures from our בשישה ceremony. If you add enough sugar it tastes fine.
