Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World

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Henna
(2,621 words)

Henna was used throughout the Islamic world for both everyday and ritual ornamentation. In passage ceremonies it marked and protected participants. It was used as well on holidays and at times of joy—most prominently in prewedding ceremonies. Jewish communities adapted henna to their own purposes, creating novel rituals and ceremonies. Today, henna ceremonies have become popular again among Sephardi/Mizraḥi Jews in Israel and France.

1. Botany

Henna (Ar. al-ḥinnāʾ , Pers. ḥana) refers to…

Cite this page
Noam Sienna, “Henna”, in: Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1878-9781_ejiw_COM_000682>
First published online: 2010



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