Jews from Morocco built Sderot.  They came here in the early years of Israel’s statehood.  So it’s no surprise that Moroccan culture is part of living in Sderot.

The Karaoke Guy, for example, sings Mizrahi songs with the familiar high pitched nasal quality of North African tastes.

In this neighborhood, even when the Karaoke Guy isn’t singing, there is often music.  Drums, mostly.  The kind you play with your hands.

Actually that is just about the only kind of music I hear; drums and tamborines and the “Moroccan cheer.”

I call it the Moroccan cheer. Only women can do it.  They warble their tongue around while letting out a loud and prolonged yelp.  “li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li.”  They use it in celebration.

If you look out my window, you can often see where these little parties – little processions with drums, tamborines, and Moroccan cheers – go.  I have always figured they were celebrating weddings and such.

I found out I was almost right.  They celebrate the pre-wedding.  A friend told me that the little building outside my window is a mikva – a place for a ritual bath.

You’d think the bride would want to do this quietly.  And so far as I know, most Jewish brides do.  But I guess the Moroccans like a celebration whenever they can have one.

So they bring the bride to the mikva in loud processions with cheers, drums, and maybe dancing — to let everyone know the bride is going to take a bath.

Do they take pictures, too?