Ethiopian Jews celebrate Sigd in Jerusalem, hope to share the holiday with all Israelis
For some, Sigd is a sacred day of prayer. For others, a celebration of family and roots. In Jerusalem, Ethiopian Jews want to share both with the rest of Israel.
Ethiopian Jews in Jerusalem began celebrating Sigd, a significant holiday for their community, with over 500 people gathering on the Armon Hanatziv promenade. The day started sunny after several rainy days, with festive clothing and colorful ceremonial umbrellas visible throughout the crowd. Sigd, which occurs 50 days after Yom Kippur, is observed by Jews who trace their heritage to Ethiopia.
The central meaning of the holiday is the renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people and God, as celebrated through prayers in the ancient language of Ge'ez and recitations from Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Nehemiah. Shoshana Ben-Dor, a researcher and former director of NACOEJ, emphasized the importance of Sigd for all Jews, not just Ethiopian Jews.
She noted that the holiday should be observed by Jews from other communities as well, as it represents a unique aspect of Jewish tradition that could foster unity among different backgrounds.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
