Thousands of celebrants are expected to attend Sigd holiday events today (Thursday) in Jerusalem. The Sigd holiday, observed annually on the 29th of Cheshvan, 50 days after Yom Kippur, symbolizes the power of hope and dreams for the Beta Israel community of Ethiopian Jews. This ancient holiday, part of the Ethiopian Jewish tradition for thousands of years, expresses the renewal of the covenant between the people of Israel and God and the reaffirmation of the Sinai event and the acceptance of the Torah.
A Separation from Worldly Distractions
For years, until the aliyah (immigration) of Ethiopian Jews to Israel—mainly between 1977-1991 during “Operation Brothers” and “Operation Solomon”—the Beta Israel community prayed for a return to Jerusalem. The community would gather and pray on a high mountain free of graves, symbolizing the purity and sanctity of Mount Sinai and reflecting a detachment from worldly distractions. Today, the ceremony takes place at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade, offering a clear view of the Temple Mount—the site of the ancient Temple.
The holiday incorporates biblical elements, centering on the renewal of the covenant in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, when the people of Israel rededicated themselves to keeping the commandments. Among the Beta Israel community, this ceremony became an annual tradition in which the community “bows” to God, expressing loyalty and longing for a return to Zion. The name of the holiday, “Sigd,” means “worship” or “prostration” and encapsulates the holiday’s message.
“Next Year in a Rebuilt Jerusalem!”
The first documented instance of the holiday dates back to the 15th century when the kesim (spiritual leaders) of the Beta Israel community established a stone altar on the summit of one of the tallest mountains near their villages. On the stones, they placed the Mesaf Kedus—their sacred texts. On the eve of the holiday, community members would purify themselves, slaughter sheep and cattle for the prayers, and break the fast. On the day of the holiday, they would fast, wake early, immerse in the river, and wear white garments. Then, the community would ascend the mountain, with the priests wrapped in tallitot (prayer shawls) and others carrying colorful umbrellas, singing songs of joy and carrying the Orit—the Ethiopian translation of the Torah.
At the mountain’s peak, they would read in Ge’ez, the ancient liturgical language, the account of Mount Sinai, the blessings and curses from Leviticus, the renewal of the covenant in Nehemiah, and more. At the ceremony’s conclusion, the community would kneel and bow, confess their sins, and conclude with the blowing of trumpets and the declaration: “Next year in a rebuilt Jerusalem!”
After descending from the mountain, celebrants would hold a large communal mitzvah meal in the village, breaking the fast with sheep, cattle, *injera* bread, and a local barley beverage called *tella*. Even today, after the Beta Israel community’s immigration to Israel, the holiday remains a central tradition, celebrated with major ceremonies—primarily at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem. In 2008, the holiday was recognized as an official holiday in Israel, reflecting national acknowledgment of Beta Israel’s heritage as part of Israel’s cultural fabric.
Happy Sigd! መልካም የሲግድ በዓል!
