Ethiopian Keis (Traditional Spiritual Leader) Leads Gez Prayer Service at Ono Ceremony Marking Sigd Holiday
At Ono Academic College’s Sigd Holiday commemoration, Keis Rachamim (Mehertu) led an ancient Gez-Langauge Ethiopian Jewish prayer service on behalf of the souls of those who were killed, the safety of our soldiers, the return of our captives and the complete and speedy recovery of our wounded.
He noted that an essential component of the Sigd holiday is crying out to God. The holiday was founded by Ezra and Nehemiah when they returned to Zion following the first captivity.
Keis Rachamim shared an aphorism that the weapon of both the dog and Beta Israel is their mouth. Beta Israel’s strongest weapon is opening its mouth in prayer.
He also shared a story about the most pressing issue of our time—loving our neighbor. Two life-long friends were forced to separate so that one could pursue his business. The friend who travelled abroad was arrested for spying and sentenced to death. He asked the King of the land for a month to go home and settle his affairs and then he promised to return for his hanging. The King challenged him, not believing that the man could find someone willing to guarantee his return and hang in his place if he ran away. The condemned man said, I have such a friend, and he presented his life-long companion. The condemned man promised to return to the King within a month, but was delayed, and the King prepared to hang his friend who was willing to die in his place. The condemned man returned right before the hanging and a disagreement broke out with his friend about whom the King would hang. The King sent away all his servants and asked to have a private audience with both friends. The King said, “I will not hang you and I will not hang you. After seeing the dedication you have for each other, I only ask that you both will have me as your friend.”
Keis Rachamim then began the ancient Ethiopian Jewish prayer of salvation which is ascribed to Noah, the survivor of the flood and based on the invocations of his ancestors, Hanoch, Methusalah, and Lemech.
