The Sigd holiday, preserved over the centuries by Ethiopian Jewry and today celebrated by many branches of the People of Israel, begins on the Hebrew date of 29 Heshvan, 50 days after Yom Kippur. The holiday is marked by fasting, purification and renewal. At the center of the Sigd ritual is the renewal of the Covenant between the people of Israel and God.
The ritual traditionally took place at the summit of a tall mountain that signified Mt. Sinai where the Torah was originally given, and was presided over by the community’s priests.
In Israel, a custom has developed to mark the holiday on the promenade at Armon HaNetziv in Jerusalem, that overlooks the Temple Mount in the Old City, in the presence of community and religious leaders.
Adv. Zeev Kaso,
Director, Program for the Advancement and Integration of Ethiopian-Israeli Students
