Thousands of Ethiopian Jews gathered in Jerusalem on Thursday to celebrate Sigd, an ancient holiday that has taken on renewed meaning amid Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas.
The celebration, held annually on the 29th of the month of Cheshvan (50 days after Yom Kippur), saw worshippers converge on the Armon Hanatziv Promenade—which overlooks the Temple Mount from the south—and the Western Wall for prayers and festivities.
Sigd, which means “prostration” in Ge’ez (aka Classical Ethiopic), has been observed by Ethiopian Jews, the Beta Israel, for centuries as a day to renew their covenant with God and express their longing for Zion. Traditionally in Ethiopia, community members would ascend a high mountain to pray, symbolizing the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Now in Israel, the community continues this tradition with a focus on unity and cultural pride.
This year’s prayers focused on the safe return of the 101 hostages held in Gaza, including Avraham Mengistu, a member of the Ethiopian community. President Isaac Herzog, who attended the ceremony, emphasized the holiday’s relevance to current events, saying, “Our brothers and sisters have not yet returned home from Gaza. Their voices cry out to us from underground, reminding us that there is no greater mitzvah than the redemption of captives.”
The day began with fasting and prayers, led by spiritual leaders known as Kessim, who are parallel to the rabbis found in other Jewish communities. Many worshippers wore traditional white garments. The Kessim carried the Orit, the Ethiopian Torah written in the ancient Ge’ez language, and recited passages including parts of the Book of Nehemiah.
Deputy Knesset Speaker Moshe Solomon, a rabbi and a lieutenant colonel in the IDF reserves who made aliyah from Ethiopia via Sudan in 1983, highlighted the dual nature of this year’s prayers, focusing on traditional themes and current national concerns. “The prayer was said for the success of the security forces at the front,” he noted. “It was said for the unity of Israel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, for the return of the hostages, and for the healing of the wounded in body and soul.”
Sigd became an official Israeli state holiday in 2008 and continues to serve as a bridge between Ethiopian Jewish traditions and the wider Israeli society.
Qes Efraim Zion Lawi, the first Israeli-born Qes (spiritual leader) of the Ethiopian Jewish community, emphasized the holiday’s significance: “Sigd is about hope. The hope of living in Israel and rebuilding the temple. Until the day that happens, we need to keep our Jewish and Ethiopian identities alive and thriving.”
The celebration included an exhibition at the Western Wall, showcasing the history of the Ethiopian Jewish community from biblical times. Later in the day, the fast was broken with festive meals and dancing, reminiscent of the traditional celebrations in Ethiopia.
Sigd stands as a reminder of the power of faith, unity and cultural heritage in the face of adversity. The holiday’s observance in Israel has evolved since the community’s immigration, with celebrations now lasting for an entire month leading up to the 29th of Cheshvan. This extended period provides an opportunity to raise awareness about Ethiopian Jewish culture and educate Israeli society about Beta Israel customs.
