Sigd

The Ethiopian Sigd (סיגד in Hebrew) festival falls on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan.

It is the 50th day, starting with Yom Kippur (analogous to counting 50 days from Pesach to Shavuos), and is a festival unique to the Beta Israel community.

The holiday symbolizes the acceptance of the Torah. Some see it as a commemoration of the revelation at Mount Sinai however the Kessim have also maintained a tradition of the holiday arising some time in the 15th Century CE as a result of the persecution of Christian Amhara kings. The Kessim retreated into the wilderness in order to appeal to God for His mercy. Additionally they sought to unify the Beta-Israel and prevent them from abandoning the Haymanot (laws and traditions of Beta Israel) under persecution. So they looked toward the Book of Nehemiah and were inspired by Ezra's bringing of the "book of the law of Moses" before the assembly of Israel after it had been lost to them due to Babylonian exile. Traditionally in commemoration of the appeals made by the Kessim and consequent mass gathering, the Beta Israel would make pilgrimages to Midraro, Hoharoa, or Wusta Tsegai (possibly marking locations of resting places from Christian persecution) every year to reaffirm themselves as a religious community [Ashkenazi, Michael , and Alex Weingrod. Ethiopian Jews and Israel. Transaction Publishers, 1987.]

The word Sigd itself is from the semitic language Amharic for prostration and the root letters s-g-d are the same as in Mesgid (etymologically related to Masjid in another semitic tongue - Arabic), one of the two Ethiopian Jewish terms for synagogue, or Temple. During the celebration, members of the community fast, recite Psalms, and gather in Jerusalem where Ethiopian Rabbis called Kessim read from the Orit. The ritual is followed by the breaking of the fast, dancing, and general revelry. In February 2008 MK Uri Ariel submitted legislation to the Knesset in order to establish Sigd as an Israeli national holiday, [ [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125100 Israel National News] Ethiopian Jewish Sigd Festival to Become National Holiday. February 1, 2008] and in July 2008 the Knesset officially "decided to formally add the Ethiopian Sigd holiday to the list of State holidays." [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3562939,00.html Yedioth Ahronoth] Ethiopian Sigd Made Official State Holiday. July 2, 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.jafi.org.il/education/festivls/sigd.html "The Jewish Agency for Israel page"] , a brief description of the holiday from the Department of Zionist Education
* [http://www.iaej.co.il/pages/our_culture_sigd.htm "Ethiopian Jewish Culture"] , from the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews
* [http://www.pbase.com/yanaide/sigd "Photos of Sigd"] , by Danny Yanai