DECEMBER 30 • 2021 | 39

ERETZ

S

igd is an important holiday within
the Ethiopian Jewish community.
It celebrates the dedication of
renewing the alliance between God and
the people. Back in Ethiopia, it was a
fasting day where the Jews would climb
the highest mountain, pray all day long,
then come down and celebrate with lots
of food, dancing and joy.
In Israel, the main Sigd celebration
takes place in the Armon Hanatziv

neighborhood in Jerusalem. All
Ethiopian-Israelis (called the Beta
Israel community) go to Jerusalem to
pray together with the Kessim (religious
leaders). In recent years, the holiday
has become more widely celebrated,
introducing the holiday and the entire
culture of Ethiopian Jewry to the
community at large. This helps Ethiopian
children relate more to their traditions
and empowers them to connect with their

roots and their identity.
For several years now, my family and
I have been participating in celebrating
the holiday in schools. My children help
me to prepare traditional foods, which
we bring to the school, and then I tell my
personal aliyah story.
My kids tell me how empowered
they feel during this time, and how
introducing their culture and tradition to
their friends makes them feel part of the
group and not different from everyone
else.
In addition, our house is always open,
enabling contact with people from the
broader community. My older sons take
part in the Partnership2Gether Teen
Leadership Program, where they get
to meet peers from various places and
communities and broaden their horizons;
from here, the sky is the limit. As a
mother, I am happy to see my children
being exposed to other traditions and
enjoy cultural diversity, into which they
can bring their own tradition while
connecting with others.

Sigd, also known as Mehlella and Amata Saww, is

one of the unique holidays of the Beta Israel com-

munity and is celebrated on the 29th of the Hebrew

month of Cheshvan (Nov. 4, 2021). Since 2008, it

has been an official Israeli state holiday. The author,

Esther Asia, lives in Federation’s Partnership2Gether

region in Israel’s Central Galilee. Her sons are

alumni of the Partnership’s Israeli Camper and Teen

Leadership Programs. From myjewishdetroit.com.

The Sigd Holiday

ESTHER ASIA SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Esther Asia wth her
husband, Mesganaw,
and three children,
Matan, Yehunatan and
daughter Shirel