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

