Sigd and Shabbat Shalom

Sigd, a holiday which is set on

the 29th of Hebrew month of Heshvan,

 falls out on Shabbat this year.

A national holiday in Israel since 2008,

thousands of Ethiopian-Israelis celebrate

by coming to Jerusalem, Israel,

to the tayelet in Armon Hanetziv.

Ethiopian religious leaders in Jerusalem Israel Sigd

Kessim, religious elders, sit under umbrellas,

perhaps remembering the days in Ethiopia

when they went to the highest mountain to fast,

praying to one day return to Yerushalayim, to Zion.

Woman praying at Sigd event in Jerusalem Israel

Women can be seen praying,

and perhaps remembering life in Ethiopia,

and their arduous journey to Sudan and challenges in Israel.

Each year,

Young male IDF soldiers in uniform for Sigd in Jerusalem Israel on Tayelet

more and more of the young people

Young female IDF soldiers on Tayelet for Sigd celebration

 young women as well as men,

are serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Sigd was observed on Thursday this year,

so as not to have the celebrations interfere with Shabbat.

The reason the main celebration is on the tayelet

Shabbat Shalom from the Tayelet view of Old City Temple Mount

 is that its elevation provides this, one of the best views

of the Old City and the Temple Mount.

שבת שלום

3 thoughts on “Sigd and Shabbat Shalom

  • Pingback: Sigd und Schabbat Schalom | abseits vom mainstream - heplev

  • November 22, 2017 at 4:26 pm
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    Beautiful reporting. Had not known about Sigd. What wonderful minhagim our “family” have. We should know about all of them and why they are celebrated. Every Jew is precious and so is their (our) heritage. Chodesh tov, and happy thanksgiving to our American family (last month was Canadian thanksgiving). Chanukah is less than a light year away- lots of minhagim with that iiiiIiiii
    I

    Reply
    • November 22, 2017 at 7:42 pm
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      Thank you

      Reply

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