How many people say “next year in Jerusalem” and really mean it? For generations of Ethiopian Jews, the desire to return to Jerusalem was so strong that it became the focus of Sig’d, a holiday celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur. Today, when many Ethiopian Jews now live in Israel, the holiday is celebrated in Jerusalem, with the Kessim, the community’s spiritual leaders, leading prayers. After years of effort, Sig’d received recognition as a national holiday in August 2008.
This year, President Shimon Peres embraced the holiday with two weeks of events, beginning with opening ceremonies at the presidential residence on November 2, and closing with the traditional ceremony on November 16th.
The heart of Sig’d remains the ceremony with community prayers led by the Kessim, which took place November 16th in Jerusalem.
Midnight East was not able to attend the ceremonies this year, but we were fortunate to have Sinai Menahem and Avi Masfin’s wonderful photos to enjoy. Next Sig’d — in Jerusalem.
Top image credit: Sinai Menahem
