The Ethiopian Jewish Heritage Center announced this morning (Wednesday) that they were cancelling the traditional Sigd holiday prayer on the Armon Hanatziv promenade in Jerusalem, which was planned for this coming Monday, due to the Swords of Iron War and Rear Command instructions regarding crowds.
According to the Center, the prayer will be held in a more limited format, in the presence of Keses alone – and will be broadcast live to the public on YouTube and Facebook. The state ceremonies and events network of Heichal Hatarbut made it clear that the public will not be allowed to enter the prayer area.
The Sigd holiday is one of Ethiopian Jewry’s unique holidays, and is marked every year on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, or 50 days after Yom Kippur. The holiday marks the renewal of the covenant between the nation and God, following the return to Jerusalem from the exile in Babylon.
While in Ethiopia, the Beta Israel community marked the holiday by ascending en masse to the mountains, fifty days after Yom Kippur. Today, this tradition, marking a connection to the roots and culture of the Ethiopian Jewish community, continues every year in the traditional major ceremony in Jerusalem.