#sigd

early Sigd celebrations! November 19, 2025

Photographer: Mor Ganon

Malkam Amet Vahl

(From today, the main event in Jerusalem)

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Sigd (Ge'z: ስግድ, "worship") also known as Mehel'la (ምህልላ, begging/plead), is a Jewish holiday unique to the "Beyta Yisrael" (house of Israel) community. It is based on a biblical event in the book of Nehemiah (9,1-3), of community fast and worship, in a plead to go back Home.

What is it?

An ancient holiday of Beyta Yisrael community (Jews from the diaspora of Ethiopia). This special day is based on the events in the book of Nehemiah, and the mass prayers - hoping that G-d would let them go back Home, to Zion. It is considered to be about 2,500 years old (unlike the diaspora in Babylon, the diaspora in Ethiopia hasn't returned after 70 years, during the Korach declaration.

This holiday, 50 days after Yom Kippur, has 2 main reasons:

To add another level of Heshbon Nefesh (HEB, lit. "soul accounting", in which one reflects on his previous actions and thoughts). If Yom Kippur is for private Heshbon Nefesh, then during the Sigd the public/community side is added. It's dedicated to restore the oath with G-d, and pray for the Geula.

Pray to go back Home, to Yerusalem. Many of the holiday's Piyutim (religion songs) are focused on Jerusalem, the desire ro get there, and wondering how it is.

What happens during that day?

People fast and wear white clothes. As a community event, there are mass gatherings.

In Ethiopia, they were gathering in 3 big mountains. They carried rocks or religion scrolls on their head, to show surrender in the face of G-d.

(Ambovar, 1984)

In Israel, there's a main event in Jerusalem. It was cancelled in 2023 due to security concerns, but this year is back!

2024: Due to the security concerns, in Gundar they didn't go up the mountain this year :(

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