20.05.12

Thursday marks the holiday of Sigd, a traditional holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Jewish community. The date for Sigd is generally the 29th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan, which marks 50 days after Yom Kippur parallel to the halakhah of counting the Omer between Passover and Shavuot.. This year, that date comes out on Shabbat, so the celebration of Sigd was moved up to Thursday.

The term “Sigd” is based on the Hebrew word “segida,” which is used to describe a form of bowing in worship to G-d. The day is split into two: A lengthy morning service featuring prayers, supplications and fasting, and an afternoon feast with music and dancing.

The morning prayers include requests for forgiveness from G-d and from fellow Jews – much like on Yom Kippur – and a prayer that G-d bring the community to Jerusalem. Traditionally members of the community would ascend a high mountain, where the prayers and the reading of the Torah were conducted. The reading including many of the “highlights” of the Torah, including the Ten Commandments, sections describing blessings and curses of G-d, and readings from the prophets.

Source: Arutz Sheva