BY EDEN RAFAELOVICH

As an Israeli shlicha (emissary), I often ask myself: what can I share that’s meaningful, new, and connects us as a community?

This month, I’d like to introduce you to Sigd - a unique Ethiopian Jewish holiday. It’s celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur (this year on November 20) and includes prayer, fasting, and community gatherings. In Ethiopia, Jews would pray on mountaintops for the return to Jerusalem - a tradition that symbolized the Mount Sinai moment, when the Jewish people received the Torah. Today in Israel, Sigd is a national holiday - a celebration of identity, unity, and belonging.

With Sigd upon us, it made me think of a close friend of mine, Vered (Rose in Hebrew), whose parents immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia. While visiting the U.S. last year, we went to a local supermarket. When she inquired about the kosher section, the staff member appeared surprised and questioned her twice, asking if she truly meant “kosher.” That moment reminded me how little many people know about the full diversity of the Jewish people.

Sigd isn’t just for Ethiopian Jews. It’s for all of us. It’s a beautiful reminder that the Jewish story is wide, diverse, and deeply connected.