The Sigid holiday of Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jewish community, whose purpose is a public soul-searching and renewal of the covenant with God, will be held today (Tuesday) with the participation of the country's President Yitzhak Herzog, Minister of Aliyah and Integration Panina Tamno-Sheta and a large crowd on the Promenade of the Governor's Palace in Jerusalem, looking towards the Temple Mount.
Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom | "Renewal of the covenant": to miss me - even from her
The mosque is characterized by fasting, the reading of the holy scriptures by the community priests and an uplifting spiritual ascension.
"The essence of the holiday is the cutting and renewing of the covenant of the people of Israel with their God," explains to "Israel Today" Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom of the Academic Kirya Ono, rabbi of the "Kedushi Israel" congregation in Kiryat Gat. , once a year there is a renewal of the covenant and trust between the community of Beta Israel and God.
Also, there is also a layer of Kissufim to Zion and back to Israel.
Dr. Sharon Shalom, photo: Sasson Thiram
"The holiday of the synagogue is from the word 'worship', and the letters in the Gaza language are similar in shape to the ancient Hebrew script. This holiday is an example of a holiday that existed in the ancient Jewish communities. While in other communities in the world this holiday has faded and disappeared, the only Jewish community that has kept it throughout the generations, since the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, is Beta Israel Community".
After the immigration of many of the Ethiopian community to Israel, the issue of whether the holiday should also be celebrated in Israel was discussed.
According to Rabbi Shalom, "the leaders of the community decided to continue celebrating the holiday even after immigrating to Israel, because they believed that it was very important to continue to miss Jerusalem - even from within Jerusalem.
President Herzog at the Szigid holiday 2015, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
"During the holiday of the Zigd, you go up to the Promenade of the Governor's Palace in Jerusalem, and there is a different experience of elation, with prayers in front of the charms, study circles, tents and also the sale of food. You feel the special atmosphere of the holiday. It is important to note that there is another group that celebrates the holiday at the Western Wall. The holiday of the Zigd is important Today, Israeli society is thanks to the idea of loyalty and unity between man and his fellow man and between man and his God."
Minister Tamno-Sheta emphasizes that "this is a holiday that is all about prayer for the renewal of the covenant, for the peace of the nation, for the unity of brothers and sisters and for the bringing together of hearts, and for the pillars on which generations upon generations of Jews have been raised. I am happy and excited about the national and civic events, for the benefit of passing on this wonderful heritage in the hearts of others Communities of Israel".
Gil Elias, coordinator of the 9th grade at the Kdama Youth Village: "I remember that in Ethiopia we would go up to the highest mountain on an empty stomach on the Sigid holiday. At the top of the mountain we would pray special prayers, mainly about renewing the covenant with the Creator of the world, doing personal and communal soul-searching, praying to reach Jerusalem The saint. Then we would come down from the mountain to break the fast and have a big celebration in the village."
Meanwhile, today a dedication ceremony will be held in the Neve Ya'akov neighborhood of Jerusalem for a new community spiritual building for Ethiopians, in the capacity of Mayor Moshe Leon.
The multi-purpose building will host cultural events, health promotion, a Hebrew studio, workshops and activities for the elderly as well as young people, women and families.
Jerusalem Tassa |
"Keeping faith and identity": A connection to the Jewish people
"The holiday of the synagogue is celebrated 50 days after Yom Kippur, and it is a Jewish holiday like all holidays. Today, when we are all in Israel, all the people of Israel should recognize it and even celebrate it," says kindergarten teacher Yeroslem Tasa, who immigrated to Israel at the age of 3 and currently runs an "Amona" daycare center in Netanya. , which on the holiday celebrates the wonderful story of the Ethiopian immigrant community in all the network's dormitories.
"Real pride".
Tassa, photo: no credit
"On this day, I bring the children in my daycare the foods from Ethiopia, our clothing and special tools. I let them try it out, and thus convey the message that the synagogue is part of the Jewish story of all of us, that it is an Israeli holiday," says Yeroslam.
Tasa with the daycare children, photo: no credit
Jerusalem's moving personal story begins with her grandmother, Trik Getu, who stayed in Ethiopia when her granddaughter immigrated to Israel.
"Grandma embroidered a white dress especially for me and my cousin, which reminds me of the community's identity and customs and her devotion to Judaism and the Land of Israel for thousands of years. When Grandma left after two years, she gave the dress to my mother, who will keep it for me until I grow up. Today, I wear it every day Atonement, and it reminds me of my Jewish identity and the customs of my community."
How do you feel when you wear grandma's dress?
"This is a real pride. Through the dress I am connected to the thousands of years of my community, to the story of Ethiopian Judaism, which is part of the Jewish and Israeli story of self-sacrifice and connection to the Jewish people and to Zion in exile. When my grandmother embroidered and wove the dress, she cried and prayed that her descendants would remember the tradition of The community, and I intend to pass the dress on to remind future generations of our origins and where we came from."
It is important for Jerusalem to say that it is proper for all the people of Israel to celebrate the synagogue.
"This holiday has its origin in the book of Nehemiah, but in the exile it was forgotten and only the Ethiopian community preserved it. Our parents in Ethiopia would go up to a high mountain that faces Zion and symbolizes Mount Sinai, pray to ascend to Israel, fast and guard their faith and identity with devotion."
Sergeant Daniel Tsagai
"This is our time to contribute further"
Golani fighter Sergeant Daniel Tsagai (23) from Yehud will this week celebrate the holiday of the Tsigd in a significant role: a member of the Samaria regional brigade brigade.
This is a real transformation for someone who, before his military service, already had two cases with the police, and who seemed to have his path to the IDF blocked.
"For the people and the country".
Tsagai, photo: IDF spokesman
"I was a 16-17-year-old boy who got into trouble because of boredom," he says.
"I was sitting idly with the guys, and there was a fight in which I was arrested."
Daniel adds that he wanted to be a fighter, but due to his condition he had to fight to enlist.
At first he came to serve at Hashomer Farm, and from there he was assigned as a cook, a position in which he did not find himself and because of this he deserted from the IDF for eight months.
"After struggling to get drafted, I ended up at HaShomer Farm with troubled children, and it was a setback for me. It wasn't the job I wanted, and then I was also assigned as a cook in the Anatot camp, and in all these events I drove everyone crazy that I wanted to be a combat fighter," he says.
Daniel's desire to be a fighter brought about a change in him, as part of which he returned to Tel Hashomer and served there for a year, then he was allowed to enlist in the Golani Brigade.
"Being a fighter is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he says of the service.
"I wanted a meaningful service and to contribute to the country, and it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it a lot. I was the one who works the hardest and doesn't give up on anything. That's how my major also connected me to the Samaria Brigade's KPC."
Did you always know you wanted Golani?
"Yes, I only wanted to enlist in Golani, because this is the division that works the hardest."
Now, on the occasion of the Tsigd holiday, Daniel tells the young members of the congregation: "It is a privilege to be a fighter in the IDF.
This is much more important than other positions in the 8200 or in other rear units of the IDF.
"Warriors are the ones who protect the country today. We have to remember the dedication of our parents to reach Israel, the difficult road they went through, and today is our time to contribute further for our people and country. This contribution is in armor, in artillery, in any combat unit."
Darba commanded
"Let the immigrants know that they are not alone"
If there is a story that symbolizes the longing for Zion, it is the story of Darba Fikda (30), married and the father of a child, who decided to dedicate his life to helping new immigrants acclimate to Israeli society.
"We will be happy to be here."
Picda, photo: Gideon Markovich
For Fikda, who immigrated to Israel in 2007 with his mother and four brothers after their father passed away, acclimatizing in Israel was not easy.
He was 15 years old, and while studying in the Hebrew studio, he began studying in the 9th grade at the Youth Village Tom. "I barely knew how to put together a sentence in Hebrew," he remembers. In the 10th grade, he already started studying for matriculation. good in the context of the aliyah, and fostered our courage to learn and succeed."
When he was in the 11th grade, his family bought a new apartment in Holon, but a few weeks later his mother died of an illness. "I can't even begin to explain how complicated it is.
Three and a half years in Israel in an reception center, without a father, in an apartment that my mother bought on her own and managed to live in for barely a week, and now she too has passed away.
We didn't understand why we deserved it," he says.
Picada stayed to take care of his younger brothers.
Despite the great sadness and difficulty, he returned to study and completed 12 years of study with a high school diploma with full honors.
At the same time, he was very active in the Bnei Akiva movement, initially as a trainee and then as an instructor, who also took an active part in establishing the branch in Holon.
Through volunteering in the movement, he helped new immigrants - which he still does today.
After three years of service in the IDF, Picada returned to Holon to help his brother, and began studying education and society with a specialization in at-risk youth at the Ono Academic College. "I didn't have older brothers to take an example from in the context of studies and higher education, I just told myself that I wanted to start studying." says Picda.
Fikda is one of the proud graduates of a program to promote Ethiopian students, to higher education and to develop social leadership of the Academic Council, within the framework of which group and individual reinforcement classes are given, and the faculty members work to find prestigious internships that will be a springboard for the students.
About a year and a half ago he started working as a projector in the immigration and absorption department in Holon Municipality.
"I concentrate on immigrants from Ethiopia, but not only. I actually assist in the entire process of absorption and detailing the eligibility of the new immigrants. There is a whole basket of rights that many immigrants do not know they deserve, and it is important to me that they know that they are not alone and that they are cared for, especially as someone who has been through it" .
About the holiday of the mosque he says with a smile: "Like every year, the whole family and the community will gather, we will dress in traditional costumes and we will be happy to be here in the Land of Israel."
Participated in the preparation of the article: Assaf Golan, Yori Yalon, Efrat Fursher
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