For the first time, the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd will be celebrated in Tucson. Co-sponsored by the Weintraub Israel Center and Temple Emanu-El, this joyful celebration will be observed on Tuesday, November 29th from 6-8 pm at Temple Emanu-El.
Sigd is an Amharic word meaning "prostration" or "worship" and is the commonly used name for a holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Jewish community on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. This date is exactly 50 days after Yom Kippur, usually falling out in late October or November, and by coincidence is the 29th of November this year. According to Ethiopian Jewish tradition, Sidg is also the date that God first revealed God’s self to Moses.
The Tucson celebration will feature special Ethiopian foods, blessings, music, dancing and more. All are invited to wear white in keeping with the customs of Sigd.