Sigd: When Old is New
With all the privilege and superciliousness of the Western Jew, I am overjoyed to learn and teach about a “new to me” Jewish holiday. Sigd.
A bit about Sigd.
It is a holiday of the Ethiopian Jewish community.
The name of the holiday means ‘prostration’ in the ancient Ethiopian language.
It is celebrated on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan – 50 days after Yom Kippur.
The holiday includes fasting and prayer, and ends with a feast and dancing.
It is the celebration of the renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people, God and the Torah.
For centuries, on this holiday, Ethiopian Jews prayed for a return to Zion.
The holiday is similar to Yom Kippur in its aspect of communal introspection and the understanding that a community bears responsibility for its members.
In 2008 the State of Israel recognized Sigd as a national holiday.
How great is it that we are recognizing that Judaism is diverse and that ancient traditions are being shared and incorporated? How great is it that more and more and more people (of Ashkenazi or Sephardi traditions) are coming to realize that Judaism is not monolithic? How great is it that the richness of various traditions can be shared to enhance all of our experience?
Obviously, I think it is really great. I also think it is really important. It is important for Jews in Western societies to move away from the idea that there is only one way to be Jewish. For far too long we (I include myself in this, my Jewish upbringing and practice and schooling were based almost exclusively on Halachic/Talmudic Judaism), have assumed that the ultimate guide to practicing Judaism is the Talmud. Maybe now I’ll hear fewer people tell me “I’m a bad Jew” meaning that their observance of the laws is not strict. I look forward to the day people come to realize that being Jewish is not about strict adherence to ritual and practice, but a recognition of centuries of Jewish tradition and cultures, being a part of a rich tapestry made up of many threads, colors, shapes and patterns.
Adding Sigd to the Jewish Holiday calendar is a way to celebrate where we find ourselves. Now, we can open our minds to the thought that Judaism has evolved differently in different places. Now, we can open our hearts to those Jews whose approach to spirituality is different. Now, we can open our doors wider to interfaith, secular, humanist, and other “types” of Jews.
Let’s just call ourselves Jews and revel in our shared values and our different points of view.
(Sigd in 2020 is celebrated on November 16)