Sigd

What is Sigd?

Sigd is a central holiday in the Ethiopian Jewish calendar — celebrated since the 15th century. The holiday marks the renewal of the covenant between the Children of Israel and God, modeled on the return to Zion in the Book of Nehemiah. In 2008, the Sigd Day Law was enacted, and it is now a national holiday in the State of Israel.

Sigd 2026 falls on 19 November 2026 (29 Cheshvan 5787).

2026 events calendar

The Jerusalem ceremony — what to expect

The Jerusalem ceremony is the largest — tens of thousands celebrate together since 1993 at the scenic Armon Hanatziv promenade.

Ceremony schedule (approximate):

• 07:00 — Kessim ascend with Hu'at scrolls (Ethiopian Torah)
• 08:00–12:00 — Prayers and liturgical songs led by Kessim; fasting until noon
• 12:00 — Breaking the fast + celebrations
• 14:00–18:00 — Music and dance performances
• 18:00+ — Community singing and dancing

What to bring

• White clothing (traditional, but not mandatory)
• Food to break the fast (injera/doro wat are popular)
• Folding chair or blanket to sit on
• Water (fasting from water is permitted, but drinking from noon onward is recommended)
• Cushion for children for the long sitting

Getting to Jerusalem

• Organised transport from most absorption cities (usually free — check with your municipality or local community)
• Train to Jerusalem then bus 78/78a to Armon Hanatziv
• Parking: very limited — public transport strongly recommended

The Kessim — who are they?

The Kessim are the rabbis of Ethiopian Judaism — they grew into their role before the aliyah to Israel. They lead the ceremonies, teach the traditional prayer melodies, and preserve the Orit — the Ethiopian version of the Torah.

Funding for Sigd activities

There is a government right subsidizing local Sigd activities (ceremonies, education, transportation). See Sigd funding — right for details.

The Sigd table — what's eaten after the fast

After the morning-to-noon prayers and fast, the fast is broken — around 12:00 (see the ceremony schedule above). Traditionally, participants carried provisions with them to break the fast right after the prayers, and in villages in Ethiopia the day historically closed with a festive communal meal. Hospitality carries special significance around Sigd — the shared meal is as much about community as it is about food.

Like most festive meals in Ethiopian cuisine, the Sigd feast is built around injera — a spongy teff-flour flatbread that serves as both plate and bread. It's topped with stews such as doro wat (a spicy chicken stew, often served with a hard-boiled egg), a spicy lentil stew (kai misir wat), and a milder vegetable stew (alicha) — all seasoned with berbere, the spice blend that gives the dishes their characteristic red colour and heat. In some communities the table also includes kaysar (a beet stew) and agwat (homemade cheese) alongside dabo (round baked bread).

Worth noting: these are traditional Ethiopian dishes commonly associated with Sigd celebrations — not a fixed or "official" menu, and customs vary by family and community.

For more — dish by dish, the meaning of the fast, and shopping for the holiday: The Sigd fast and the break-fast menu — the complete guide.

See also

• Sigd — glossary
• Kessim — glossary
• BINA — organization profile