Sigd is an Amharic word meaning "prostration" or "worship" and is the commonly used name for a holiday celebrated by the Ethiopian Jewish Beta Israel 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 according to Ethiopian Jewish tradition is also the date that God first revealed himself to Moses.
(Jewish Virtual Library)
Qess Berhan, the last High Priest of the Gondar region, recounted a specific historical process [for the origin of Sigd]. On various occasions, he gave two different versions.
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In one of these, he said that the Sigd was created at a time of peace which came after wars in which Beta Israel had suffered greatly. A Christian king, Gabra Maskel of the Axumite kingdom, who was friendly toward Beta Israel, allowed the Jewish king Gideon to institute the Sigd. Two priests. Azarias and Zadok. decided to celebrate the holiday, so that the people who still remembered their suffering would pray that their lot improve. Qess Berhan added that this was after the wars of Gudit, the legendary queen who destroyed many Christian institutions and greatly weakened the Axumite kingdom while at the head of an army of Agau soldiers.
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The second version of the history of the Sigd... was also apparently related by Qess Berhan. According to this version. the Sigd was initiated by Qessotch and monks in the fifteenth century in a period of severe persecution. Those religious leaders created the holiday in order "to soften the heart of the Ethiopian kings... ln this time of persecution (so goes the story) these monks and priests retreated into the wilderness and appealed to God for comfort and mercy as well as strength to resist the Ethiopian Amhara kings." This explanation fits well with what we know of the Beta lsrael view of its history and illustrates how the holiday reflects their perception of the community’s situation and needs at the time.
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Whatever the actual historical process behind the institution of the Sigd, it is interesting to take note of the comment of two informants on the impetus that led to the observance of the Sigd.
- "Ezra gathered the people after they had returned from Babylon... when the people had left the observance of the Commandments... and had little by little become like the non-Jews. Thus Ezra the Scribe gathered the people and demanded from them... the making of a new covenant between the people and the Torah... that the great catastrophe that had come before should not occur to them... and our people took this as an example as if it were a Commandment from the Torah or the Prophets that it is forbidden to assimilate, that one must observe the Commandments..."
- The same informant stated on another occasion. "It may be that they [the priests and/or monks] began to practice it [the Sigd] at a later time when they saw after all the wars that the Falashas had with the kings, that because of all the suffering that the people endured, they were leaving the Torah and Commandments. So they took the example of Ezra and endured this."
- Or, in the words of another informant, “Our fathers in the land of the exile... suffered and learned lessons from their suffering. They appealed to God in fasting, prayers, and prostration, to warn the people not to stray from the Haymanot [the laws and basic principles of belief among Beta Israel], to listen to the warnings of the Torah because of the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, they imitated the gathering, as was done by Ezra and Nehemiah, that this goal should not be lost, and that it not only be for one time, but rather every year."
These and similar statements indicate that the creation of the Sigd should be viewed as a reaction to and a reflection of the way in which the community perceived itself to be threatened with loss of its identity, as a result of both wars and assimilation.
(Ethiopian Jews and Israel, Michael Ashkenazi and Alex Weingrod, 1987, emphasis added)
Discussion Questions
- What strikes you about this description of the origins and meaning of Sigd?
- Do you think the message of Sigd is specific to the Ethiopian Jewish experience or universal?
Traditional Readings for Sigd
The Revelation at Sinai
(טז) וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְהִי֩ קֹלֹ֨ת וּבְרָקִ֜ים וְעָנָ֤ן כָּבֵד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר וְקֹ֥ל שֹׁפָ֖ר חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (יז) וַיּוֹצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֧ה אֶת־הָעָ֛ם לִקְרַ֥את הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ בְּתַחְתִּ֥ית הָהָֽר׃ (יח) וְהַ֤ר סִינַי֙ עָשַׁ֣ן כֻּלּ֔וֹ מִ֠פְּנֵי אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרַ֥ד עָלָ֛יו יהוה בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַיַּ֤עַל עֲשָׁנוֹ֙ כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן הַכִּבְשָׁ֔ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כָּל־הָהָ֖ר מְאֹֽד׃ (יט) וַיְהִי֙ ק֣וֹל הַשּׁוֹפָ֔ר הוֹלֵ֖ךְ וְחָזֵ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד מֹשֶׁ֣ה יְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יַעֲנֶ֥נּוּ בְקֽוֹל׃ (כ) וַיֵּ֧רֶד יהוה עַל־הַ֥ר סִינַ֖י אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַיִּקְרָ֨א יהוה לְמֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶל־רֹ֥אשׁ הָהָ֖ר וַיַּ֥עַל מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (כא) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יהוה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה רֵ֖ד הָעֵ֣ד בָּעָ֑ם פֶּן־יֶהֶרְס֤וּ אֶל־יהוה לִרְא֔וֹת וְנָפַ֥ל מִמֶּ֖נּוּ רָֽב׃ (כב) וְגַ֧ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים הַנִּגָּשִׁ֥ים אֶל־יהוה יִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ פֶּן־יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם יהוה (כג) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־יהוה לֹא־יוּכַ֣ל הָעָ֔ם לַעֲלֹ֖ת אֶל־הַ֣ר סִינָ֑י כִּֽי־אַתָּ֞ה הַעֵדֹ֤תָה בָּ֙נוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הַגְבֵּ֥ל אֶת־הָהָ֖ר וְקִדַּשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (כד) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֤יו יהוה לֶךְ־רֵ֔ד וְעָלִ֥יתָ אַתָּ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן עִמָּ֑ךְ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהָעָ֗ם אַל־יֶֽהֶרְס֛וּ לַעֲלֹ֥ת אֶל־יהוה פֶּן־יִפְרָץ־בָּֽם׃ (כה) וַיֵּ֥רֶד מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶֽם׃ (ס)
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(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֵ֛ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ס)
(ב) אָֽנֹכִ֖י֙ יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֑֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הוֹצֵאתִ֛יךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֣֥ית עֲבָדִֽ֑ים׃ (ג) לֹֽ֣א יִהְיֶֽה־לְךָ֛֩ אֱלֹהִ֥֨ים אֲחֵרִ֖֜ים עַל־פָּנָֽ֗יַ (ד) לֹֽ֣א תַֽעֲשֶׂ֨ה־לְךָ֥֣ פֶ֣֙סֶל֙ ׀ וְכָל־תְּמוּנָ֡֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤֣ר בַּשָּׁמַ֣֙יִם֙ ׀ מִמַּ֡֔עַל וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר֩ בָּאָ֖֨רֶץ מִתַָּ֑֜חַת וַאֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בַּמַּ֖֣יִם ׀ מִתַּ֥֣חַת לָאָֽ֗רֶץ (ה) לֹֽא־תִשְׁתַּחְוֶ֥֣ה לָהֶ֖ם֮ וְלֹ֣א תָעָבְדֵ֑ם֒ כִּ֣י אָֽנֹכִ֞י יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אֵ֣ל קַנָּ֔א פֹּ֠קֵד עֲוֺ֨ן אָבֹ֧ת עַל־בָּנִ֛ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֥ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִ֖ים לְשֹׂנְאָֽ֑י׃ (ו) וְעֹ֥֤שֶׂה חֶ֖֙סֶד֙ לַאֲלָפִ֑֔ים לְאֹהֲבַ֖י וּלְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי׃ (ס)
(ז) לֹ֥א תִשָּׂ֛א אֶת־שֵֽׁם־יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ לַשָּׁ֑וְא כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יְנַקֶּה֙ יהוה אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ לַשָּֽׁוְא׃ (פ)
(ח) זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ (ט) שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כָּל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒ (י) וְי֙וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַיהוה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֡֜ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָֽ֣־וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ (יא) כִּ֣י שֵֽׁשֶׁת־יָמִים֩ עָשָׂ֨ה יהוה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖נַח בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ יהוה אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃ (ס)
(יב) כַּבֵּ֥ד אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ וְאֶת־אִמֶּ֑ךָ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יַאֲרִכ֣וּן יָמֶ֔יךָ עַ֚ל הָאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־יהוה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ (ס)
(יג) לֹ֥֖א תִּֿרְצָֽ֖ח׃ (ס)
לֹ֣֖א תִּֿנְאָֽ֑ף׃ (ס)
לֹ֣֖א תִּֿגְנֹֽ֔ב׃ (ס)
לֹֽא־תַעֲנֶ֥ה בְרֵעֲךָ֖ עֵ֥ד שָֽׁקֶר׃ (ס)
(יד) לֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד בֵּ֣ית רֵעֶ֑ךָ לֹֽא־תַחְמֹ֞ד אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֶ֗ךָ וְעַבְדּ֤וֹ וַאֲמָתוֹ֙ וְשׁוֹר֣וֹ וַחֲמֹר֔וֹ וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְרֵעֶֽךָ׃ (פ)
(טו) וְכָל־הָעָם֩ רֹאִ֨ים אֶת־הַקּוֹלֹ֜ת וְאֶת־הַלַּפִּידִ֗ם וְאֵת֙ ק֣וֹל הַשֹּׁפָ֔ר וְאֶת־הָהָ֖ר עָשֵׁ֑ן וַיַּ֤רְא הָעָם֙ וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ מֵֽרָחֹֽק׃ (טז) וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה דַּבֵּר־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּ֖נוּ וְנִשְׁמָ֑עָה וְאַל־יְדַבֵּ֥ר עִמָּ֛נוּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים פֶּן־נָמֽוּת׃ (יז) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶל־הָעָם֮ אַל־תִּירָאוּ֒ כִּ֗י לְבַֽעֲבוּר֙ נַסּ֣וֹת אֶתְכֶ֔ם בָּ֖א הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וּבַעֲב֗וּר תִּהְיֶ֧ה יִרְאָת֛וֹ עַל־פְּנֵיכֶ֖ם לְבִלְתִּ֥י תֶחֱטָֽאוּ׃
(16) On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder, and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. (17) Moses led the people out of the camp toward God, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain. (18) Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke, for the LORD had come down upon it in fire; the smoke rose like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently. (19) The blare of the horn grew louder and louder. As Moses spoke, God answered him in thunder. (20) The LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up. (21) The LORD said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people not to break through to the LORD to gaze, lest many of them perish. (22) The priests also, who come near the LORD, must stay pure, lest the LORD break out against them.” (23) But Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and sanctify it.’” (24) So the LORD said to him, “Go down, and come back together with Aaron; but let not the priests or the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them.” (25) And Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
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(1) God spoke all these words, saying:
(2) I the LORD am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage: (3) You shall have no other gods besides Me. (4) You shall not make for yourself a sculptured image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. (5) You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I the LORD your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who reject Me, (6) but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
(7) You shall not swear falsely by the name of the LORD your God; for the LORD will not clear one who swears falsely by His name.
(8) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements. (11) For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.
(12) Honor your father and your mother, that you may long endure on the land that the LORD your God is assigning to you.
(13)
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
(14) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female slave, or his ox or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor’s.
(15) All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they fell back and stood at a distance. (16) “You speak to us,” they said to Moses, “and we will obey; but let not God speak to us, lest we die.” (17) Moses answered the people, “Be not afraid; for God has come only in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may be ever with you, so that you do not go astray.”
- Why do you think the reading of the revelation at Sinai is a traditional part of the Sigd ceremony?
- All Jews celebrate Shavuot, the celebration of the giving of the Torah at Sinai, fifty days after Passover. Sigd is always fifty days after Yom Kippur. How would you describe the relationship between the two festivals?
Excerpts from the Book of Nehemiah
(א) וַיֵּאָסְפ֤וּ כָל־הָעָם֙ כְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד אֶל־הָ֣רְח֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמָּ֑יִם וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ לְעֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֔ר לְהָבִ֗יא אֶת־סֵ֙פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ב) וַיָּבִ֣יא עֶזְרָ֣א הַ֠כֹּהֵן אֶֽת־הַתּוֹרָ֞ה לִפְנֵ֤י הַקָּהָל֙ מֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְכֹ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין לִשְׁמֹ֑עַ בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִֽי׃ (ג) וַיִּקְרָא־בוֹ֩ לִפְנֵ֨י הָרְח֜וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י שַֽׁעַר־הַמַּ֗יִם מִן־הָאוֹר֙ עַד־מַחֲצִ֣ית הַיּ֔וֹם נֶ֛גֶד הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים וְהַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְהַמְּבִינִ֑ים וְאָזְנֵ֥י כָל־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־סֵ֥פֶר הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (ד) וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֞ד עֶזְרָ֣א הַסֹּפֵ֗ר עַֽל־מִגְדַּל־עֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ לַדָּבָר֒ וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֣ד אֶצְל֡וֹ מַתִּתְיָ֡ה וְשֶׁ֡מַע וַ֠עֲנָיָה וְאוּרִיָּ֧ה וְחִלְקִיָּ֛ה וּמַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה עַל־יְמִינ֑וֹ וּמִשְּׂמֹאל֗וֹ פְּ֠דָיָה וּמִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּמַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְחָשֻׁ֥ם וְחַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה זְכַרְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּֽם׃ (פ) (ה) וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ לְעֵינֵ֣י כָל־הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־מֵעַ֥ל כָּל־הָעָ֖ם הָיָ֑ה וּכְפִתְח֖וֹ עָֽמְד֥וּ כָל־הָעָֽם׃ (ו) וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ עֶזְרָ֔א אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים הַגָּד֑וֹל וַיַּֽעֲנ֨וּ כָל־הָעָ֜ם אָמֵ֤ן ׀ אָמֵן֙ בְּמֹ֣עַל יְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְּד֧וּ וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוֻּ֛ לַיהוָ֖ה אַפַּ֥יִם אָֽרְצָה׃
(1) the entire people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the Teaching of Moses with which the LORD had charged Israel. (2) On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Teaching before the congregation, men and women and all who could listen with understanding. (3) He read from it, facing the square before the Water Gate, from the first light until midday, to the men and the women and those who could understand; the ears of all the people were given to the scroll of the Teaching. (4) Ezra the scribe stood upon a wooden tower made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah at his right, and at his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam. (5) Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; as he opened it, all the people stood up. (6) Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with hands upraised. Then they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD with their faces to the ground.
(ח) וַֽיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר בְּתוֹרַ֥ת הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃ (ס) (ט) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר נְחֶמְיָ֣ה ה֣וּא הַתִּרְשָׁ֡תָא וְעֶזְרָ֣א הַכֹּהֵ֣ן ׀ הַסֹּפֵ֡ר וְהַלְוִיִּם֩ הַמְּבִינִ֨ים אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לְכָל־הָעָ֗ם הַיּ֤וֹם קָדֹֽשׁ־הוּא֙ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֔ם אַל־תִּֽתְאַבְּל֖וּ וְאַל־תִּבְכּ֑וּ כִּ֤י בוֹכִים֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם כְּשָׁמְעָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃ (י) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם לְכוּ֩ אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּשְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים וְשִׁלְח֤וּ מָנוֹת֙ לְאֵ֣ין נָכ֣וֹן ל֔וֹ כִּֽי־קָד֥וֹשׁ הַיּ֖וֹם לַאֲדֹנֵ֑ינוּ וְאַל־תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ כִּֽי־חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּכֶֽם׃ (יא) וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם מַחְשִׁ֤ים לְכָל־הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר הַ֔סּוּ כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם קָדֹ֑שׁ וְאַל־תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ׃ (יב) וַיֵּלְכ֨וּ כָל־הָעָ֜ם לֶאֱכֹ֤ל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת֙ וּלְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָנ֔וֹת וְלַעֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה כִּ֤י הֵבִ֙ינוּ֙ בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹדִ֖יעוּ לָהֶֽם׃ (ס) (יג) וּבַיּ֣וֹם הַשֵּׁנִ֡י נֶאֶסְפוּ֩ רָאשֵׁ֨י הָאָב֜וֹת לְכָל־הָעָ֗ם הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶל־עֶזְרָ֖א הַסֹּפֵ֑ר וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל אֶל־דִּבְרֵ֥י הַתּוֹרָֽה׃
(8) They read from the scroll of the Teaching of God, translating it and giving the sense; so they understood the reading. (9) Nehemiah the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were explaining to the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God: you must not mourn or weep,” for all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Teaching. (10) He further said to them, “Go, eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, for the day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the LORD is the source of your strength.” (11) The Levites were quieting the people, saying, “Hush, for the day is holy; do not be sad.” (12) Then all the people went to eat and drink and send portions and make great merriment, for they understood the things they were told. (13) On the second day, the heads of the clans of all the people and the priests and Levites gathered to Ezra the scribe to study the words of the Teaching.
(א) וּבְיוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֗ה נֶאֶסְפ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּצ֣וֹם וּבְשַׂקִּ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (ב) וַיִּבָּֽדְלוּ֙ זֶ֣רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִכֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר וַיַּעַמְד֗וּ וַיִּתְוַדּוּ֙ עַל־חַטֹּ֣אתֵיהֶ֔ם וַעֲוֺנ֖וֹת אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ (ג) וַיָּק֙וּמוּ֙ עַל־עָמְדָ֔ם וַֽיִּקְרְא֗וּ בְּסֵ֨פֶר תּוֹרַ֧ת יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם רְבִעִ֣ית הַיּ֑וֹם וּרְבִעִית֙ מִתְוַדִּ֣ים וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ (פ)
(1) On the twenty-fourth day of this month, the Israelites assembled, fasting, in sackcloth, and with earth upon them. (2) Those of the stock of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. (3) Standing in their places, they read from the scroll of the Teaching of the LORD their God for one-fourth of the day, and for another fourth they confessed and prostrated themselves before the LORD their God.
(כט) וּשְׁאָ֣ר הָעָ֡ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַ֠לְוִיִּם הַשּׁוֹעֲרִ֨ים הַמְשֹׁרְרִ֜ים הַנְּתִינִ֗ים וְֽכָל־הַנִּבְדָּ֞ל מֵעַמֵּ֤י הָאֲרָצוֹת֙ אֶל־תּוֹרַ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים נְשֵׁיהֶ֖ם בְּנֵיהֶ֣ם וּבְנֹתֵיהֶ֑ם כֹּ֖ל יוֹדֵ֥עַ מֵבִֽין׃ (ל) מַחֲזִיקִ֣ים עַל־אֲחֵיהֶם֮ אַדִּירֵיהֶם֒ וּבָאִ֞ים בְּאָלָ֣ה וּבִשְׁבוּעָ֗ה לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ בְּתוֹרַ֣ת הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִתְּנָ֔ה בְּיַ֖ד מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְלִשְׁמ֣וֹר וְלַעֲשׂ֗וֹת אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺת֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֲדֹנֵ֔ינוּ וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְחֻקָּֽיו׃ (לא) וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־נִתֵּ֥ן בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ לְעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם לֹ֥א נִקַּ֖ח לְבָנֵֽינוּ׃ (לב) וְעַמֵּ֣י הָאָ֡רֶץ הַֽמְבִיאִים֩ אֶת־הַמַּקָּח֨וֹת וְכָל־שֶׁ֜בֶר בְּי֤וֹם הַשַּׁבָּת֙ לִמְכּ֔וֹר לֹא־נִקַּ֥ח מֵהֶ֛ם בַּשַּׁבָּ֖ת וּבְי֣וֹם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִטֹּ֛שׁ אֶת־הַשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖ית וּמַשָּׁ֥א כָל־יָֽד׃ (לג) וְהֶעֱמַ֤דְנוּ עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ מִצְוֺ֔ת לָתֵ֥ת עָלֵ֛ינוּ שְׁלִשִׁ֥ית הַשֶּׁ֖קֶל בַּשָּׁנָ֑ה לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (לד) לְלֶ֣חֶם הַֽמַּעֲרֶ֡כֶת וּמִנְחַ֣ת הַתָּמִ֣יד וּלְעוֹלַ֣ת הַ֠תָּמִיד הַשַּׁבָּת֨וֹת הֶחֳדָשִׁ֜ים לַמּוֹעֲדִ֗ים וְלַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ וְלַ֣חַטָּא֔וֹת לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְכֹ֖ל מְלֶ֥אכֶת בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (ס)
(29) “And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to [follow] the Teaching of God, their wives, sons and daughters, all who know enough to understand, (30) join with their noble brothers, and take an oath with sanctions to follow the Teaching of God, given through Moses the servant of God, and to observe carefully all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, His rules and laws. (31) “Namely: We will not give our daughters in marriage to the peoples of the land, or take their daughters for our sons. (32) “The peoples of the land who bring their wares and all sorts of foodstuff for sale on the sabbath day—we will not buy from them on the sabbath or a holy day. “We will forgo [the produce of] the seventh year, and every outstanding debt. (33) “We have laid upon ourselves obligations: To charge ourselves one-third of a shekel yearly for the service of the House of our God— (34) for the rows of bread, for the regular meal offering and for the regular burnt offering, [for those of the] sabbaths, new moons, festivals, for consecrations, for sin offerings to atone for Israel, and for all the work in the House of our God.
- The ceremony described here in the Book of Nehemiah is considered by many Ethiopian Jews to be the original inspiration for the festival of Sigd. How does the description of the ceremony in Nehemiah relate to the message of Sigd? In what ways does it parallel, and in what ways does it differ?
- How does the ceremony in Nehemiah strike you? What do you think about the juxtaposition of fasting and penitence with celebration - a trait also found in Sigd ceremonies?
A highlight of Sigd is the reciting of this extensive poem (originally in Ge'ez and Agaw), incorporating much of Psalms 29 and 122.
Some translation notes: the Agaw text is represented with Aramaic, so as to clarify its distinction from the Ge'ez as represented with Hebrew. The English translation uses the Gəʿəz term Ǝgziʾävəḥer, literally translating as “Master of the World,” as a circumlocution for the Tetragrammaton.
בּוֹאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנוֹדֶה לוֹ לְבָדוֹ קָדוֹשׁ׃
בּוֹאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה נִתְפַּלֵּל נְזַמֵּר וּנְבָרֵךְ וּנְקַדֵּשׁ אָבִי בּוֹרֵא שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃
בּוֹאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה נִתְפַּלֵּל נְזַמֵּר
נְבָרֵךְ וּנְקַדֵּשׁ וְנָשִׂים לֵב נִצָּמֵד
לְאָבִי בּוֹרֵא שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃
רֵאשִׁית כֹּל סְגֹד לְשַׁבְּחוּהוּ.
הָעֶלִיוֹן אַתָּה׃
אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְךָ בְּבֵיתְּךָ
בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם הַקְּדוֹשָׁה׃
וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה בְּתוֹךְ דְּבִירוֹ׃
מְקוֹם הֲדֹם רַגְלָיו
אֲשֶׁר ליהוה׃
וְנִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה בְּתוֹךְ דְּבִיר מִקְדָּשֶׁךָ
Come, let us bow and give thanks to the Only, Holy One.
Come, let us bow, pray, sing, and bless,
let us sanctify my Parent, creator of heaven and earth.
Come, let us bow, pray, sing, bless, and sanctify, and let us take heart and cling to my Parent, creator of heaven and earth.
First of all,
bow to praise God.
Highest are You!
I will bow before You
in Your house
in Holy Jerusalem.
And we bow in God’s Sanctum;
the place of the footstool of Ǝgziʾävəḥer;
and we will bow in Your Holy Sanctum.
...הִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
Bow down to Ǝgziʾävəḥer in God's holy courtyard.
כָּךְ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה בְּלִבֵּנוּ׃
כָּל בְּרוּאֵי הָאָרֶץ
יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ וְיוֹדוּ לְךָ׃
אָמֵן אָמֵן׃
הַמַּלְאָכִים הַנִּפְלָאִים יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ
בְּמִצְווֹת קוֹל יהוה שֶׁהָיָה׃
קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ מֵרָחוֹק׃
הַמַּלְאָכִים הַנִּפְלָאִים יִשְׁתַּחֲווּ
בְּמִצְווֹת קוֹל יהוה׃
כָּל הָאָרֶץ תִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְתּוֹדֶה לְךָ לִשְׁמֶךָ׃
Thus we bow in our hearts.
All earthly creatures
will bow and thank You.
Amen, amen.
The wondrous angels will bow
by command of the voice
'of Ǝgziʾävəḥer that is.
Holy, holy, they bow from afar.
The wondrous angels will bow
by command of the voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer.
All the earth will bow
and thank You, Your name.
וַיָבִיאוּ מִקְנֶה רַב וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבִיאוּ זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבִיאוּ לְבוּשׁ כְּהוּנָה וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבִיאוּ לְבוּשׁ נָאֶה וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ כֹּהַנִים וּנְבִיאִים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ מְלָכִים וּנְסִיכִים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ גְּדוֹלִים וְשׁוֹפְטִים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ מִמִּזְרָח וּמִמַּעֲרָב וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ מִצָּפוֹן וּמִדָּרוֹם וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
וְיָבוֹאוּ מֵאַרְבָּעָה כִּוּוּנים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם׃
And they will bring much cattle and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will bring gold and silver and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will bring priestly clothes and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will bring beautiful clothes and bow in Jerusalem.
And priests and prophets will come and bow in Jerusalem.
And kings and princes will come and bow in Jerusalem.
And greats and judges will come and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will come from east and west and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will come from north and south and bow in Jerusalem.
And they will come from all four directions and bow in Jerusalem.
הִשְׁתַחֲוֶה ליהוה בְּהַדְרַת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָשׁ׃
קוֹל יהוה קוֹלְךָ טָהוֹר׃
קוֹל יהוה כְּמוֹ כֶּסֶף טָהוֹר וּמָהֵר מִן הָאֲדָמָה׃
Bow to Ǝgziʾävəḥer in the courtyard of the Holy House.
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer, Your voice is pure.
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer is as pure silver right from the earth.
קוֹל־יְהֹוָ֥ה בַּכֹּ֑חַ...
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer is in strength.
קוֹל־יְהֹוָ֥ה חֹצֵ֗ב לַהֲב֥וֹת אֵֽשׁ׃
ק֣וֹל יְ֭הֹוָה יָחִ֣יל מִדְבָּ֑ר...
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer hews fiery flames.
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer shakes the desert.
וֹל יהוה יְחַזֵּק בַּעֲלֵי כֹּחַ׃
קוֹל יהוה יְחַזֵּק שָׁמַיִם׃
יהוה יָכִין כִּסְאוֹ׃
יהוה יָכִין כִּסְאוֹ לְשִׁלְטוֹנוֹ בִּרְקִיעַ הַכְּרוּבִים׃
כִּסְּאֲךָ מֵעַל הָרָקִיעַ
כִּסְּאֲךָ יהוה
בִּרְקִיעַ הַכְּרוּבִים כִּסֵּאךָ׃
אֲתָּה אֱלֹהִים לַכֹּל לְבָדֶּךָ׃
יִהְיֶה יהוה וְיִמְלֹךְ
לְעֹלָם וּלְעֹלָם תָּמִיד חָדָשׁ׃
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer holds up the mighty.
The voice of Ǝgziʾävəḥer holds up the heavens.
Ǝgziʾävəḥer will establish God’s throne.
Ǝgziʾävəḥer will establish God’s throne
or God’s reign in the cherubim’s firmaments.
Your throne is above the firmaments,
Your throne, Ǝgziʾävəḥer;
in the firmaments of the cherubim,
Your throne.
You are the only God to all.
May Ǝgziʾävəḥer continue to reign
forever and ever, constantly renewed.
...יְהֹוָ֓ה ׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃
Ǝgziʾävəḥer will bless God’s people with peace.
...כִּ֝סְא֗וֹת לְבֵ֣ית דָּוִֽד׃
שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם...
Thrones of the house of David,
seek Jerusalem’s peace.
יְרוּשָׁלַ֥͏ִם הַבְּנוּיָ֑ה
כְּ֝עִ֗יר שֶׁחֻבְּרָה־לָּ֥הּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
Jerusalem, built up
like a city knitted together.
אֲגַדְתָּא אֲגַדְתָּא דִירוּשְׁלֵם,
אֲגַדְתָּא אֲגַדְתָּא שְׁמָעוּ!
אֲגַדְתָּא אֲגַדְתָּא דְבֵית מַקְדְּשָׁא,
אֲגַדְתָּא אֲגַדְתָּא שְׁמָעוּ!
The tale, the tale of Jerusalem;
the tale, the tale, hear it!
The tale, the tale of the Holy Temple;
the tale, the tale, hear it!
לְמַֽעַן בֵּ֣ית דָּוִֽד
שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שְׁל֣וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם׃
For the sake of the house of David,
seek Jerusalem’s peace.
לְ֭מַעַן בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ
אֲבַקְשָׁ֖ה ט֣וֹב לָֽךְ׃
For the sake of the house of Ǝgziʾävəḥer our God, I wish for your good.
אֶתְבַּע אֲרֵי אֶתְבַּע׃
אֶתְבַּע אֲרֵי אֶתְבַּע׃
I wish for it, yea, I wish for it.
I wish for it, yea, I wish for it.
אֵֽלֶּה שֶׁיְּשָׁרְתוּ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתִי
יִירְשׁוּ אֶת־אוֹצְרוֹתַי׃
אֵֽלֶּה שֶׁיְּשַׁמְּרוּ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתִי
יִירְשׁוּ אֶת־אוֹצְרוֹתַי׃
הָבִיאוּ עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן
וְהוֹשִׁיבוּם תּוֹךְ־בָּתֵּיכֶם׃
הָבִיאוּ עָנִי וָגֵר
וְהוֹשִׁיבוּם תּוֹךְ־בָּתֵּיכֶם׃
Those who serve in My house
will inherit My treasures.
Those who guard My house
will inherit My treasures.
Bring the poor and needy
and let them dwell in your houses.
Bring the poor and immigrant
and let them dwell in your houses.
גַּם־צִפּ֨וֹר מָ֪צְאָה בַ֡יִת...
Even the bird found a home…
יַקְדִּישׁוּ אֶת־שְׁמִי בֵּית יַעֲקֹב
יַקְדִּישׁוּ אֶת־שְׁמִי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
They will sanctify My name, the house of Jacob.
They will sanctify My name, the house of Israel.
...רָאשֵׁי֙ בֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֔ב
וּקְצִינֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל...
The heads of the house of Jacob;
The leaders of the house of Israel.
וְעַתָּה בֵּית יַעֲקֹב
שִׁמְעוּ־נָא לִי בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
And now, house of Jacob,
listen to me, house of Israel!
שְׂא֤וּ שְׁעָרִ֨ים ׀ רָֽאשֵׁיכֶ֗ם
וְֽ֭הִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵ֣י עוֹלָ֑ם
Lift up your heads, gates,
and be opened, gates since eternity!
- This poem is ancient. They may even predate Sigd in its modern form. What do you think about them?
- Why do you think these poems have such an emphasis on Jerusalem and the Temple? What connections can you make between the Temple and Sigd?