Ethiopian Jews celebrate Sigd in Jerusalem alongside Haymanot Kasau’s family

Ethiopian Jews gathered for Sigd prayers on Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv promenade on 9 November 2026. Haymanot Kasau’s family was among them. Addressing the worshippers, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on the government, the police and the domestic security service to do everything they could to find the missing girl ¹²⁴.

Praying towards Jerusalem

On the promenade overlooking the Old City, the kessim, the community’s religious leaders, lead the prayers. In Ethiopia, worshippers would climb to high ground to fast and pray in the hope of one day reaching Jerusalem. The festival kept its place in the calendar after their arrival in Israel. It falls on the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, 50 days after Yom Kippur ¹²³.

Sigd also marks the renewal of the Jewish people’s covenant with God. Readings from Exodus and Deuteronomy recall the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The Book of Nehemiah describes an assembly at which the people listen to the reading of the Law. The kessim read from these texts during the ceremony ²³.

A family among the worshippers

With Haymanot’s parents and siblings present, Herzog spoke of how much her family still missed her. He said he too was waiting for news. He also recalled the joy of the Ethiopian Jews’ arrival in Israel and acknowledged the state’s failures in welcoming the newcomers. He called for action against racism directed at the community and for its members to have the same opportunities as other Israelis ¹⁴.

Sources

1. Présidence de l’État d’Israël, « Allocution d’Isaac Herzog à la prière centrale du Sigd (en hébreu) », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.president.gov.il/%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%90-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%96%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9C%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%95/
2. Nina Pogrebnaya, The Jerusalem Post, « Ethiopian Jews celebrate Sigd in Jerusalem, hope to share the holiday with all Israelis », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-914363
3. Centre du patrimoine des Juifs d’Éthiopie, « The Sigd Holiday », notice institutionnelle consultée le 10 novembre 2026, https://ethiopianjhc.org.il/en/the-sigd-holiday/
4. Israel Hayom, « Compte rendu du discours du président au Sigd (en hébreu) », 9 novembre 2026, https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/local/article/21812633

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. Worshippers gathered on the Armon Hanatziv promenade in Jerusalem for Sigd prayers on 9 November 2026.
2. With Haymanot Kasau’s family present on 9 November, Isaac Herzog called for every effort to be made to find the missing girl.
3. In 2008, the Knesset recognised Sigd, which Ethiopian Jews celebrate 50 days after Yom Kippur, as a national holiday.

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