Ono Marks Sigd Holiday

Ono Academic College marked the Sigd holiday with a large cultural and educational gathering featuring lectures, music, and communal celebration. About 200 participants—students, faculty, and community members—joined the event, which highlighted Sigd’s ancient origins and its preservation by Ethiopian Jewry over millennia.

The program included musical performances by Abatte Barihun, presentations by Adv. Zev Kaso and Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, and reflections on identity, belonging, and the transmission of Bete Israel traditions. Dr. Samuel Schwartz moderated and introduced two new Ono publications on Ethiopian Jewry.

Speakers emphasized the importance of hearing marginalized voices, understanding the spiritual depth of Sigd, and recognizing the resilience of Ethiopian Jewish heritage. The evening concluded with a festive Sigd meal.