News and Updates

Sigd – A Journey of Hope

Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, founder and director of the International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry at Ono Academic College, was the keynote speaker at the Matan Ra’anana community celebration of the Sigd holiday, preserved over the generations by Ethiopian Jewry.

Rabbi Dr. Shalom was in conversation with Dr. Yoni Shnitzer, exploring the theme “Past and Present: Ethiopian Jewish Faith as a Source of Healing for Israeli Society.” Their dialogue reflected Rabbi Shalom’s broader mission of connecting Ethiopian heritage, Jewish thought, and contemporary Israeli identity.

Bat El Mashasha Ashkenazi, a graduate of Ono’s Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Jewish Holy Texts, spoke about the wondrous connection between body, spirit and soul in the Sigd Holiday.

The event concluded with prayers led by Keis (traditional Ethiopian Jewish Spiritual Leader) Efrayim Lawe, for hope and renewal.