JERUSALEM (JTA) — Ethiopian Jews celebrated the Sigd holiday with Shimon Peres at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
It was the first time an Israeli president has marked the Jewish-Ethiopian holiday.
More than 250 people — including ministers, Knesset members, religious leaders, community and youth leaders, soldiers and visitors from across Israel — participated in Monday’s celebration.
A panel of young Ethiopian-Israelis shared their personal stories and were interviewed by Peres, who asked them to talk about when they first felt Israeli.
The Sigd holiday is a special day for Ethiopian Jews that marks their yearning to return to Jerusalem and Zion.
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