Arutz Sheva: Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday addressed the main prayer service celebrating the Ethiopian Jewish festival of Sigd, on the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem. The President thanked the dignitaries of the Ethiopian Jewish community for the invitation to open the ceremony.
Wishing everyone a happy holiday, Herzog said: “The festival of Sigd, which we are celebrating today, is in my view a holiday of victory. A national holiday that renews the covenant of the return to Zion and expresses, in large part, the realization of a great dream. For many years, at the center of this festival, as we know, was your intense longing for the Land of Israel, and first and foremost for Zion — for Yerusalem!”
“Today, as we mark the decades since the State of Israel mobilized to bring over the Jews of Ethiopia, who were on their way to the Land of Israel, this is also an opportunity to underline an important fact: The story of the aliyah (immigration to Israel) of Ethiopian Jewry is not a passive story but a story of bravery and haapala (proactive efforts to make aliyah).
“The Jews of Ethiopia did not wait around, but got up and took the initiative. They did not just dream about and pine for the Land of Israel — they also started to take action, on a journey here. And how good that the State of Israel also knew to act on its own side with determination to bring over the sons and daughters of our homeland.” Read More …
Opinion: The aliyah of the Ethiopian Jew as been of great prophetic interest to us since first posting it in 2013.
Zephaniah 3:10 “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering.”
The Ethiopian aliyah began in the 1970’s but has been in full swing for 8 years. Ethiopia is specifically named in Ezekiel 38:1-6 in the KJV and NKJV as one of the attackers in the Gog Magog war.
The ESV and NIV include Ethiopia as part of the Cush nations (Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia). Cush was a grandson of Noah who settled in the area and I believe is a more accurate description of what Ezekiel had in mind.
Either way, Ethiopia is part of the Gog Magog invasion and will face judgment.
“I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 39:6
And Ethiopian Jews, like believing Jews from all over the world will put an end to the diaspora that began in 70 AD with the destruction of the 2nd Temple.
Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.” Ezekiel 39:28
Selah.
