Every time I dive into the depths of the traditions of Beta Israel, the Jewish community of Ethiopia, I am filled with a renewed sense of wonder. This is an ancient heritage that preserved the ember of Judaism with supreme devotion through thousands of years of exile and isolation. Yet, alongside this awe, a slight sense of missed opportunity always arises: How is it possible that such immense spiritual wealth, breathtaking liturgical chants, unique cosmological concepts, and beautiful customs remain almost invisible in mainstream Israeli and global Jewish discourse?

This is precisely why I have made it my mission to promote the heritage of Ethiopian Jewry and actively shape our future. The Beta Israel’s spiritual gems need to enrich our shared Jewish bookcase and ensure that future generations grow up with pride and connection to their roots. One of the most fascinating examples of this richness is the tradition of “Sabbat Sanbat” and “Zeberbe’u Sanbat”, which are the unique, sacred cycles of the Shabbat.

The Kessim and the Shabbat: Spiritual Guardians of the Community

To understand the tradition of these special Shabbats marked in Ethiopia, we must begin by understanding the role of the Kessim. The Kessim were the spiritual, public, and religious leaders of the community. They were the ones who preserved the holy scriptures (the Orit, meaning the Five Books of Moses, Prophets, and Writings, written in the ancient Ge’ez language), led the prayers, guarded the laws of purity, and guided the people through day-to-day life and holidays.

The Mathematics of Holiness: The Seven Week Cycles of “Sabbat Sanbat”

The number seven is highly symbolic in Judaism, and, as such, has become central to how the Beta Israel relate to prayer and the calendar. While mainstream rabbinic tradition observes Shabbat weekly and counts the Omer between Passover and Shavuot, Ethiopian Jews developed a magnificent annual counting system based entirely on cycles of seven.

The counting begins on the very first Shabbat after Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the first month of the biblical calendar. From that moment on, every seventh Shabbat is designated as “Sabbat Sanbat,” also known as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.”

The seventh occurrence becomes a Shabbat of supreme holiness, where the entire community gathers for special prayers, Torah study led by the Kessim, and strengthening of social and communal bonds. The peak of this annual cycle occurs on the 49th Shabbat, representing the absolute pinnacle of holiness and spiritual renewal for the year.

“Zeberbe’u Sanbat”: The Shabbat of the Broken Tablets

Within this annual structure, there are two even more dramatic and significant Shabbats known as “Zeberbe’u Sanbat” (the 21st Shabbat of the cycle), with one observed in the winter and one in the summer. The summer “Zeberbe’u Sanbat” is exactly the 21st Shabbat from Rosh Chodesh Nissan and typically falls at the end of the Hebrew month of Av. In the current 2026 calendar, we will mark this supreme spiritual milestone this weekend (August 7).

According to the tradition of Ethiopian Jewry, this Shabbat is directly linked to one of the most painful moments in Jewish history: the breaking of the Tablets of the Covenant by Moses when he descended Mount Sinai and saw the Golden Calf. Believing that this defining, shattering event occurred during this time, the Jews of Ethiopia transformed this Shabbat into a powerful day of spiritual repair (Tikun), deep prayer, and a conscious renewal of our covenant with God.

How Were These Special Shabbats Observed?

During these sacred days, the entire village would mobilize and enact three important pillars of this particularly holy Shabbat:

• The “Zeker” Feast (Commemorative Mitzvah Meal): Many families would host a large communal mitzvah feast starting as early as Friday afternoon and continuing into Shabbat, filled with blessings, songs, and the sharing of traditional bread.
• Hours of Prayer: In the house of prayer (the Mesgid), the Kessim led unique, ancient liturgy chanted in Ge’ez. These prayers lasted for hours, marked by deep prostration and spiritual devotion.
• Community Unity: These days were used to resolve disputes, practice charity, and study the Torah’s moral and ethical teachings.

Changing the Face of the Future

Today in Israel, these beautiful traditions are unfortunately fading. Not all synagogues perform these unique prayers, and the younger generation is not always aware of the magnificent cycles of sacred time that guided our ancestors in Ethiopia.

My writing, my content creation, and my efforts to bring “Sabbat Sanbat” and “Zeberbe’u Sanbat” to light are my response to this reality. When we expose the world to this beauty, we are not just doing historical justice to a noble community. We are giving a gift to the entire Jewish world. A gift of sacred time, pure faith, and an unbreakable connection to our ancestors and the Creator.

May we merit to continue counting, remembering, celebrating, and passing this glorious heritage down to the generations to come.