Purim/ Tsom Esther
Beta Israel and Tsom Esther and Fasing in Ethiopia
While Purim itself was not historically celebrated as a full festival in Beta Israel communities, the Fast of Esther was observed.
In Hebrew, the word for fasting is: צום (Tzom) In both Amharic and Ge'ez, the word is: ጾም (Tsom) These words share the same ancient Semitic root, preserved across languages and centuries!
Fasting in Beta Israel Tradition
Fasting has long played a central role in all of Ethiopian Jewish religious life, and across many religious traditions in Ethiopia. Fasting is understood as a time for prayer, humility, and renewed connection to God.
Beta Israel communities maintained extended periods of fasting. Some last from sunrise to sunset, while others involved longer periods of spiritual preparation led by the kessim. In Ethiopian culture, fasting is not only about abstaining from food but also about what kinds of food are eaten. Y’etsom beyaynetu, or tsom platters, are prepared during extended fasting periods and are made without meat or animal products, often built around vegetables, legumes, and injera. These meals reflect the Ethiopian (and regional) understanding that fasting can involve both abstaining from food and simplifying what one eats.
Tsom Esther is observed and understood within this cultural tradition of fasting as spiritual discipline.
According to Shulchan HaOrit, a halakhic guide to Beta Israel tradition, Rabbi Sharon Shalom explains that Beta Israel “communities fasted during the day for three days, eating small amounts at night for sustenance” honoring Esther’s request of the Jewish community to fast before she approaches the king: "Go, gather all the Jews… and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days." - Esther 4:16
The Megillah begins with the name Cush. Esther’s story begins with a fast. In Beta Israel tradition, both remain part of a living Jewish tradition!
Sources: Torah Bereshit 2:13 Bamidbar 12:1, Esther 1:1; 4:16. Beta Israel Tradition and Scholarship Sharon Shalom, From Sinai to Ethiopia: The Halakhic World of Ethiopian Jewry, Sharon Shalom, Shulchan HaOrit: A Halakhic Guide for Ethiopian Jews