Rachel Sharaby

Prof. Rachel Sharaby is Head of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at the Ashkelon Academic College. She is an editor of the journal Hagira (Israel Journal of Immigration). Her studies discuss immigration, intercultural encounters and syncretism, tradition and modernity, ethnic identity, ceremonies and celebrations.
Her latest books are: The Mimouna Holiday: From the Periphery to the Center (Jerusalem, 2009); Mediation in Immigration (Germany,2013); Like Mannequins in a Shop Window: Leaders of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel (Tel-Aviv, 2014); Dynamics of Gender Borders (Beelin/Boston,2017).

Prof. Sharaby will be at the ASCL for one month as a self-financed visitor.

Current research
Title: The Sigd holiday of Ethiopian Jews: Religious-historical context and Anthropological meanings
The research goals:
A.    To discuss the unique elements of the Sigd as a religious and community holiday in Ethiopia and to analyze the stages of the ritual activity and its symbolic meanings, through their historic and social context.
B.    To examine the anthropological significance of the Sigd holiday as a liminal rite of passage that includes elements of pilgrimage.
C.    To study the development of the Sigd holiday in Israel, since this is a traditional practice which is identified with an ethnic minority whose Judaism was doubted by the religious establishment and whose spiritual leaders were excluded. Following the immigration of the Sigd holiday to a new social context, I will examine the changes that took place in its ritual system in Israel, the meanings it was given by the younger generation in their ethnic identity, whether it has obtained national legitimization in Israel, and where and in what manner was syncretism created in the Sigd holiday between Ethiopia and Israel and between tradition and modernity.