On Tuesday, September 15, Cheilech organized a full-day Yom Iyun about Tefilla and Avodat Hashem in the context of army life, in partnership with the Mizrachi World Movement and Keren Danieli.
For the 15 women who attended, it was a meaningful day of learning, reflection, and connection, taking place in Jerusalem between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Some of them were serving chayalot bodedot, and others were Olot (immigrants and students who are enrolled in Cheilech’s pre-army program.
The Inner World of Tefilla
The first part of the day was focused on the spiritual dimension of prayer. Rabbanit Michal Nagen of Mechinat Tzahali (shown above) led the opening session, exploring prayer and longing through the lens of a chayelet’s experience – making space for the soul amid the demands of military life.
Rabbanit Tamar Goldberg from the IDF Rabbanut (shown above) led the next session on the power of Tefilla, examining what it means to truly hear “HaTefilla VeHaT’china” – the song and the prayer. Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman – an IDF Rabbi and Co-Director of Matan-Mizrachi’s Advanced Women’s Learning Program – spoke about the unique challenges and opportunities that Tefilla presents specifically within the context of serving in Tzahal.
The fresh dairy lunch and the next session were generously sponsored by the Danieli Foundation in memory of Danieli Sonnenfeld and Captain Daniel Peretz. Each participant received a new pocket-size Koren Siddur that they were invited to decorate and personalize. While doing so, they listened to inspirational ideas from the Cheilech team, and enjoyed informal and meaningful conversations with the serving Chayalot.
Serving Am Yisrael in Historic Times
The second half of the day brought together the participants with the women who are enrolled in the 12-week Mizrachi/Cheilech Pre-Army Program, which takes place every Tuesday afternoon. Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman returned to teach the practical laws of Tefilla for soldiers, followed by an uplifting talk about female heroes from Rabbanit Shani Taragin of World Mizrachi. She drew a compelling parallel between the prophet Yonah, whose story we read on Yom Kippur, and Queen Esther from the Purim story.
Following a meat dinner, the event concluded with a closing address from Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon, Nasi of World Mizrachi, on the theme of serving Am Yisrael in these historic times. This brought together the themes of the event around the value of personal prayer, halachic observance, and national service.