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Rebbetzin Leat Rabbi Ben Zion Nediva
Millunchick Algazi Buechler

s a mum of 5, tefillah has changed for he tefillot of the Yamim Nora’im are a or me, as clichéd as it may be, the most
me over the years. There were years unique, once in a year opportunity. As meaningful tefillah during the Yamim
when I was in shul from the beginning Chazal say, we begin with the concept Nora’im has always been U’netaneh Tokef.
of davening until the end, or simply of “Open for me like the opening of a It is the only one that has been guaranteed
Aable to daven at home without any dis- Tneedle, and I will open for you like the Fto make me take stock, to remind me of
turbances. Later on there were days where my width of the heichal,” and ends with the shutting the overwhelming and all-encompassing power
husband would catch an early shacharit and he of Ne’ilah. The message is that there is a one-off of Hashem, and causes me to come as close as
would take over with the kids so I could daven at opening and closing, and a unique opportunity is personally possible to fully appreciating how
shul. More recently, we were blessed with twins that has to be grabbed. One who approaches the things are completely outside of our control as
and the pregnancy was very hard, so at this point tefillot with this mentality has a completely dif- humans. It makes me think of the people who
in my life simply fasting on Yom Kippur was a ferent approach – these are not just any tefillot, have been lost, and the people I am afraid to
challenge, and tefillah became secondary. As but a unique opportunity that we don’t want lose in the future. It encompasses how much
women, our relationship with tefillah can change to miss. things can change in one short year, and how
depending on our circumstances, which is not If a poor person knows that there is a often we take that time for granted. It is the only
a bad thing. It gives us a chance to stop and potential donor available to meet at one specific tefillah that has ever brought me to tears, and
appreciate our blessings, and then, when life time, they will do whatever they can to be as on occasion, to my knees. It simultaneously ter-
slows down again, we can reconnect to Hashem prepared and present as possible for that time rifies me and makes me feel hopeful, it reminds
through tefillah more often. – and it is with that mindset that we need to me of my insignificance and my importance. It
The Yamim Nora’im are so packed with tefillot, approach the tefillot of Rosh Hashanah and Yom causes me to beg for what I hope the future will
that for me, whatever I manage to get through is Kippur, a special time where we can pray for bring, and reminds me that the outcomes will be
a triumph. But the tefillah I connect with the most everything, on a personal and national level. determined by a combination of my choices and
is Ne’ilah. By that point, the kids are sleeping, and how said choices are viewed in a Divine context.
I can take my time, alone, to daven and connect Am I good enough? Can I ever be? I guess we’ll
with Hashem and think seriously about the year find out.
gone by, what we achieved as a family, and what
we want to achieve in the coming year. I think
of the areas in which we’ve succeeded, and the
struggles we have gone through. Davening at
home, in the environment where we are making
our lives flourish, allows me to connect to
Hashem and be truly grateful and have the most
meaningful tefillah.
Rebbetzin Leat Millunchick is a graduate of the
Susi Bradfield Leadership Course at LSJS, Machon Nediva Buechler works as the Menahelet at Mid-
Puah and the Eden Centre. Previously, Leat was the reshet Amudim in Yerushalayim. She participated
head of informal education at Hasmonean High in Mizrachi’s Shalhevet and Lapidot programs, as
School. Leat is an accomplished doula and childbirth well as Matan’s Eshkolot Educators program, and
educator, and is passionate about nurturing healthy Rabbi Ben Zion Algazi is the Founder and Author of is passionate about infertility education. She has a
and sustainable family life. Leat is a graduate of Tzurba M’Rabanan, a learning program with tens background in graphic design, education, and tour
Mizrachi’s Shalhevet program and currently serves of thousands of learners around the world, and guiding, and currently lives in Sha’alvim with her
as Rebbetzin at Belmont shul in London, UK. the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Hesder Ramat Gan. husband and son.

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