Linor Abargil Admits to Exhaustion During Late-Night Selichot Prayers

Former Miss World and retired television host Linor Abargil recently shared her struggles with the physical demands of attending late-night Selichot prayers during the month of Elul, about twenty years after she became religious. In a late-night Instagram story posted from a synagogue, Abargil admitted to the difficulty of waking up for the pre-dawn prayers, but emphasized the spiritual fulfillment and light the prayers bring to her life despite her fatigue.

Abargil, who was crowned Miss World in 1998 and has become a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual assault, has led a devout religious life for the past decade. However, even for someone accustomed to a prayer routine, the marathon of sleepless nights during Elul presents a significant challenge.

In a video filmed from the women's section of the synagogue at 12:40 AM, Abargil showed the large crowds gathered for prayer, remarking on the packed women's section and expressing a strong desire for sleep. "Look at the women's section, Selichot. It's like one in the afternoon," she told the camera. "I can't, we haven't slept all month. Oh my god, I wish Yom Kippur would arrive already, just to sleep. I want about six and a half hours."

When humorously asked by another worshipper if she intended to sleep on Yom Kippur itself, she quickly clarified, "No way, after Yom Kippur! Oh my god, what exhaustion." Despite documenting her fatigue and the crowded conditions, Abargil stressed that the effort was worthwhile, recommending the experience to her followers. "There's nothing like Selichot, nothing like what it does for the soul, and nothing like its light. Come on, go to Selichot."