Faith is the Gateway to the Tzaddik / Keeping the Gateway Open The holy soul of a Tzaddik enters the world together with its branches — those people whose souls are dependent on it. A “husk” of evil surrounds that holy soul, preventing its branch-souls from approaching it. However, the “husk” leaves an opening through which those souls may approach. That opening is faith. If these branch-souls are blemished, they lose their faith. Then that opening is closed and they cannot come to this holy soul. Usually this closing is only temporary. But should the branch-souls have many blemishes, it is possible that the entrance will be sealed shut permanently. To prevent this from happening, Heaven places a God-fearing person at the entrance. Like the “husk,” he prevents those branch-souls from entering. However, he plays a positive role as well, in that he prevents the “husk” from completely blocking the entrance. This makes it possible for a branch-soul that has the dedication to travel and come close to the Tzaddik to eventually cling to the Tzaddik. Clinging to the Tzaddikim “Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter them and praise God.” “Open the gates so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter.” “Gates, lift up your heads; eternal doors, be elevated; may the King of glory enter.”
Help us enter the gates of holiness and come close to the souls of true Tzaddikim, on whom we all depend. They are the root of our souls, our life and the length of our days.
Act for the sake of Your Name. Do not repay us in accordance with our sins. Never cast us away from holy faith. Do not seal the opening shut. Do not close the door in our faces.
Have compassion on all Jews — particularly on me. I am spiritually impoverished. I lack good deeds and am soiled by my evil actions. As a result, even the little bit of good that I do with my blemished body is also blemished.
With what will a person as insignificant as I, lacking all merit, enter the gate of holiness and faith in order to come close to the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of my soul?
9
אִם עֲוֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר יָהּ אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד.
“If God takes note of sins, HaShem, who will stand?”
Overcoming the “Husks” of Evil Master of compassion, open the doors of holiness for me. Pour Your holy faith onto me so that my faith will always be firm. May I believe in You and in Your true Tzaddikim. May I come close to them and draw from their holy wisdom.
Eliminate all of the “husks” and aspects of evil that cluster around them, from which come all of the opponents of the true Tzaddikim and all of the doubts and confusions that people have about Tzaddikim.
HaShem, give us true counsel so that the truth will be revealed to us. Open the gates of faith so that no “husk” or aspect of evil will have the power to hide the truth.
The Concealment Caused by Dispute Master of the world, You know all of the harm that dispute has caused, so that we are worn out and “the strength of the porter has collapsed.”
In addition to that, the intensification of dispute — particularly the fighting among righteous people and Torah sages — has concealed from us the knowledge of the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of our souls, through whom we can receive eternal help.
Seeking the True Tzaddik Master of the world, God of truth, You Who investigate man’s heart and inner being, You know the secrets within the core of my heart.
My spirit yearns for the courtyards of HaShem, where I may come close to the true Tzaddik who can save me from the troubles of my spirit, bring me forth from my sins, and return me to You in truth.
“If only I could know how to find him,” I would “leap upon the mountains and jump upon the hills” to come to him and “tell him the number of my steps.”
Help me search for him as a person searches for silver and hidden treasures, even if it takes years, until I will find the one whom my soul loves. May the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of my soul be revealed to me, so that I may come close to him.
May no obstacle impede me; may no barrier obstruct me. May I run after him with all of my might and attain complete faith, until with that faith I will draw down his holy wisdom and share his goodness with others as I spread his teachings.
Incapacitate and chase away all of the guardians of the gates, all of the sentries that stand at the entranceway. Remove even the thin curtain at the entrance so that whoever wishes to enter may do so.
Inspire the hearts of righteous, worthy and God-fearing people to refrain from engaging in dispute among themselves, and refrain from doing anything that might prevent anyone from coming close to the core of truth, which is the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of our souls.
An End to the Exile Send Your help to me, to my offspring and to all of Your nation, the House of Israel, so that we will dedicate ourselves with our bodies, souls and possessions to the mission of coming close to the true Tzaddik and receiving his holy wisdom.
23
וּתְמַהֵר הַגְּאֻלָּה בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט.
Quickly bring redemption to the world as a whole and to its every detail.
Do not cast us away forever from Your holy faith. Do not repay us in accordance with our sins. “Do not cast us away from You. Do not remove Your holy spirit from us. Do not cast us away in our old age. When our strength is spent, do not abandon us.” Open a gate for us at the time of the closing of the gate.
Arouse Your compassion for a person as feeble as I, who has been standing at the entrance for so many years. Command Your angels to open the gates of holiness for me and bring me through them, “before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה קנ"ב - כְּשֶׁבָּא נְשָׁמָה קְדוֹשָׁה לָעוֹלָם]
פִּתְחוּ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק אָבֹא בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ. פִּתְחוּ שְׁעָרִים וְיָבֹא גוֹי צַדִּיק שׁוֹמֵר אֱמֻנִּים. שְׂאוּ שְׁעָרִים רָאשֵׁיכֶם וְהִנָּשְׂאוּ פִּתְחֵי עוֹלָם וְיָבֹא מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד.
Faith is the Gateway to the Tzaddik / Keeping the Gateway Open
The holy soul of a Tzaddik enters the world together with its branches — those people whose souls are dependent on it.
A “husk” of evil surrounds that holy soul, preventing its branch-souls from approaching it. However, the “husk” leaves an opening through which those souls may approach. That opening is faith.
If these branch-souls are blemished, they lose their faith. Then that opening is closed and they cannot come to this holy soul. Usually this closing is only temporary. But should the branch-souls have many blemishes, it is possible that the entrance will be sealed shut permanently.
To prevent this from happening, Heaven places a God-fearing person at the entrance. Like the “husk,” he prevents those branch-souls from entering. However, he plays a positive role as well, in that he prevents the “husk” from completely blocking the entrance. This makes it possible for a branch-soul that has the dedication to travel and come close to the Tzaddik to eventually cling to the Tzaddik.
Clinging to the Tzaddikim
“Open the gates of righteousness for me; I will enter them and praise God.” “Open the gates so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter.” “Gates, lift up your heads; eternal doors, be elevated; may the King of glory enter.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, סְלַח וּמְחַל לַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ, וְתֵן לָנוּ בְּמַתְּנַת חִנָּם וְנִדְבַת חֶסֶד אֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה. וְזַכֵּנוּ לֶאֱמוּנַת חֲכָמִים בֶּאֱמֶת, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים.
Master of the world, give us the kind gift of faith in the sages. May we believe in all of the true Tzaddikim.
וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִכְנֹס לְתוֹךְ פִּתְחֵי וְשַׁעֲרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ לְנִשְׁמוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם כֻּלָּנוּ תְלוּיִם וַאֲחוּזִים, כִּי הֵם שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ חַיֵּינוּ וְאֹרֶךְ יָמֵינוּ.
Help us enter the gates of holiness and come close to the souls of true Tzaddikim, on whom we all depend. They are the root of our souls, our life and the length of our days.
חוּסָה עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתֵן לָנוּ אֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת וְלֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, וְלָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יָדָם,
May we come close to them, walk in their holy ways, and return to You through them.
כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כִּי אֵין לָנוּ שׁוּם תִּקְוָה זוּלָתָם, וּבִלְעָדָם לֹא נָרִים אֶת יָדֵינוּ וְאֶת רַגְלֵינוּ.
Without them, we lack all hope. Without them, we cannot even lift our hands and feet.
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ וְאַל תִּגְמֹל לָנוּ כְּחַטֹּאתֵינוּ וְכַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ, וְאַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנוּ לְעוֹלָם מִן הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, וְאַל תִּסְתֹּם הַפֶּתַח וְאַל תִּנְעוֹל הַדֶּלֶת בְּפָנֵינוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
Act for the sake of Your Name. Do not repay us in accordance with our sins. Never cast us away from holy faith. Do not seal the opening shut. Do not close the door in our faces.
רַחֵם עַל כְּלָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּבִפְרָט עָלַי הֶעָנִי וְהָאֶבְיוֹן, הֶחָסֵר מִמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, הַמְלֻכְלָךְ בְּמַעֲשִׂים רָעִים, אֲשֶׁר מֵחֲמַת זֶה גַּם מְעַט הַמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים הַנַּעֲשִׂים בְּגוּף פָּגוּם כָּזֶה, הֵם גַּם כֵּן פְּגוּמִים הַרְבֵּה,
Have compassion on all Jews — particularly on me. I am spiritually impoverished. I lack good deeds and am soiled by my evil actions. As a result, even the little bit of good that I do with my blemished body is also blemished.
וּבַמֶּה יִזְכֶּה נַעַר הַמְנֹעָר מִכָּל טוֹב כָּמוֹנִי לִכְנֹס בְּפֶתַח הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, שֶׁהִיא הָאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת הַשַּׁיָּךְ לִי כְּפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתִי.
With what will a person as insignificant as I, lacking all merit, enter the gate of holiness and faith in order to come close to the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of my soul?
אִם עֲוֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר יָהּ אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד.
“If God takes note of sins, HaShem, who will stand?”
אָדוֹן מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, רַחֵם עָלַי, וּפְתַח לִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ פִּתְחֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. וְתַשְׁפִּיעַ לִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים אֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת אַמִּיץ וְחָזָק וְקַיָּם בֶּאֱמוּנָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה תָּמִיד, לְהַאֲמִין בְּךָ וּבְצַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וּלְהִתְקָרֵב אֲלֵיהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלִינֹק וְלִשְׁאֹב מֵחָכְמָתָם הַקְּדוֹשָׁה.
Overcoming the “Husks” of Evil
Master of compassion, open the doors of holiness for me. Pour Your holy faith onto me so that my faith will always be firm. May I believe in You and in Your true Tzaddikim. May I come close to them and draw from their holy wisdom.
וּתְשַׁבֵּר וְתַעֲקֹר וּתְבַטֵּל אֶת כָּל הַקְּלִפּוֹת וְהַסִּטְרִין אוֹחֲרָנִין הַמְסַבְּבִין אוֹתָם, שֶׁמֵּהֶם נִמְשָׁכִין כָּל הַחוֹלְקִים וְהַמִּתְנַגְּדִים עַל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, וְכָל הַקֻּשְׁיוֹת וְהַסְּפֵקוֹת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים שֶׁנּוֹפְלִים עֲלֵיהֶם בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה לְהַרְהֵר אַחֲרֵיהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
Eliminate all of the “husks” and aspects of evil that cluster around them, from which come all of the opponents of the true Tzaddikim and all of the doubts and confusions that people have about Tzaddikim.
אָנָּא יְהֹוָה, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלָי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתֵן לָנוּ עֵצוֹת שְׁלֵמוֹת וּנְכוֹנוֹת וַאֲמִתִּיּוֹת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה לָנוּ הָאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ. וְתִפְתַּח לָנוּ שַׁעֲרֵי הָאֱמוּנָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְשׁוּם קְלִפָּה וְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא לְהַעֲלִים הָאֱמֶת וְלִסְגֹּר הַשַּׁעַר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם:
HaShem, give us true counsel so that the truth will be revealed to us. Open the gates of faith so that no “husk” or aspect of evil will have the power to hide the truth.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל מַה שֶּׁגָּרַם הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת בָּעוֹלָם. וּכְבָר כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל,
The Concealment Caused by Dispute
Master of the world, You know all of the harm that dispute has caused, so that we are worn out and “the strength of the porter has collapsed.”
כִּי גַם מִצַּד עַצְמִי אֲנִי חֲלוּשׁ כֹּחַ מְאֹד כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, וְנוֹסַף לָזֶה הִתְגַּבְּרוּת הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, וּבִפְרָט הַקַּטֵּגוֹרְיָא שֶׁבֵּין הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַתַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בְּעַצְמָם, עַד אֲשֶׁר אֵין יוֹדְעִים מֵהַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת הַשַּׁיָּךְ לְשֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמָתֵנוּ שֶׁנּוּכַל לְקַבֵּל תּוֹעֶלֶת עַל־יָדוֹ לָנֶצַח.
In addition to that, the intensification of dispute — particularly the fighting among righteous people and Torah sages — has concealed from us the knowledge of the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of our souls, through whom we can receive eternal help.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים אֱמֶת, בּוֹחֵן לִבּוֹת וּכְלָיוֹת. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֶת צְפוּן לִבִּי, אֲשֶׁר בִּפְנִימִיּוּת הַנְּקֻדָּה שֶׁבְּלִבִּי,
Seeking the True Tzaddik
Master of the world, God of truth, You Who investigate man’s heart and inner being, You know the secrets within the core of my heart.
מְאֹד נִכְסְפָה וְגַם כָּלְתָה נַפְשִׁי לְחַצְרוֹת יְהֹוָה, לִזְכּוֹת לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת שֶׁיּוּכַל לְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשִׁי, לְהוֹצִיאֵנִי מֵעֲוֹנוֹתַי וְלַהֲשִׁיבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת.
My spirit yearns for the courtyards of HaShem, where I may come close to the true Tzaddik who can save me from the troubles of my spirit, bring me forth from my sins, and return me to You in truth.
מִי יִתֵּן יָדַעְתִּי וְאֶמְצָאֵהוּ, הָיִיתִי "מְדַלֵּג עַל הֶהָרִים מְקַפֵּץ עַל הַגְּבָעוֹת" לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלָיו, "מִסְפַּר צְעָדַי אַגִּידֶנּוּ".
“If only I could know how to find him,” I would “leap upon the mountains and jump upon the hills” to come to him and “tell him the number of my steps.”
עַל כֵּן רַחֵם עָלַי בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים, וְזַכֵּנִי לְבַלּוֹת יָמִים וְׁשָנִים עַל זֶה, לְבַקְּשׁוֹ וּלְחַפְּשׂוֹ כַּכֶּסֶף וּכְמַטְמוֹנִים, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִמְצֹא אֶת שֶׁאָהֲבָה נַפְשִׁי, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מְהֵרָה שֶׁיִּתְגַּלֶּה לִי בֶּאֱמֶת הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת הַׁשַּיָּךְ לְׁשֶֹרׁש נִׁשְמָתִי. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלָיו בֶּאֱמֶת.
Help me search for him as a person searches for silver and hidden treasures, even if it takes years, until I will find the one whom my soul loves. May the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of my soul be revealed to me, so that I may come close to him.
וְאַל יִמְנָעֵנִי שׁוּם מוֹנֵעַ וְאַל יְעַכְּבֵנִי שׁוּם עִכּוּב, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ וְלָרוּץ אַחֲרָיו בְּכָל כֹּחִי. וְאֶזְכֶּה לֶאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה וַחֲזָקָה וּנְכוֹנָה, עַד שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לִשְׁאֹב עַל־יָדָהּ מֵחָכְמָתוֹ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה וּלְהֵטִיב מִטּוּבוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים לְהָפִיץ מַעְיְנוֹתָיו חוּצָה.
May no obstacle impede me; may no barrier obstruct me. May I run after him with all of my might and attain complete faith, until with that faith I will draw down his holy wisdom and share his goodness with others as I spread his teachings.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ, וְצַוֵּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ לְבַטֵּל וּלְגָרֵשׁ כָּל הַנְּטוּרֵי תַרְעָא וְכָל הַשּׁוֹמְרִים הָעוֹמְדִים עַל הַפֶּתַח, וּתְסַלֵּק גַּם הַפָּרוּכְתָּא קְלִישָׁא מִן הַפֶּתַח, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁיּוּכַל לִכְנֹס כָּל הָרוֹצֶה לִכְנֹס.
Incapacitate and chase away all of the guardians of the gates, all of the sentries that stand at the entranceway. Remove even the thin curtain at the entrance so that whoever wishes to enter may do so.
וְתִתֵּן בְּלֵב כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים וְיִרְאֵי שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה בֵּינֵיהֶם שׁוּם מַחֲלֹקֶת כְּלָל, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה נִמְשַׁךְ מֵהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שׁוּם מְנִיעָה וְעִכּוּב וּבִלְבּוּל מִלְּהִתְקָרֵב לִנְקֻדַּת הָאֱמֶת, שֶׁהוּא הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת הַשַּׁיָּךְ לָנוּ כְּפִי שֹׁרֶשׁ נִשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ.
Inspire the hearts of righteous, worthy and God-fearing people to refrain from engaging in dispute among themselves, and refrain from doing anything that might prevent anyone from coming close to the core of truth, which is the true Tzaddik who is connected to the root of our souls.
וְעָזְרֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי אוֹתִי וְאֶת זַרְעִי וְאֶת כָּל זֶרַע בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָנוּ מְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ בֶּאֱמֶת, לִמְסֹר גּוּפֵנוּ וְנַפְשֵׁנוּ וּמְאֹדֵנוּ בִּשְׁבִיל לְהִתְקָרֵב לְהַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִינֹק וְלִשְׁאֹב וּלְקַבֵּל חָכְמָה מֵחָכְמָתוֹ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה.
An End to the Exile
Send Your help to me, to my offspring and to all of Your nation, the House of Israel, so that we will dedicate ourselves with our bodies, souls and possessions to the mission of coming close to the true Tzaddik and receiving his holy wisdom.
וּתְמַהֵר הַגְּאֻלָּה בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט.
Quickly bring redemption to the world as a whole and to its every detail.
וְתָבִיא אוֹתָנוּ מְהֵרָה לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶרֶץ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, אֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים, מְקוֹם הָאֱמוּנָה, כְּלָלִיּוּת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה,
Quickly bring us to the Land of Israel, which is the land of life, the site of faith and the summation of holiness.
כִּי כְבָר הִגִּיעַ הָעֵת וְהָעוֹנָה שֶׁתּוֹשִׁיעַ לְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, כִּי אִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו אֵימָתַי,
The time has come for You to save Your nation, the Jewish people, for “if not now, when?”
כִּי כְבָר אָרַךְ עָלֵינוּ הַגָּלוּת מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּגוּף וָנֶפֶשׁ בְּגַשְׁמִי וְרוּחָנִי בִּכְלָל וּבִפְרָט.
The exile has been very long — for the body and soul of each individual and for the physical and spiritual realms of the entire cosmos.
רַחֵם נָא קְהַל עֲדַת יְשֻׁרוּן, סְלַח וּמְחַל עֲוֹנָם וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ.
Have compassion on the congregation of Jeshurun. Forgive our sins. Save us for the sake of Your Name.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן בְּרִיתֶךָ. הַבִּיטָה וַעֲנֵנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָה, כִּי לְךָ יְהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה.
Have compassion on us for the sake of Your covenant. Turn to us and answer us at a time of trouble, for salvation is Yours, HaShem.
אַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנוּ מֵאֱמוּנָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָם, לֹא כַחֲטָאֵינוּ תַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ וְלֹא כַעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ תִגְמֹל עָלֵינוּ. אַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנוּ מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְרוּחַ קָדְשְׁךָ אַל תִּקַּח מִמֶּנּוּ. אַל תַּשְׁלִיכֵנוּ לְעֵת זִקְנָה כִּכְלוֹת כֹּחֵנוּ אַל תַּעַזְבֵנוּ. פְּתַח לָנוּ שַׁעַר בְּעֵת נְעִילַת שַׁעַר.
Do not cast us away forever from Your holy faith. Do not repay us in accordance with our sins. “Do not cast us away from You. Do not remove Your holy spirit from us. Do not cast us away in our old age. When our strength is spent, do not abandon us.” Open a gate for us at the time of the closing of the gate.
כִּי כְבָר עָבְרוּ הַרְבֵּה מִיָּמֵינוּ וּשְׁנוֹתֵינוּ, וַעֲדַיִן שַׁעֲרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה נְעוּלִים וּסְגוּרִים בְּפָנֵינוּ בַּעֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים וּפְשָׁעֵינוּ הָעֲצוּמִים.
Years have passed — yet due to our many, severe sins, the gates of holiness remain shut.
יֵעוֹרְרוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲנִינוֹתֶיךָ עַל עָלוּב כָּמוֹנִי, הָעוֹמֵד אֵצֶל הַפֶּתַח זֶה יָמִים וְשָׁנִים הַרְבֵּה, וְצַוֵּה לְמַלְאָכֶיךָ לִפְתֹּחַ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וּלְהַכְנִיסֵנִי בָּהֶם בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים, עַד אֲשֶׁר לֹא תֶּחְשַׁךְ הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהָאוֹר וְהַיָרֵחַ וְכוּ'.
Arouse Your compassion for a person as feeble as I, who has been standing at the entrance for so many years. Command Your angels to open the gates of holiness for me and bring me through them, “before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark.”
הַיּוֹם יִפְנֶה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ יָבוֹא וְיִפְנֶה נָבוֹאָה שְׁעָרֶיךָ.
“Today, as the sun sets, let us come to your gates.”
אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי בְּיוֹם צַר לִי הַטֵּה אֵלַי אָזְנֶךָ בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי.
“Do not hide Your face from me on my day of trouble. Incline Your ear to me; on the day that I call, quickly answer me.”
יְהֹוָה שְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי הַאֲזִינָה אֶל תַּחֲנוּנַי בֶּאֱמֻנָתְךָ עֲנֵנִי בְּצִדְקָתֶךָ.
“HaShem, hear my prayer, listen to my plea; in Your faithfulness answer me, in Your righteousness.”
כָּל מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֱמוּנָה שֶׁקֶר רְדָפוּנִי עָזְרֵנִי.
“All of Your commandments are faithful. When falsehood pursues me, help me, HaShem!”
הוֹרֵנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי.
“HaShem, teach me Your ways. Guide me on a path that is straight, despite my enemies who gaze upon me.”
הַדְרִיכֵנִי בַּאֲמִתֶּךָ וְלַמְּדֵנִי כִּי אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי אוֹתְךָ קִוִּיתִי כָּל הַיּוֹם.
“Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; it is for You that I have hoped all day long.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”