פתח לנו שער בעת נעילת שער

Open Up the Gates at the time of Closing of the Gates

Dear Friends,

At the conclusion of Yom Kippur, during Neila, we pray to the Almighty that He open gates for us. What gates are we asking that He open? The Talmud in Berachos teaches that after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash the Gates of Prayer were locked. However, explains the גמרא, the Gates of Tears were not locked. And so, we ask Hashem to open the Gates of Tears. Thus, for our prayers to be accepted we must pray with tears. We have to cry.

Since October 7 the Jewish People have been crying. Everyday millions of tears have been and continue to be shed for so many: for the holy souls who were murdered, for those who have fallen in battle, for the hostages, for the wounded, for those who have been subjected to acts of antisemitism, and our brethren in Israel.

As individuals and as a community we have a responsibility and an opportunity to do all that we possibly can so that our prayers are accepted.  When we join together in meaningful and inspirational prayer, we transform our personal individual’s prayers into a far more potent force – the tefilla of an entire צבור. Such תפילות surely reach the Gates of Tears.

As we did for Selichos and Rosh Hashana we have complied a list and playlist of the niggunim which we will בע"ה sing during our Yom Kippur תפילות. It is my hope that you will listen to the playlist in advance of Yom Kippur, find the music both inspiring and moving, and join together as one צבור in prayer throughout Yom Kippur.

גמר חתימה טובה ובשורות טובות,

Judah Lifschitz

P.S. Thank you to Mitch Taragin for both the idea and for helping to produce the song sheet and playlist.