| Introduction to the Gates of Light (trans. based on Markel and Markel). | הקדמת המחבר לשערי אורה | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | You have asked of me, my sibling and soulmate, to illuminate a path before you in the matter of the names of the Blessed Holy One, through which to attain what you want and achieve what you desire. Since I see that your intention is better and more upright than your request, I find it necessary to inform you through which paths the light flows (_Job 38:24_) and what way יהו"ה desires or does not desire. When you attain knowledge of this, then you shall call and יהו"ה will answer, you will be amongst those who are close to Hir, you will love Hir with all your soul, you will delight in יהו"ה and S/He will give you the desire of your heart. | שָׁאַלְתָּ מִמֶּנִּי אָחִי יְדִיד נַפְשִׁי לְהָאִיר לְפָנֶיךָ נָתִיב בְּעִנְיַן שְׁמוֹתָיו שֶׁל הקב"ה יִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְבָּרֵךְ, לְהָפִיק בָּהֶם רְצוֹנְךָ וּלְהַגִּיעַ בָּהֶם לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצְךָ. וּלְפִי שֶׁרָאִיתִי כַּוָּנָתְךָ יְשָׁרָה וְטוֹבָה יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁאֵלָתְךָ, הֻצְרַכְתִּי לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ אֵיזֶה דֶּרֶךְ יְחַלֵּק אוֹר וּמָה הוּא הַדֶּרֶךְ שֶׁהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ חֵפֶץ אוֹ אֵינוֹ חֵפֶץ. וּכְשֶׁתַּגִּיעַ לִידִיעַת דָּבָר זֶה אָז תִּקְרָא וי"י יֵעָנֶה, וְתִהְיֶה מִן הַקְּרוֹבִים אֵלָיו וְתֹאהַב אוֹתוֹ בְּכָל נַפְשְׁךָ, וְתִתְעַנֵּג עַל ה' וְיִתֶּן לְךָ מִשְׁאֲלֹת לִבֶּךָ: |