What is Neilah - Closing the Gates

The sun is setting on this holy day, but our tradition still has an 11 o’clock number up its sleeve. Neilah refers to the closing of the gates and symbolizes the waning hours of our atonement. For weeks we’ve been digging into our souls, for days we’ve been apologizing, and for the last 24 hours we’ve been depriving ourselves of comfort while confessing our collective sins. Neilah is the final mile of the marathon. Whatever comes next and the clean slate of a new year is visible on the horizon. We close Yom Kippur with a song and a final ritual.


Booklet Section: Prayers for Healing & Peace