The concluding Service of Yom Kippur forms the climax of Jewish devotion on this holiest day of the year. The literal meaning of the word Neilah is “the closing of the gates.” In ancient times, there was a daily prayer in the Temple just before the closing of the gates in the evening. Outside the Temple there was a similar closing prayer on public fast-days. At the urging of Rav, who had a decisive influence on the Yom Kippur liturgy, this special prayer was instituted in the form of a new Amidah. In later times the word neilah was taken to mean “closing of the Heavenly Gates.” Thus we have the prayer, “Open for us the gate at the time of closing the gate, for the day has declined.” The key-note of the Neilah Service is the prayer אַתָּה נוֹתֵן יַד, “You are willing to meet even [those who deliberately transgressed Your Law]. You give them the call and the opportunity to return to You, and You are ready at all times to receive those who return. Let no one, therefore say, “it is too late.”
אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶֽךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּֽכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁיְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו: תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ וַאֲבָרְכָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: בְּכָל־יוֹם אֲבָרְכֶֽךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵֽקֶר: דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶֽיךָ יַגִּֽידוּ: הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶֽךָ וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְאֹתֶֽיךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה: וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְאֹתֶֽיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְדֻלָּתְךָ אֲסַפְּרֶֽנָּה: זֵֽכֶר רַב־טוּבְךָ יַבִּֽיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ: חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם יְהֹוָה אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וּגְדָל־חָֽסֶד: טוֹב־יְהֹוָה לַכֹּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו: יוֹדֽוּךָ יְהֹוָה כָּל־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ וַחֲסִידֶֽיךָ יְבָרְכֽוּכָה: כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ יְדַבֵּֽרוּ: לְהוֹדִֽיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ: מַלְכוּתְךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל־עֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּךָ בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדֹר: סוֹמֵךְ יְהֹוָה לְכָל־הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל־הַכְּפוּפִים: עֵינֵי־כֹל אֵלֶֽיךָ יְשַׂבֵּֽרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן־לָהֶם אֶת־אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ: פּוֹתֵֽחַ אֶת־יָדֶֽךָ וּמַשְׂבִּֽיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן: צַדִּיק יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל־מַעֲשָׂיו: קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻֽהוּ בֶאֱמֶת: רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת־שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם: שׁוֹמֵר יְהֹוָה אֶת־כָּל־אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל־הָרְשָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד: חזן: תְּהִלַּת יְהֹוָה יְדַבֶּר פִּי וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל־בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ: Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house; may they continue to praise You, Selah. Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus; fortunate is the people for whom Adonoy is their God. A praise by Dovid! I will exalt You, my God, the King, and bless Your Name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and extol Your Name forever and ever. Adonoy is great and highly extolled, and His greatness is unfathomable. One generation to another will praise Your works, and Your mighty acts they will declare. The splendor of Your glorious majesty, and the words of Your wonders I will speak. Of Your awesome might, they will speak, and Your greatness I will recount. Mention of Your bountifulness they will express, and in Your righteousness joyfully exult. Adonoy is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in kindliness. Adonoy is good to all, His mercy encompasses all His works. All Your works will thank You, Adonoy, and Your pious ones will bless You. Of the honor of Your Kingship, they will speak, and Your might they will declare. To reveal to men His mighty acts, and the glorious splendor of His Kingship. Your Kingship is the kingship for all times, and Your dominion is in every generation. Adonoy supports all the fallen, and straightens all the bent. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food at its proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living being. Adonoy is just in all His ways and benevolent in all His deeds. Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The will of those who fear Him, He fulfills; He hears their cry and delivers them. Adonoy watches over all those who love Him, and will destroy all the wicked. Praise of Adonoy, my mouth will declare and all flesh will bless His Holy Name forever and ever. And we will bless God from now forever. Praise God.
וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן גּוֹאֵל וּלְשָׁבֵי פֶֽשַׁע בְּיַעֲקֹב נְאֻם יְהֹוָה: וַאֲנִי זֹאת בְּרִיתִי אֹתָם אָמַר יְהֹוָה רוּחִי אֲשֶׁר עָלֶֽיךָ וּדְבָרַי אֲשֶׁר שַֽׂמְתִּי בְּפִֽיךָ לֹא יָמֽוּשׁוּ מִפִּֽיךָ וּמִפִּי זַרְעֲךָ וּמִפִּי זֶֽרַע זַרְעֲךָ אָמַר יְהֹוָה מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם: וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ יוֹשֵׁב תְּהִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל: וְקָרָא זֶה אֶל זֶה וְאָמַר קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת מְלֹא כָל הָאָֽרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ: וּמְקַבְּלִין דֵּין מִן דֵּין וְאָמְרִין קַדִּישׁ בִּשְׁמֵי מְרוֹמָא עִלָּאָה בֵּית שְׁכִינְתֵּהּ קַדִּישׁ עַל אַרְעָא עוֹבַד גְּבוּרְתֵּהּ קַדִּישׁ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת. מַלְיָא כָל אַרְעָא זִיו יְקָרֵהּ: וַתִּשָּׂאֵֽנִי רֽוּחַ וָאֶשְׁמַע אַחֲרַי קוֹל רַֽעַשׁ גָּדוֹל בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה מִמְּקוֹמוֹ: וּנְטָלַתְנִי רוּחָא וּשְׁמָעִית בַּתְרַי קָל זִֽיעַ סַגִּיא דִּמְשַׁבְּחִין וְאָמְרִין בְּרִיךְ יְקָרָא דַיהֹוָה מֵאֲתַר בֵּית שְׁכִינְתֵּהּ: יְהֹוָה יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: יְהֹוָה מַלְכוּתֵהּ קָאֵם לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא: יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ שָׁמְרָה זֹאת לְעוֹלָם לְיֵֽצֶר מַחְשְׁבוֹת לְבַב עַמֶּֽךָ וְהָכֵן לְבָבָם אֵלֶֽיךָ: וְהוּא רַחוּם יְכַפֵּר עָוֹן וְלֹא יַשְׁחִית וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ וְלֹא יָעִיר כָּל חֲמָתוֹ: כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב חֶֽסֶד לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ: צִדְקָתְךָ צֶֽדֶק לְעוֹלָם וְתוֹרָתְךָ אֱמֶת: תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב חֶֽסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ מִֽימֵי קֶֽדֶם: בָּרוּךְ אֲדֹנָי יוֹם יוֹם יַעֲמָס לָֽנוּ הָאֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ סֶֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵֽנוּ: בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ שֶׁבְּרָאָֽנוּ לִכְבוֹדוֹ וְהִבְדִּילָֽנוּ מִן הַתּוֹעִים וְנָֽתַן לָֽנוּ תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם נָטַע בְּתוֹכֵֽנוּ הוּא יִפְתַּח לִבֵּֽנוּ בְּתוֹרָתוֹ וְיָשֵׂם בְּלִבֵּֽנוּ אַהֲבָתוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנוֹ וּלְעָבְדוֹ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם לְמַֽעַן לֹא נִיגַע לָרִיק וְלֹא נֵלֵד לַבֶּהָלָה: יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ שֶׁנִּשְׁמֹר חֻקֶּֽיךָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְנִזְכֶּה וְנִחְיֶה וְנִרְאֶה וְנִירַשׁ טוֹבָה וּבְרָכָה לִשְׁנֵי יְמוֹת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ וּלְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא: לְמַֽעַן יְזַמֶּרְךָ כָבוֹד וְלֹא יִדֹּם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי לְעוֹלָם אוֹדֶֽךָּ: בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּֽבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהֹוָה וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה מִבְטַחוֹ: בִּטְחוּ בַיהֹוָה עֲדֵי עַד כִּי בְּיָהּ יְהֹוָה צוּר עוֹלָמִים: וְיִבְטְחוּ בְךָ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶֽךָ כִּי לֹא עָזַֽבְתָּ דֹרְשֶֽׁיךָ יְהֹוָה: חזן: יְהֹוָה חָפֵץ לְמַֽעַן צִדְקוֹ יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר: The Redeemer shall come to Tziyon and to those of Yaakov who repent from sin, says Adonoy. As for Me, this is My covenant with them, said Adonoy: My spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children's children, said Adonoy— from now to eternity. And You, Holy One, are enthroned upon the praises of Yisrael. And [the angels] call one to another and say: “Holy, holy, holy is Adonoy of Hosts: the fullness of all the earth is His glory.” And they receive [sanction] one from another, and say, “Holy in the highest heights of heaven, the abode of His Divine Presence; holy upon earth, the work of His mighty power; holy forever and to all eternity— is Adonoy of Hosts; the whole earth is filled with the radiance of His glory.” And a wind lifted me; and I heard behind me the sound of a great rushing; “Blessed is the glory of Adonoy from His place.” “And a wind lifted me and I heard behind me a sound of a great rushing of those who uttered praises and said, “Blessed is the glory of Adonoy from the place, the abode of His Divine Presence.” Adonoy will reign forever and ever. Adonoy, His Kingdom is established forever and to all eternity. Adonoy, God of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yisrael, our fathers, keep this forever as the intention of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts to You. And He, the merciful One, atones iniquity and does not destroy; He frequently withdraws His anger and does not arouse all His rage. For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You. Your righteousness is everlasting and Your Torah is truth. You will grant truth to Yaakov kindliness to Avraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. Blessed is my Master day by day; He loads us, [with blessings] the Almighty Who is our deliverance, forever. Adonoy of Hosts is with us a stronghold for us is the God of Yaakov, selah. Adonoy of Hosts, fortunate is the man who trusts in You. Adonoy, deliver [us]; the King will answer us on the day we call. Blessed is He, our God, Who created us for His glory, and set us apart from those who go astray; and gave us the Torah of truth, and eternal life He implanted within us. May He open our heart to His Torah, and instill in our heart love and awe of Him, to do His will and serve Him with a perfect heart, so that we shall not labor in vain nor bring forth that which causes dismay. May it be Your will, Adonoy, our God, and God of our fathers, that we keep Your statutes in this world, and [thus] be privileged to live and behold, and to inherit the goodness and blessing of the Messianic days and in the life of the World to Come. In order that my soul sing to You and not be stilled; Adonoy, my God, forever will I thank You. Blessed is the man who trusts in Adonoy, so that Adonoy is his security. Trust in Adonoy until the end of days, for in God, Adonoy, is the strength of the worlds. Those who know your Name will trust in You, for You have never forsaken those who seek You, Adonoy. Adonoy desired, for the sake of His righteousness, to make the Torah great and to glorify it.
The Chazzan recites the following Half-Kaddish:
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְקוּדְשָׁא, בְּרִיךְ הוּא לְעֵֽלָּא וּלְעֵֽלָּא מִכָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: Exalted and sanctified be His great Name in the world which He created according to His will; and may He rule His Kingdom in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire House of Yisrael, speedily and in the near future— and say Amein. May His great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified, and exalted and uplifted, honored and elevated and extolled be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He; far above all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations which we utter in the world and say Amein.