At the Closing of the Gates: A Neilah Song

This video presents a gentle welcome to the Neilah service at the end of Yom Kippur, written and performed by Irwin Keller, spiritual leader of  the Reconstructionist/Renewal Congregation Ner Shalom in Sonoma County, California. The short repetitive song is composed in a call-and-response format, so that the leader may use it as a meditative chant to direct the prayers of the congregants at this auspicious moment. The lyrics, displayed on screen, are also below. 

At the closing of the gates
At the turning of the day
We turn our hearts to you
And you wont turn away

Keller encourages prayer leaders to vary the final line, depending on the mood: the fourth line could be “you won’t turn away,” “please don’t turn away” or “we won’t turn away.” Or mix and match!