Neilah: When the Gates Close, Mercy Remains Open

As Neilah closes Yom Kippur, we hear Adonai's final words to Jonah: “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” This message reminds us that G-d’s compassion reaches far beyond what we imagine — embracing not only Israel but the nations, the vulnerable, and even creation itself. At the sealing of the day, we are called to align our hearts with His mercy and extend His concern to the needy around us.