SEPTEMBER 2 • 2021 | 65

Our COVID Autonomy
T

he sight of Jews congre-
gating again is beautiful. 
And that’s not just my 
opinion. Many Jews around the 
world during the month of Elul 
recite Psalm 27 after services. 
In it, Dovid HaMelech first 
declares his confidence in sur-
viving his enemies because he 
knows Hashem will assist him.
The one thing he seeks, 
however, is to simply dwell 
tranquilly in the “House 
of Hashem for all my 
life; to perceive the 
beauty of Hashem and 
frequent His Sanctuary” 
(27:6).
Rav Moshe Sofer 
(“Chasam Sofer” 19th 
century, Hungary) 
explains that the 
“beauty of Hashem” 
is a reference to what 
Hashem perceives 
as beautiful, namely, 
those “frequenting His 
Sanctuary.
” In the words 
of the Chasam Sofer, “When 
one sees during the Holy Days 
how all Jews come together and 
pray from the depths of their 
hearts, despite each having dif-
ferent intentions … that is what 
he (Dovid) rejoices over — the 
joy of Hashem.
”
Of course, each congregation 
and individual has determined 
their best practices in the cur-
rent iteration of COVID-19. 
Regardless, suffice it to say 
that we have, as a people, had 
opportunities to reengage with 
congregational life, in one way 
or another. As we reenter this 
former reality, however, we 
should keep in mind how our 
responsibilities remain a person-
al pursuit, not simply a congre-
gational one. This, I believe, is 
one of the profound lessons we 
have hopefully learned during 
“quarantine” — that we must 
make our Judaism personal, for 

ourselves. We read in Parshat 
Nitzavim that one should not 
ask “who will go to the Heavens 
to get [the Torah] for us, and 
teach it to us? … Rather, the 
matter is very close to you — in 
your mouth and in your hearts 
to accomplish it” (Devarim 
30:12-14).
In a conventional way, this 
means that we should have the 
confidence in ourselves to keep 
the mitzvot properly, and 
we do not need a leader like 
Moshe to guide us through 
every behavior. Looking 
closer, however, there’s a 
shift in these verses which 
is also fundamental. When 
saying what not to do, the 
verse speaks in the plural: 
“get [the Torah] for us.
” 
When explaining what one 
should do, however, it is 
framed for the individual: 
“your mouth and your 
heart.
”
It is truly beautiful to 
have a High Holiday season 
together in large, communal 
groups. But let that not deter 
us from the true medium of 
repentance and commitment 
— a personal, internal desire to 
improve. We cannot assume that 
our joining with a community 
fulfills our duties through the 
congregation’s activities. Every 
individual will be judged, not 
by who else is around them, but 
by what they themselves have 
accomplished, with their own 
mouths and their own hearts. 
We cannot know for certain 
the reason why Hashem brought 
a pandemic, but one lesson 
is the importance of our own 
Jewish autonomy. We, as indi-
viduals, are the stewards of our 
spiritual destiny; and no one else 
can accomplish it for us. 

Rabbi Shaya Katz is rabbi of Young 

Israel of Oak Park.

SPIRIT

TORAH PORTION

Rabbi 
Shaya Katz

Parshat 

Nitzavim: 

Deuteronomy 

29:9-30:20; 

Isaiah 61:10-

63:9.

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

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michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

We are here for you 

and any of your 

legal needs during the 

COVID-19 outbreak.

The Probate Law Firm of

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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is

Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111

What Is
Your Plan?.....
Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 
and Administration. Administering 
estates where everyone is on the same 
page. Protecting you from self-dealing 
parties appointed by will, trust or the 
court. Protecting you from family 
members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

What Is

Your Plan?.....

Call Us.

We focus on Probate Litigation 

and Administration. Administering 

estates where everyone is on the same 

page. Protecting you from self-dealing 

parties appointed by will, trust or the 

court. Protecting you from family 

members who always want more.

michprobate.com

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110

Southfield, MI 48034

1-248-945-1111

The Probate Law 

Firm of

Happy New Year!

