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.
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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
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Southfield, MI 48034
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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
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
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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
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We focus on Probate Litigation
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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
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24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111
What Is
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We focus on Probate Litigation
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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
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Southfield, MI 48034
1-248-945-1111
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Happy New Year!