This week, we revisit a pasuk (verse) that we have discussed in previous years. The word used for ‘when’ is ‘asher’, an unusual choice which alerts us to consider why it was chosen. Rashi (the premier Torah commentator) explains that ‘asher’ is related to the word ‘ashrei’, meaning ‘happy’ (as in Psalm 145, said at the start of Mincha afternoon prayers, around the time of returning the Sefer Torah and in the second part of the Shacharit morning prayers). Basing his comments on the Talmud (Horayot 10b), Rashi states that any generation whose leader is prepared to admit to a sin and attempt to atone for the sin is a happy or fortunate generation.

Rashbam, Rashi’s grandson, makes a different comparison which has seasonal application for us. Quoting from Megilat Esther (the Scroll of Esther, read on Purim and coming up next week!), he explains that ‘asher’ refers to a particular kind of leader by reference to the verse in Esther (6:8) which discusses how Haman had to dress Mordechai in royal garments.

Why though is this a happy generation? Its leader has sinned! Furthermore, the word ‘asher’ in our pasuk suggests that the leader is bound to sin!

The 19^th century Rabbi Baruch Halevi Epstein, in his ‘Torah Temimah’ commentary, suggests that the generation is happy because it sees its leader set an example for the whole generation to follow. If the leader can say ‘mea culpa’, take the appropriate steps to atone for this and show his allegiance to the law, then nobody else can think that they are above the law.

Building on Rabbi Epstein’s idea, perhaps we can suggest that part of leadership is the ability to bounce back from setbacks. As Mishlei (the book of Proverbs) states ‘a Tzaddik (righteous person) falls seven times, and gets up’ (24:16). As the commentary of Rabbi Meir Leibush (aka Malbim, 1809-79) explains on that pasuk, the Tzaddik falls but gets up with the help of G-d.

We might suggest that our pasuk in Vayikra gives the leader, compared by dint of his position to a Tzaddik (and hopefully a Tzaddik in actuality too!) a framework, with G-d’s help, to appropriately and positively overcome sin.