"If [Heb. asher] the leader commits a sin by inadvertently violating certain of G-d's prohibitory commandments, he incurs guilt. When he is made aware of the sin that he has committed, he must bring an unblemished male goat." (Leviticus 4:22-23)
Rashi comments, "'If the leader [nasi] commits a sin': 'Asher' is a form of 'ashrei', meaning 'fortunate'. Fortunate is the generation whose leader makes sure to bring an atonement for his inadvertent sins, and all the more so if he shows contrition for his intentional sins."
The word nasi refers to the nation's ruler. In the past, this was the king, and now it is the prime minister. The ruler's conduct and decisions have an influence on the state of his generation. If that generation is worthy, they will have a leader with fine integrity and character, especially humility. He will admit his mistakes and repent and alter his decisions. By such means, he will be showing his generation benevolence. If, G-d forbid, that leader lacks fine character and integrity, and instead is arrogant and unwilling to admit those mistakes that have an effect on the whole nation, then the whole generation will suffer.
In our time, we have merited prime ministers who led the State of Israel forward and made courageous decisions, which strengthened the state and unified the nation. Yet, there have also been prime ministers who failed, making erroneous decisions that weakened the country. Some even severely endangered our security, as with the Yom Kippur War or the wretched Oslo accords.
There were prime ministers who admitted their mistakes. Yet there have also been prime ministers who did not wish to admit their mistakes, and we are paying a heavy price in blood for this.
Today, Prime Minister Sharon's "disengagement" program is a tragic error. While Sharon calls it disengagement from the Arabs, it is really disengagement from Eretz Yisrael. It is disengagement from our values and from our faith in our right to Eretz Yisrael, which led to the establishment of the State of Israel. It is disengagement from settlement, that pioneer activity that began over a hundred years ago when the first cities and collectives were established. Those continuing the work today are the marvelous pioneers of our own generation, the settlers of Judea and Samaria, the heroes who are risking their lives for the sake of their people and their land.
The "disengagement" program weakens the nation, weakens the state, lowers us in the eyes of our enemies, increases worldwide anti-Semitism, and invites the pressure of the nations of the world against us. Let us not forget for even a moment that we are a lamb amongst seventy wolves. Let that lamb not offer its throat for slaughter.
I hereby call upon Sharon to be humble and to relent on this tragic plan so that we can say wholeheartedly, "Happy is the generation whose leader repents."
Rashi comments, "'If the leader [nasi] commits a sin': 'Asher' is a form of 'ashrei', meaning 'fortunate'. Fortunate is the generation whose leader makes sure to bring an atonement for his inadvertent sins, and all the more so if he shows contrition for his intentional sins."
The word nasi refers to the nation's ruler. In the past, this was the king, and now it is the prime minister. The ruler's conduct and decisions have an influence on the state of his generation. If that generation is worthy, they will have a leader with fine integrity and character, especially humility. He will admit his mistakes and repent and alter his decisions. By such means, he will be showing his generation benevolence. If, G-d forbid, that leader lacks fine character and integrity, and instead is arrogant and unwilling to admit those mistakes that have an effect on the whole nation, then the whole generation will suffer.
In our time, we have merited prime ministers who led the State of Israel forward and made courageous decisions, which strengthened the state and unified the nation. Yet, there have also been prime ministers who failed, making erroneous decisions that weakened the country. Some even severely endangered our security, as with the Yom Kippur War or the wretched Oslo accords.
There were prime ministers who admitted their mistakes. Yet there have also been prime ministers who did not wish to admit their mistakes, and we are paying a heavy price in blood for this.
Today, Prime Minister Sharon's "disengagement" program is a tragic error. While Sharon calls it disengagement from the Arabs, it is really disengagement from Eretz Yisrael. It is disengagement from our values and from our faith in our right to Eretz Yisrael, which led to the establishment of the State of Israel. It is disengagement from settlement, that pioneer activity that began over a hundred years ago when the first cities and collectives were established. Those continuing the work today are the marvelous pioneers of our own generation, the settlers of Judea and Samaria, the heroes who are risking their lives for the sake of their people and their land.
The "disengagement" program weakens the nation, weakens the state, lowers us in the eyes of our enemies, increases worldwide anti-Semitism, and invites the pressure of the nations of the world against us. Let us not forget for even a moment that we are a lamb amongst seventy wolves. Let that lamb not offer its throat for slaughter.
I hereby call upon Sharon to be humble and to relent on this tragic plan so that we can say wholeheartedly, "Happy is the generation whose leader repents."