by
Rabbi Michael Laitner

Parshat Vayikra

Leadership Qualities

‘When a leader sins, and performs one of the commandments of G-d, that may not be done…and becomes guilty’ (Vayikra 4:22)

Rashi, the premier Torah commentator, likens the word ‘asher’, meaning ‘which’, to the word ‘ashrei’, which means happy. This similarity extols the virtues of a community whose leadership is prepared to admit to and repent from unintentional transgressions, as the leadership will surely do the same for intentional transgressions, which are always harder to acknowledge. As part of his atonement, the leader brings a goat sacrifice. This differs from the atonement process involving the whole community if as a community they committed a sin in error (4:13).

The verse is phrased as a statement, not as a possibility. The 15^th century Italian commentator, Rabbi Ovadia Seforno, explains that it reflects the likelihood that leaders will sin. The verse ends with the words, ‘and becomes guilty’ to show that the leaders themselves will confess to their sins. Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, a leading light of the 19th century Lithuanian Rabbinate, writes that this is part and parcel of leadership. Consequently, the Talmud concludes (Horayot 10a) that a leader only brings a sacrifice for sins he commits as a leader, not for those he committed previously, since it is through his leadership duties that he has come to sin, especially concerning sins which are more likely to occur through the responsibilities of leadership.

Rabbi Chaim Atar, in his 18th century commentator, ‘Ohr HaChayim’ comments that this also applies if the leader does not comply with the rulings of the Beit Din (Rabbinical court). The leader cannot be above the law.

A Jewish leader is a role model showing the application of the Torah to life. It involves responsibilities, not just rights. Despite the responsibilities, we all need to show leadership when appropriate, and pray that G-d helps us succeed. As the Mishna teaches (Ethics of the Fathers 2:6), when there are no leaders, strive to be a leader!