Parshat Vayikra includes instructions “if a leader has sinned” (4:22). The Talmud interprets “if” to be derived from the word “fortunate” (asher and ashrei), which would make the verse read, “fortunate is the leader that has sinned”. How does that make sense?
Rabbi Twerski explains that it’s referring to the generation being fortunate to have a leader that admits when they make a mistake. As Moshe exemplified, the Torah values truth over all else. Even though there might be ways to justify being less than truthful, Moshe resisted those temptations, and always spoke the truth, even to his possible detriment (Leviticus 10:20). If our leaders establish a precedent for truth, we would be fortunate to have them as our role models, and would not hesitate to admit when we’re wrong. Truth really does set you free (to correct mistakes, that is).
