Times: Shabbat starts tonight with candle lighting at 7:22 pm, and ends Saturday night at 8:18 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Vayikra, and Parshat Zachor. Thursday 21 March is Purim.

NOTE: we have a morning megillah reading planned for Purim as below – RSVPs needed in order to get sufficient numbers to put it on

Mincha in the CBD: Mincha has resumed Monday-Friday (currently 2.00pm) and is using a WhatsApp group until the end of DST. Message 0412-389-389 to join

Study: The Wednesday shiur and lunch has resumed and continues at 1.30 pm.

Thought of the Week with thanks to Althea Mirvis. “When [“asher”] a ruler sins, and unintentionally commits one of all of the commandments of Hashem his G-d that may not be done, and becomes guilty…” (Vayikra 4:22)

Why, in the case of the sins of a leader, is the word “asher” (‘when’) used instead of the word “ki” (‘if’)?

Rashi notes that the word ‘asher’ also connotes happiness:

“An expression of ‘Ashrei’. Happy is the generation whose leader pays attention to bring an atonement for his mistakes.”
Why should a generation be happy, when their leader has to bring an offering for his sins? The Sefer Gur Aryeh explains:

“Happy is the generation: for he (the King) regrets his mistakes, showing that he is not embarrassed to say ‘I sinned’ and he does not say, ‘I am great and important. How can I say ‘I sinned’?’ Since he is modest, happy is the generation whose leader is not arrogant or conceited.” (Vayikra 4:22).

Shabbat Shalom, and may we always merit to rejoice in humble leaders.