D’var Torah Naso

Speak unto the Children of Israel: when a man or woman shall do any of the sins against man, to practice treachery against God, and that person has incurred guilt; Then they shall confess their sin which they have committed … (Numbers 5:6-7)
Our verses switch from the singular (a man or woman) to the plural (they shall confess).
My father suggested that this apparent linguistic quirk teaches us a most important lesson; that on some level, society as a whole, bears a measure of responsibility for the deeds of its individual members. Were society to achieve the ideal level of education, no one would sin. Further, there is a reciprocal interaction, as the sin of the individual has a negative impact on society as a whole. Thus, “they must confess their sin,” the society must recognize and correct its culpability in the individual’s sin. (David Magence)

Shabbat Shalom!
The Va’ad