אור זרוע לצדיק ולישרי לב שמחה – Ohr zarua la’tzaddik u’le’yishrei lev simchah. Light is sown for the righteous, and for the upright of heart, gladness.
The Netziv, zl, distinguishes between a tzaddik, righteous individual, and a yashar, one who is upright. The tzaddik’s distinction is in the area of bein adam laMakom, interaction between man and G-d. While the yashar executes the mitzvos between him and Hashem, he also interacts and is deeply concerned for the feelings and welfare of the Jewish People. The Jews of the second Bais Hamikdash period were observant, but were lacking in their interpersonal relationships. They looked down upon and even attacked anyone whose level of frumkeit, religious observance, differed from theirs. Hashem, Who is the epitome of yashrus, cannot tolerate one who is not straight/upright. A yashar represents perfection – like Hashem. It is because the yashar achieves perfection that he is able to be associated with true joy. U’le’yishrei lev simchah, and for the upright of heart, gladness: Only someone who is completely straight, upright and perfect can truly experience joy.
