We are commanded to appoint righteous judges, as it says, "Appoint yourselves judges and police in all your settlements... and make sure that they administer honest judgment for the people.... Pursue perfect honesty, so that you will live and occupy the land that G-d your Lord is giving you." (Deuteronomy 16:18,20)
Rashi comments, "Appoint competent, righteous judges, to judge righteously." The appointment of fit judges has the power to bring the Jewish People back to life and to restore them to their land.
Jethro, as well, in setting out to advise Moses about who are the leaders and judges fit to rule and judge the people, says, "You must seek out from among all the people capable, G-d-fearing men - men of truth, who hate injustice... let them administer justice for the people." (Exodus 18:21-22)
Also Isaiah, when he saw the crisis in morals and values amongst the people, came out against the corrupt leadership, saying, "Your princes are rebellious, the companions of thieves. Every one loves bribes, and follows after rewards." (Isaiah 1:23) Yet, he also comforts the people, saying that a time will come when the entire corrupt leadership will disappear, and in its stead will come a leadership of integrity and righteousness:
As expressed by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, who went up to Heaven on the third of Elul, seventy years ago: "It is impossible for a person truly to feel the public's sorrow until he hallows his ways, refining his character and repenting completely. Only those with a pure soul, following a pristine path, who follow G-d's Torah, can achieve heartfelt empathy for the communal suffering." (Orot HaTeshuvah 13:4)
Rashi comments, "Appoint competent, righteous judges, to judge righteously." The appointment of fit judges has the power to bring the Jewish People back to life and to restore them to their land.
Jethro, as well, in setting out to advise Moses about who are the leaders and judges fit to rule and judge the people, says, "You must seek out from among all the people capable, G-d-fearing men - men of truth, who hate injustice... let them administer justice for the people." (Exodus 18:21-22)
Also Isaiah, when he saw the crisis in morals and values amongst the people, came out against the corrupt leadership, saying, "Your princes are rebellious, the companions of thieves. Every one loves bribes, and follows after rewards." (Isaiah 1:23) Yet, he also comforts the people, saying that a time will come when the entire corrupt leadership will disappear, and in its stead will come a leadership of integrity and righteousness:
"I will turn My hand upon you and purge away your dross as with lye, and I will take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and they that return of her with righteousness." (1:25-27)Today, we are in great need of a leadership of integrity and righteousness. It is towards this end that we daily pray, "Restore our judges as at first, and our counselors as at the beginning." (Shemoneh Esreh prayer) We pray for this in hopes that G-d will "remove from us sorrow and sighing." (ibid.) We need a leadership that will be sensitive to the people's suffering, that of the public as a whole and of the individual. We need a leadership that will remain connected to the people, and will take responsibility for our people, Land and heritage.
As expressed by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, who went up to Heaven on the third of Elul, seventy years ago: "It is impossible for a person truly to feel the public's sorrow until he hallows his ways, refining his character and repenting completely. Only those with a pure soul, following a pristine path, who follow G-d's Torah, can achieve heartfelt empathy for the communal suffering." (Orot HaTeshuvah 13:4)