Judges As National Mind

בפסוק שופטים כו' ושפטו את העם כו'

On the pasuk, "Judges and officers... and they shall judge the people..." (Devarim 16:18).

The Sfas Emes opens with the Torah's command to appoint judges and officers who will judge the people.

פי' שבנ"י נמשכין אחר השופטים שנק' עיני העדה והם הדעת והמוחין של בנ"י

The explanation is that Bnei Yisrael are drawn after the judges, who are called the "eyes of the congregation," for they are the faculty of understanding and the higher mind of Bnei Yisrael.

He explains that the judges function as the eyes, the understanding, and the intellect of the entire nation, so that Bnei Yisrael are naturally drawn to follow them.

וע"ז מבקשין השיבה שופטינו כו' ויועצינו כבתחילה כי כליות יועצות

Concerning this we ask, "Restore our judges... and our counselors as at first" (from the Shemoneh Esrei), for the kidneys give counsel.

This is why we daven in Shemoneh Esrei for the restoration of our judges and counselors as in earlier times, since true counsel flows from a deeper inner source, hinted at by the kidneys that give advice.

וכפי הראשים וצדיקי עולם שהיו מנהיגים של ישראל

And in accordance with the heads and tzaddikim of the world who were the leaders of Bnei Yisrael,

The level of the leaders themselves sets the spiritual level of the people they guide.

נמשכו המחשבות והרצונות של כל בנ"י אחריהם:

the thoughts and the desires of all Bnei Yisrael were drawn after them.

When great heads and tzaddikim led Bnei Yisrael, the very thoughts and desires of the whole nation were elevated and drawn after them.

Summary: The Sfas Emes, on the pasuk commanding the appointment of judges and officers, teaches that the judges of Bnei Yisrael serve as the collective eyes, understanding, and inner mind of the nation. Because the people are drawn after their leaders, the spiritual caliber of the heads and tzaddikim who lead Klal Yisrael directly shapes the thoughts and desires of every Jew. This is the meaning of our tefillah, "Restore our judges and our counselors as at first," for genuine counsel issues from a deep inner wellspring within the neshamah. When righteous leaders guided Bnei Yisrael, the entire nation's will and mind were lifted and aligned through them.