It’s a profound question, one that our tradition grapples with in beautiful and surprising ways. Let's turn to the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), specifically Sifrei Devarim 346, for a glimpse into this idea.

The verse we're looking at is Devarim 33:5: "And He was a King in Yeshurun." Now, Yeshurun is a poetic name for Israel, a term of endearment, if you will. So, what does it mean that God is King in Yeshurun?

The text doesn't just leave us hanging. It immediately asks, "When?" When is God King in Yeshurun? And the answer is striking: "when the heads of the people gathered."

But it doesn’t stop there. The text clarifies what kind of gathering we're talking about. It emphasizes that "there is no 'gathering' but that of the elders." As we find in Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16, "Gather unto Me seventy men from the elders of Israel."

So, let's unpack this. It's not just any gathering. It's a gathering of the elders, the wise and experienced leaders of the community. And when they come together, when they are "of one counsel below," something extraordinary happens: "His great name is exalted above."

Think about that for a moment. When we, down here on earth, are united in purpose, in wisdom, in shared leadership, we actually elevate God's name in the heavens. It's a powerful idea, isn't it?

It suggests that our actions, our communal efforts, have a direct impact on the divine. It's not just about individual piety, but about collective responsibility. When the leaders of the community – the ones entrusted with wisdom and guidance – come together in harmony, they create a space for God's presence to be more fully realized in the world.

What does this mean for us today? Maybe it's a reminder that leadership isn't about individual power, but about collective wisdom. It’s about creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard, where elders and young people alike can contribute to the well-being of the community. When we strive for unity and shared purpose, we create a vessel for the divine to dwell among us. And in that act of coming together, we, too, become partners in exalting God's name.