I imagined in our modern era, blessed to have democracy in most civilized countries, a sovereign’s death would not be a big deal. But not only did Queen Elizabeth's passing grab global headlines, it felt consequential to me as well. I never lived in her majesty's kingdom, know very little about her, and my best guess is the financial markets or the global balance of power will not be affected. So why do I care? Reigning for over seventy years is a historic accomplishment, compounded by the fact that she preserved the prestige and relevance of her throne, despite the clamor for ending the monarchy in the United Kingdom, which is entirely ceremonial today. But if she largely had no impact on the operations of government nor set policies even within her own kingdom, why was she such a global icon? As Jews, our relationship with the institution of monarchy is complicated. We haven’t had our own for thousands of years, and the last two millennia of exile have sadly provided no shortage of czars, emperors and kings who made our lives miserable. Yet, we continue to revere the concept as a ubiquitous title and analogy for G-d. The High Holidays liturgy richly describes G-d’s sovereignty as king and the Talmud and Midrash are filled with king and queen themed parables. Surely there is something about the monarchy we can all relate to and learn from - even today when practical day-to-day life manages without it. Historically many kings and queens were tyrants and heartless killers, but the organic definition of a monarch is the benevolent benefactor and protector of every single subject. Maimonides defines the monarch as “the heart of the nation.” Just as the heart gives life to every organ of the body, the monarch is the essence of the nation and its source of life. Once upon a time this meant every aspect of life was controlled by the monarchy. Today the monarchy embodies that which transcends the dreary details of daily living: the heart uniting the nation. Judaism teaches that every person is a monarch in microcosm. Every individual is a composite of many ideas, inclinations, drives and emotions and everyone is gifted the “monarch quality” - the ability to be mindful of the broader perspective and the ultimate goals that transcend all the confusing details. When confronted with contradictory choices and messy situations, deploying that personal monarch allows for clarity and purpose. Throughout life, the impact of your personal monarch broadens. I don’t mean the ability to control others, but the mandate to remind others of what really matters. Parents must provide a brood of children a strong sense of family, and community leaders need to inspire a diverse group of people with a sense of shared purpose and commitment. The fact that Queen Elizabeth was such a global icon without wielding the power of the sword or the purse illustrates how we can do the same in our personal lives and domains. Remember the important things in life and seek to be an inspiration to your ever broadening circles of family and friends.