A man for all faiths and none who spanned the worlds of Judaism and secular scholarship
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KJonathan Sacks: moral conscience
“the thing that weaves two lives together and makes of them a grace none of us can ever make alone.” They had three children, Joshua, Dina, and Gila.
He served as rabbi at the Golders Green and Marble Arch synagogues, combined with his role of principal of Jews’ College. Already developing a reputation as an independent thinker, Sacks was invited by the BBC in 1990 to give the prestigious Reith Lectures. By 1991 his appointment as Chief Rabbi was almost a foregone conclusion.
The shifting sands of intra-communal politics are never easy to navigate. As a man of the utmost integrity Sacks was not always at ease or deft in dealing with them. He sometimes found it difficult to understand that not everyone played by his rules and that a Chief Rabbi cannot always please both wings of the religious community.
When the leading Reform rabbi, Hugo Gryn died in 1996, Rabbi Sacks’ absence from the funeral generated an outburst of fury, partly assuaged by a memorial meeting at which Sacks paid tribute to his friend.
He also wrote a letter to the Strictly Orthodox community to justify his actions. Sacks had believed the letter would remain confidential but it was immediately publicised and exacerbated the tensions.
Sacks was a prolific writer, with 35 books at the last count and innumerable articles. In
written as a response to the 9/11 outrages, he declared his admiration for other religions and accepted that each was in its way a worthy approach to God for its own followers. A storm of criticism arose from the right wing, and a second edition was rapidly produced with the offending words excised.
All this however pales in significance beside his achievements as a communicator and a writer, both as Chief Rabbi and after his retirement. He was particularly interested in young people and devoted much time to visiting schools and universities, making a significant impact on the younger generation.
He was the first rabbi to have a monthly column in the section of and to broadcast regularly on the BBC’s Thought For The Day. It was through such outlets, including his books, his pre-Rosh Hashanah and prePesach TV programmes, that he influenced British society. His admirers were of all faiths and none and his influence spread well beyond the Jewish world.
Sacks had the ability to
Vayera
ELKAN D LEVY
Lord Jonathan Sacks: born March 8, 1948. Died November 7, 2020