Hava Tirosh-Samuelson

Jonathan Henry Sacks (1948–2020) was an English Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, and prolific author who held significant leadership roles within the Jewish community. He served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013, leading the largest synagogue body in the United Kingdom. Beyond his rabbinic duties, Sacks was a distinguished academic, holding professorships at New York University, Yeshiva University, and King's College London. His intellectual contributions were recognized with numerous awards, including the Templeton Prize in 2016. He was also a member of the House of Lords. Sacks's work explored themes of faith, philosophy, and ethics, aiming to engage Judaism with the wider world and contribute to British society.

Educated at Cambridge and Oxford, Sacks was influenced by prominent rabbis like Joseph Soloveitchik and Menachem Mendel Schneerson. He began his rabbinic career in London before his appointment as Chief Rabbi. During his tenure, he initiated programs focused on Jewish education and communal engagement. Post-Chief Rabbinate, he continued his academic and writing career, leaving a substantial body of work that included commentaries on Jewish texts and books addressing religious violence, science, and the search for meaning. His writings received literary awards and reached a wide audience.

Jonathan Sacks began his rabbinic career serving synagogues in London before becoming the Principal of Jews' College. In 1991, he was installed as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, a position he held for over two decades. During his tenure, he championed a "Decade of Renewal" aimed at revitalizing British Jewry through core values like love of fellow Jews, learning, God, contribution to British society, and attachment to Israel. This initiative spurred innovative communal projects in education, business ethics, and community development. After stepping down, Sacks continued his academic work as a professor at New York University, Yeshiva University, and King's College London, focusing on Judaic thought, Jewish philosophy, and law, ethics, and the Bible.

Sacks's intellectual framework was shaped by his encounters with rabbis Joseph Soloveitchik and Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who challenged him to think and lead respectively. His philosophical work often engaged with the intersection of faith, reason, and contemporary issues. He authored numerous books exploring themes such as the dignity of difference, confronting religious violence, and the partnership between God, science, and meaning. His commentaries on Jewish prayer books and weekly Torah portions were widely read. Sacks's contributions were recognized with prestigious awards like the Templeton Prize, acknowledging his affirmation of life's spiritual dimension and his role in inter-faith dialogue. His philosophical contributions have been the subject of academic study, including a volume within The Library of Contemporary Jewish Philosophers series.

Beyond his rabbinic and academic roles, Jonathan Sacks was a prominent public figure in Britain. He was recognized for his services to the community and inter-faith relations, receiving a knighthood and later a life peerage, becoming Baron Sacks. He was a regular presence in national media, contributing to radio programs and newspapers, advocating for Judaism and religion in general. His influence extended to significant national events, such as being invited to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton as a representative of the Jewish community. He was described by Prince Charles (now King Charles III) as a "light unto this nation" and a "steadfast friend" whose wisdom was highly valued.

“Rabbi Soloveitchik had challenged me to think, Rabbi Schneerson had challenged me to lead.”

“A Judaism Engaged with the World”

“was fully aware of the problem of the missing Jews... inventing the idea, revolutionary in its time, of Jewish outreach... [He] challenged me to lead.”

“light unto this nation”

“a steadfast friend”