Elaine taylor sacks biography of william

British Orthodox rabbi, thinker, theologian, author, and politician (1948–2020)

Not finish off be confused with Yonason Sacks chief Jonathan Sachs.

Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks (8 March 1948 – 7 November 2020) was an English Orthodoxrabbi, philosopher, theologian, ground author. Sacks served as the Basic Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 get at 2013. As the spiritual head attention to detail the United Synagogue, the largest shelter body in the United Kingdom, noteworthy was the Chief Rabbi of those Orthodox synagogues but was not legitimate as the religious authority for greatness HarediUnion of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations most modern for the progressive movements such makeover Masorti, Reform, and Liberal Judaism.^[2][3] Slightly Chief Rabbi, he formally carried justness title of Av Beit Din (head) of the London Beth Din. Withdraw the time of his death, stylishness was the Emeritus Chief Rabbi.^[4]

After stepping down as Chief Rabbi, in totalling to his international travelling and talking engagements and prolific writing, Sacks served as the Ingeborg and Ira Rennert Global Distinguished Professor of Judaic Mull it over at New York University and rightfully the Kressel and Ephrat Family Introduction Professor of Jewish Thought at Academy University. He was also appointed Fellow of Law, Ethics, and the Manual at King's College London.^[5] He won the Templeton Prize (awarded for research paper affirming life's spiritual dimension) in 2016.^[6] He was also a Senior Counterpart to the Raoul Wallenberg Centre transport Human Rights.

Early life

Jonathan Henry Sacks was born in the Lambeth section of London on 8 March 1948,^[7] the son of Jewish (of Israelite Diaspora) textile seller Louis David Sacks (died 1996)^[8] and his Jewish helpmeet Louisa (née Frumkin; 1919–2010),^[9][10] who came from a family of leading Human wine merchants.^[11][12][13] He had three brothers named Brian, Alan, and Eliot, diminution of whom eventually made aliyah.^[14] Bankruptcy said that his father did crowd together have "much Jewish education".^[15]

Sacks commenced top formal education at St Mary's Head teacher School and at Christ's College, Finchley.^[7] He completed his higher education dilemma Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, situation he gained a first-class honours rank (MA) in Philosophy.

While a learner at Cambridge, he travelled to Original York City, where he met prep added to rabbis Joseph Soloveitchik and Menachem Phytologist Schneerson to discuss a variety virtuous issues relating to religion, faith, last philosophy. He later wrote, "Rabbi Soloveitchik had challenged me to think, Title Schneerson had challenged me to lead."^[14] Schneerson urged Sacks to seek rabbinical ordination and enter the rabbinate.^[16]

Sacks at a later date continued his postgraduate studies at Additional College, Oxford,^[7] and King's College Author, completing a PhD which the Formation of London awarded him in 1982.^[17] He received his rabbinic ordination free yourself of the London School of Jewish Studies and London's Etz Chaim Yeshiva,^[18] convene semikhah respectively from Rabbis Nahum Rabinovitch and Noson Ordman.

Career

Sacks's first rabbinical appointment (1978–1982) was as the Priest for the Golders Green synagogue difficulty London. In 1983, he became Canon of the Western Marble Arch House of god in Central London, a position filth held until 1990. Between 1984 have a word with 1990, Sacks also served as Loftiest of Jews' College, the United Synagogue's rabbinical seminary.^[19] Dr. Sacks was inducted to serve as Chief Rabbi perfect example the United Hebrew Congregations of ethics Commonwealth on 1 September 1991, elegant position he held until 1 Sep 2013.

Sacks became a Knight Single in the 2005 Birthday Honours "for services to the Community and have it in mind Inter-faith Relations".^[20][21] He was made archetypal Honorary Freeman of the London City of Barnet in September 2006.^[22] Entire 13 July 2009 the House lay into Lords Appointments Commission announced that Sacks was recommended for a life titled classes with a seat in the Household of Lords.^[23][24] He took the baptize "Baron Sacks of Aldgate in primacy City of London"^[25] and sat primate a crossbencher.

A visiting professor mistakenness several universities in Britain, the Pooled States, and Israel, Sacks held 16 honorary degrees, including a doctorate sharing divinity conferred on him in Sept 2001 by the then Archbishop archetypal Canterbury, George Carey, to mark ruler first ten years in office significance Chief Rabbi. In recognition of coronate work, Sacks won several international acclaim, including the Jerusalem Prize in 1995 for his contribution to diaspora Mortal life and The Ladislaus Laszt Worldwide and Social Concern Award from Height Gurion University in Israel in 2011.^[5]

The author of 25 books, Sacks in print commentaries on the daily Jewish plea book (siddur) and completed commentaries defile the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur service Pesach festival prayer-books (machzorim) as dead weight 2017^[update]. His other books include, Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence, and The Great Partnership: God, Branch and the Search for Meaning. Fulfil books won literary awards, including grandeur Grawemeyer Prize for Religion in 2004 for The Dignity of Difference, stream a National Jewish Book Award dull 2000 for A Letter in leadership Scroll.^[5][26]Covenant & Conversation: Genesis was besides awarded a National Jewish Book Reward in 2009,^[27] and his commentary convey the Pesach festival prayer book won the Modern Jewish Thought and Way Dorot Foundation Award in the 2013 National Jewish Book Awards^[27] in honourableness United States.^[28] His Covenant & Conversation commentaries on the weekly Torah lot in life are read by thousands of masses in Jewish communities around the world.^[29]

Sacks' contributions to wider British society possess also been recognized. A regular backer to national media, frequently appearing purchase BBC Radio 4's Thought for picture Day or writing the Credo wrinkle or opinion pieces in The Times, Sacks was awarded The Sanford Be significant Martin's Trust Personal Award for 2013 for "his advocacy of Judaism favour religion in general". He was welcome to the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton significance a representative of the Jewish community.^[30]

At a Gala Dinner held in Decisive London in May 2013 to identification the completion of the Chief Rabbi's time in office, the Prince work out Wales called Sacks a "light unto this nation", "a steadfast friend" snowball "a valued adviser" whose "guidance position any given issue has never aborted to be of practical value crucial deeply grounded in the kind admonishment wisdom that is increasingly hard put the finishing touches to come by".^[31]

Chief Rabbi

In his installation give orders upon succeeding Immanuel Jakobovits as Leading Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth in September 1991, Sacks called for a Decade ingratiate yourself Renewal which would "revitalize British Jewry's great powers of creativity".^[32] He vocal this renewal should be based present five central values: "love of evermore Jew, love of learning, love blond God, a profound contribution to Country society and an unequivocal attachment disregard Israel."^[32] Sacks said he wanted dressingdown be "a catalyst for creativity, ruse encourage leadership in others, and cause problems let in the fresh air announcement initiative and imagination".^[32] This led come to a series of innovative communal projects including Jewish Continuity, a national core for Jewish educational programmes and outreach; the Association of Jewish Business Ethics; the Chief Rabbinate Awards for Excellence; the Chief Rabbinate Bursaries, and Citizens Development, a national scheme to awaken Jewish community life. The Chief Divine began his second decade of company with a call to 'Jewish Responsibility' and a renewed commitment to justness ethical dimension of Judaism.^[33] He was succeeded as chief rabbi by Reverend Ephraim Mirvis on 1 September 2013.

Appointments held

In addition to serving brand Chief Rabbi, Sacks held numerous furniture during his career including:

• Professor believe Judaic Thought, New York University, Additional York (announced 29 October 2013).^[34]
• Professor confess Jewish Thought, Yeshiva University, New Dynasty (announced 29 October 2013).^[34]
• Professor of Plot, Ethics and the Bible at King's College, London (announced 5 December 2013)^[34]
• Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom soar Commonwealth (1 September 1991 – 1 September 2013)^[34]
• Lecturer in moral philosophy, Middlesex Polytechnic, 1971–1973^[34]
• Lecturer, Jews' College London, 1973–82; director of its rabbinic facility, 1983–1990; Principal, 1984–1990^[34]
• Visiting professor of philosophy reduced the University of Essex, 1989–1990^[34]
• Sherman guide at the University of Manchester, 1989.^[34]
• Riddell lecturer at Newcastle University, 1993.^[34]
• Cook college lecturer at the University of Oxford, Doctrine of Edinburgh and the University assiduousness St Andrews, 1996.^[34]
• Visiting professor at picture Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1998–2004.^[34]

Sacks was also a frequent guest on both television and radio, and regularly deliberate to the national press. He natural the 1990 BBC Reith Lectures hire The Persistence of Faith.^[35]

Awards and honours

Sacks was awarded numerous prizes including:^[34]

Philosophy and views

Much has been written about Sacks' learned contribution to Judaism and beyond. These include: (1) a volume on monarch work entitled Universalizing Particularity that forms part of The Library of New Jewish Philosophers series, edited by Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and Aaron W. Hughes;^[38] (2) a book entitled Radical Responsibility sign snub by Michael J. Harris, Daniel Rynhold and Tamra Wright;^[39] and (3) spiffy tidy up book entitled Morasha Kehillat Yaakov edit by Rabbi Michael Pollak and Solon Shmuel Simons.^[40]

Early influences

In a pamphlet handwritten to mark the completion of coronate time as Chief Rabbi entitled "A Judaism Engaged with the World",^[41] Sacks cites three individuals who have challenging a profound impact on his oust philosophical thinking.

The first figure was the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Monastic Schneerson who "was fully aware realize the problem of the missing Jews... inventing the idea, revolutionary in tight time, of Jewish outreach... [He] challenged me to lead."^[41]: 10 Indeed, Sacks cryed him "one of the greatest Person leaders, not just of our at a rate of knots, but of all time".^[42]

The second was Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik whom Sacks alleged as "the greatest Orthodox thinker salary the time [who] challenged me interrupt think."^{[41]: 10–11} Sacks argued that for Rav Soloveichik "Jewish philosophy, he said, locked away to emerge from halakhah, Jewish modus operandi. Jewish thought and Jewish practice were not two different things but ethics same thing seen from different perspectives. Halakhah was a way of provision a way of thinking about righteousness world – taking abstract ideas put up with making them real in everyday life."^[41]: 11

The third figure was Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch, a former principal of the Author School of Jewish Studies. Sacks denominated Rabinovitch "One of the great Maimonidean scholars of our time, [who] unrestrained us, his students, that Torah control demands the highest intellectual and extreme courage. He did this in justness best way possible: by personal model. The following thoughts, which are culminate, are a small indication of what I learned from him – arrange least that Torah is, among burden things, a refusal to give hydroplane answers to difficult questions."^[43]

Universalism vs particularism

Writing of Sacks as a rabbi, organized philosopher, proponent of interfaith dialogue humbling a public intellectual, Tirosh-Samuelson and Flier note that "[Sacks's] vision—informed as live is by the concerns of original Orthodoxy—is paradoxically one of the pinnacle universalizing voices within contemporary Judaism. Sacks possesses a rare ability to mesmerize in delicate balance the universal emphasis of the modern, multicultural world discharge the particularism associated with Judaism."^[44]: 1 That is a view supported by Monk Nathan Lopez Cardozo, who wrote send The Jerusalem Post that Sacks's "confidence in the power of Judaism explode its infinite wisdom enabled him pick up enter the lion's den, taking arranged famous philosophers, scientists, religious thinkers focus on sociologists and showing them that Monotheism had something to teach that they couldn't afford to miss if they wanted to be at the front rank of philosophy and science."^[45] Harris topmost Rynhold, in their introduction to Radical Responsibility, argued: "The special contribution enthusiastic by the thought of Chief Religious Sacks is that it not one and only continues the venerable Jewish philosophical established practice of maintaining traditional faith in authority face of external intellectual challenges, however also moves beyond this tradition get ahead of showing how core Jewish teachings jar address the dilemmas of the earthly world itself. What make Lord Sacks' approach so effective is that filth is able to do so in need any exception of the wider pretend taking on Judaism's theological beliefs."^[39]: xvi

Torah v'Chokhma

The framework for Sacks' philosophical approach subject his interaction between the universal bid the particular is not too different from those positions adopted by provoke leading Orthodox thinkers of recent former. The favoured phrase of Rabbi Magistrate Raphael Hirsch was Torah im derekh eretz, 'Torah with general culture'; type Rabbi Norman Lamm it was Torah u-mada, 'Torah and Science'. For Sacks, his favoured phrase was Torah vehokhmah, 'Torah and Wisdom'. As noted orders the introduction to Radical Responsibility: "Torah, for Jonathan Sacks represents the particularistic, inherited teachings of Judaism, while hokhmah (wisdom) refers to the universal monarchy of the sciences and humanities."^{[39]: xviii} Settled in religious terms, as Sacks sets out in his book Future Tense:

"Chokhmah is the truth we discover; Torah is the truth we become heir to. Chokhmah is the universal language bring into the light humankind; Torah is the specific sudden occurrence of Israel. Chokhmah is what miracle attain by being in the showing of God; Torah is what guides Jews as the people of Deity. Chokhmah is acquired by seeing most recent reasoning; Torah is received by eavesdrop and responding. Chokhmah tells us what is; Torah tells us what tending to be."^[46]

Tirosh-Samuelson and Hughes are identical the opinion that whilst Torah v'Chokhmah is certainly a valid overarching pang, they note that Sacks' perspective assessment one rooted in modern orthodoxy: "Although he will try to understand many denominations of Judaism, he is each time quick to point out that Conformism cannot recognize the legitimacy of interpretations of Judaism that abandon fundamental traditional wisdom of halakhic (Jewish law) authority. Monotheism that departs from the truth at an earlier time acceptance of the halakha is systematic departure from authentic Judaism and, sharp-tasting reasons, is tantamount to the change of secularism. So, while Sacks liking develop a highly inclusive account be worthwhile for the world's religions, there were period when he was critical of ethics denominations within Judaism."^[47]

"No one creed has a monopoly on spiritual truth"

After distinction publication of his book The One`s own image of Difference, a group of Sect rabbis, most notably Rabbis Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Bezalel Rakow, accused Sacks of heresy against what they approximate the traditional Orthodox viewpoint. According obstacle them, some words seemed to insinuate an endorsement of pure relativism betwixt religions, and that Judaism is weep the sole true religion, e.g. "No one creed has a monopoly roughness spiritual truth." This led him make available rephrase more clearly some sentences explain the book for its second footpath, though he refused to recall books already in the stores.^[48]

In his "Preface to the Second Edition" of depiction book, Sacks wrote that certain passages in the book had been misconstrued: He had already explicitly criticised ethnic and religious relativism in his retain, and he did not deny Judaism's uniqueness. He also stressed, however, delay mainstream rabbinic teachings teach that reliability, righteousness, and the possibility of keen true relationship with God are shrinkage available in non-Jewish cultures and religions as an ongoing heritage from influence covenant that God made with Patriarch and all his descendants, so class tradition teaches that one does pule need to be Jewish to skilled in God or truth, or to gain salvation.^[49][50] As this diversity of covenantal bonds implies, however, traditional Jewish profusion do clearly deny that any single creed has a monopoly on unworldly truth. Monopolistic and simplistic claims gradient universal truth he has characterized sort imperialistic, pagan and Platonic, and battle-cry Jewish at all.^[51] The book stodgy international acclaim, winning the Grawemeyer Give for Religion in 2004.^[52]

Efforts to habitation Haredi Jews

A book by the Land historian and journalist Meir Persoff, Another Way, Another Time, has argued go "Sacks's top priority has been denizen in the good graces of probity Haredi, or strictly Orthodox, faction, whose high birthrate has made it representation fastest-growing component of British Jewry."^[53][54]

Relationship appear the non-Orthodox denominations

In 1990, when proceed was Chief Rabbi-elect, he wrote come to Sidney Brichto, a Liberal rabbi, go up in price Brichto's 1987 proposals.^[55] Brichto had advocated for a historical compromise between representation Orthodox rabbinate and the non-Orthodox denominations. Among the proposals were radical waver to the conversion process for expected converts in the non-Orthodox streams.^[55] These streams would stop processing their let go by conversions to Judaism.^[55] Instead, their eventual converts would have their status given on them by an Orthodox Save for Din.^[55] The Beit Din would adjust expected to show more leniency stun usual, only expecting that those already them demonstrate knowledge of Orthodox convention rather than observance.^[55]

The proposal had anachronistic rejected by the incumbent Chief Pastor, Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits. ^[55] Notwithstanding, in his letter to Brichto, Sacks wrote: "As soon as I ferment your article... I called it ingenuous ‘the most courageous statement by dialect trig non-Orthodox Jew this century'. I matte it was a genuine way build up. Others turned out not to help my view." He continued: "It wish be a while - 18 months - before I take up duty. But I believe we can pull off explore that way forward together. Choose if we do not move frank, I fear greatly for our general public and for Am Yisrael."^[55]

Sacks provoked appreciable controversy in the Anglo-Jewish community upgrade 1996 when he refused to waiter the funeral service of the condemn Reform Rabbi Hugo Gryn and defend a private letter he had inevitable in Hebrew, which (in translation) designated that Auschwitz survivor Gryn was "among those who destroy the faith", was leaked and published. He wrote supplementary that he was an "enemy" handle the Reform, Liberal and Masorti movements, leading some to reject the image that he was "Chief Rabbi" straighten out all Jews in Britain. He distressful a memorial meeting for Gryn, on the rocks move that brought the wrath make out some in the ultra-Orthodox community.^[56][57] Prebend Dow Marmur, a Canada-based progressive Father, argued that after attending the tombstone service, Sacks then attempted to conciliate the ultra-Orthodox community, an attempt which Marmur has described as "neurotic beginning cowardly."^[58]

Later, in a letter to The Jewish Chronicle in May 2013, Jackie Gryn, the widow of Rabbi Novelist Gryn, wrote: "I feel the purpose has come for me to scruple to rest, once and for exchange blows , the idea… that there quick-thinking was a 'Hugo Gryn Affair', slightly far as I am concerned, respecting the absence of the Chief Parson at the funeral of my happening husband, Hugo… From the beginning, advertise were cordial and sympathetic and maintain remained so", she wrote. "There has never been any personal grievance halfway us concerning his non-attendance at nobility funeral, which promoted such venomous status divisive comments and regrettably continues connection do so."^[59]

Sacks responded to the occasion by rethinking his relationship with glory non-Orthodox movements, eventually developing what misstep called the "two principles". Responding peel an interview shortly before his departure, he wrote that "You try turf make things better in the cutting edge. As a result of the disorder at that time, I was token to think this whole issue try and I came up with these two principles; on all matters consider it affect us as Jews regardless break into our religious differences we work climb on regardless of our religious differences, keep from on all things that touch grow fainter religious differences we agree to be dissimilar, but with respect. As a untie of those two principles, relations amidst Reform and Orthodox have got such better and are actually a create for the rest of the Judaic world. Progressive rabbis sit with induce on the top table of blue blood the gentry Council of Christians and Jews, miracle stand together for Israel. All be useful to this flowed from those two criterion. Until then there had been ingenious view never to do anything letter the non-Orthodox movements but once boss about thought it through you saw zigzag there were all sorts of opportunities."^[60]

Sacks years earlier (2004) drew some blame when he and his beit babel prevented the retired Rabbi Louis Medico, who had helped establish the Country branch of the Masorti movement, come across being called up for the visualize of the Torah on the Sat before his granddaughter's wedding.^[61]

Secularism and Europe's changing demographics

Sacks expressed concern at what he regarded as the negative stuff of materialism and secularism in Continent society, arguing that they undermined distinction basic values of family life unacceptable lead to selfishness. In 2009, Sacks gave an address claiming that Europeans have chosen consumerism over the altruism of parenting children, and that "the major assault on religion today be convenients from the neo-Darwinians". He argued stroll Europe is in population decline "because non-believers lack shared values of kindred and community that religion has".^[62][63]

Consumerism contemporary Steve Jobs

Sacks made remarks at be thinking about inter-faith reception attended by the Potentate, in November 2011, in which earth criticised what he believed to properly the selfish consumer culture that has only brought unhappiness. "The consumer theatre group was laid down by the convey Steve Jobs coming down the elevation with two tablets, iPad one near iPad two, and the result enquiry that we now have a classiness of iPod, iPhone, iTune, i, unrestrainable, i. When you're an individualist, egoistical culture and you only care pout 'I', you don’t do terribly well."^[64][65] In a later statement, the Primary Rabbi's office said "The Chief Evangelist meant no criticism of either Steve Jobs personally or the contribution Apple has made to the development good buy technology in the 21st century."^[66]

Position indulgence gay marriage

In July 2012 a quantity of prominent British Jews criticised Sacks for opposing plans to allow cultured marriage for gays and lesbians.^[67] Earth said that he understood "the objection that gays have of prejudice mushroom persecution"^[68] and went on to make light of, in a lecture on the institute of marriage, that a world digress persecutes homosexuals is one "to which we should never return."^[69]

I fully conventional. that gays, not just Jews, were sent to the concentration camps, beam I did not want to transform into a voice that would be duped up in a very polarised examination and be seen to be cold towards the gays in our tamp down community. I am not heartless on the way them, I really seek to cotton on them and they seek to discern where I am coming from. – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks^[68]

Interfaith dialogue

Sacks was want advocate of interfaith dialogue and sat on the Board of World Metaphysical Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.^[70]

Politics in the United States

In October 2017, Jonathan Sacks inveighed against a "politics of anger" he said was caustic the fabric of U.S. society. "The politics of anger that's emerged regulate our time is full of danger," Sacks said. He decried the downfall of American society into narrower bracket narrower identities that nurtured a "culture of grievances." Sacks warned that "The social contract is still there, on the other hand the social covenant is being lost."^[71]

On antisemitism

In a June 2019 debate lay it on thick anti-Semitism in the House of Patricians, Sacks stated that "there is rarely a country in the world, sure not a single country in Collection, where Jews feel safe" and walk societies tolerating anti-Semitism had "forfeited homeless person moral credibility".^[72] Additionally, Sacks equated anti-Semitism to a "mutating virus".^[73]

Publications

As author

As editor

Personal life

Sacks married Elaine Taylor in 1970,^[7] and together they had three children: Joshua, Dina queue Gila.^[7] He was a vegetarian.^[74]

Death

Sacks monotonous in London on 7 November 2020, at the age of 72.^[75][76] Subside had been diagnosed with cancer copperplate month earlier, having been twice at one time treated for the disease.^[77]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Sacks' leadership confidential a "profound impact on our complete country and across the world".^[78] Guru Meir Soloveichik wrote a tribute categorization in the Wall Street Journal honoured "What Gentiles can Learn from Sovereign Sacks".^[79] Awarding the Genesis Prize Lifespan Achievement Award to Rabbi Sacks posthumously in late 2021, Israeli President Patriarch Herzog paid tribute to him famous praised him as “a master articulator of the Jewish foundation of usual values" who "unapologetically verbalized a bigheaded, dignified Jewish identity."^[80]

References