Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Sacks
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Sacks in December 2006
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| Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth | |
| In office 1 September 1991 – 1 September 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Immanuel, Lord Jakobovits |
| Succeeded by | Ephraim Mirvis |
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| In office 1 September 2009 – 7 November 2020 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jonathan Henry Sacks
8 March 1948 London, England |
| Died | 7 November 2020 (aged 72) London, England |
| Political party | None (crossbencher) |
| Spouses |
Elaine Taylor
(m. 1970) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation |
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| Semicha |
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Jonathan Henry Sacks (1948–2020) was an English Orthodox rabbi, a deep thinker, and a writer. He was known for his ability to explain big ideas in simple ways. From 1991 to 2013, he served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. This meant he was the main spiritual leader for many Jewish communities in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.
After his time as Chief Rabbi, he taught at important universities like New York University and Yeshiva University. He also taught about law, ethics, and the Bible at King's College London. In 2016, he won the Templeton Prize, which is given to people who explore life's spiritual side. He was also a Senior Fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jonathan Henry Sacks was born in London, England, on March 8, 1948. His father, Louis David Sacks, sold textiles, and his mother, Louisa Frumkin, came from a family of Jewish wine merchants. Jonathan had three brothers.
He went to St Mary's Primary School and Christ's College, Finchley. Later, he studied Philosophy at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, he met two important rabbis in New York City: Joseph Soloveitchik and Menachem Mendel Schneerson. These meetings helped shape his path. He later said that Rabbi Soloveitchik taught him to think, and Rabbi Schneerson encouraged him to lead. Rabbi Schneerson also suggested he become a rabbi.
Sacks continued his studies at New College, Oxford, and King's College London. He earned his PhD in 1982. He received his rabbinic ordination, which means he became a rabbi, from the London School of Jewish Studies and London's Etz Chaim Yeshiva.
Career as a Rabbi and Leader
Jonathan Sacks began his rabbinic career in 1978 at the Golders Green synagogue in London. In 1983, he became the Rabbi of the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in Central London. He held this position until 1990. During some of this time, he also served as the Principal of Jews' College, a school for training rabbis.
On September 1, 1991, Dr. Sacks became the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. He held this important role for 22 years, until September 1, 2013.
Honours and Awards
In 2005, Sacks was made a Knight Bachelor for his work in the community and for helping different faiths understand each other. In 2009, he was given a special title called "Baron Sacks of Aldgate." This allowed him to become a life peer and sit in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament. He sat as a crossbencher, meaning he didn't belong to a specific political party.
He was a visiting professor at many universities and received 16 honorary degrees. In 2001, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave him a special doctorate to celebrate his first ten years as Chief Rabbi. He also won several international awards, including the Jerusalem Prize in 1995 and the Ladislaus Laszt Ecumenical and Social Concern Award in 2011.
Author and Public Speaker
Jonathan Sacks wrote 25 books. Many of his books focused on Jewish prayer and the weekly Torah portion. His book Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence explored how to deal with religious conflict. Another book, The Great Partnership: God, Science and the Search for Meaning, looked at how faith and science can work together.
His books won many literary awards. The Dignity of Difference won the Grawemeyer Prize for Religion in 2004. His Covenant & Conversation commentaries on the weekly Torah portion are read by thousands of people in Jewish communities worldwide.
Sacks also contributed to British society by appearing on TV and radio, and writing for newspapers like The Times. He was invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton as a representative of the Jewish community. In 2013, Prince Charles called Sacks "a light unto this nation" and a "valued adviser."
As Chief Rabbi
When he became Chief Rabbi in 1991, Sacks called for a "Decade of Renewal." He wanted to bring new energy and creativity to British Jewry. He believed this renewal should be based on five key values:
- Love for every Jew.
- Love of learning.
- Love of God.
- Making a strong contribution to British society.
- A clear connection to Israel.
He wanted to encourage new leaders and fresh ideas. This led to many new projects, including programs for Jewish education and community development. Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis succeeded him as Chief Rabbi in 2013.
Key Ideas and Views
Jonathan Sacks was a deep thinker whose ideas influenced many people. He believed that Jewish teachings could help solve problems in the modern world.
Influential Teachers
Sacks often spoke about three people who greatly influenced his thinking:
- Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson: Sacks called him "one of the greatest Jewish leaders." He learned from him the importance of reaching out to all Jews.
- Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik: Sacks described him as "the greatest Orthodox thinker of the time." He taught Sacks that Jewish thought and practice are connected.
- Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch: Sacks learned from him that true leadership requires courage and that there are no easy answers to difficult questions.
Torah and Wisdom
Sacks used the phrase Torah vehokhmah, which means 'Torah and Wisdom'. For him, Torah meant the special teachings and traditions of Judaism. Hokhmah (wisdom) referred to the universal knowledge found in science and other studies. He believed that these two areas, Jewish tradition and general wisdom, should work together.
He explained that wisdom is what we discover through reason, while Torah is what we inherit. Wisdom is a universal language, but Torah is specific to the Jewish people. Wisdom helps us understand "what is," and Torah guides us on "what ought to be."
Views on Society
Sacks was concerned about the effects of materialism and secularism in Europe. He felt that focusing too much on possessions and not enough on spiritual values could harm family life and lead to selfishness. He believed that strong communities and families are often supported by religious values.
He once spoke about how modern technology, like smartphones, can make people too focused on themselves. He said that a culture of "i, i, i" (like iPod, iPhone) can lead to unhappiness if people only care about themselves.
Interfaith Dialogue
Sacks strongly supported dialogue between different religions. He believed it was important for people of different faiths to talk to each other and understand each other's beliefs. He was part of the Board of World Religious Leaders for the Elijah Interfaith Institute.
On Antisemitism
In 2019, Sacks spoke in the House of Lords about antisemitism, which is hatred towards Jewish people. He said that Jews around the world often don't feel safe and that societies that allow antisemitism lose their moral standing. He described antisemitism as a "mutating virus" that changes over time but always remains dangerous.
Personal Life and Death
Jonathan Sacks married Elaine Taylor in 1970. They had three children: Joshua, Dina, and Gila. He was a vegetarian.
Sacks passed away in London on November 7, 2020, at the age of 72. He had been battling cancer.
Many people shared their sadness and respect after his death. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Sacks' leadership had a "profound impact on our whole country and across the world." Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised him as someone who clearly explained the Jewish roots of universal values.
Images for kids
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Jonathan Sacks (second from left) with other religious leaders at the World Economic Forum in 2009.
