Jonathan Sacks

Authors

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020) was a global religious leader, philosopher, award-winning author, and respected moral voice. He was the laureate of the 2016 Templeton Prize in recognition of his “exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.” Described by HM King Charles III as “a light unto this nation” and by former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair as “an intellectual giant,” Rabbi Sacks was a frequent and sought-after contributor to radio, television, and the press, both in Britain and around the world. He served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth for 22 years, between 1991 and 2013.

Works on Sefaria

Covenant and Conversation

R. Sacks’ original series of essays on the weekly Torah portion; a fusion of Jewish tradition, Western philosophy, and literature

Essays in Ethics; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

Second companion volume to R. Sacks’s celebrated Covenant and Conversation series

I Believe; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

R. Sacks’ final cycle of essays on the weekly Torah portion, compiled over the course of 2020

Judaism's Life Changing Ideas; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

Collection of R. Sacks’s essays on the weekly Torah portion, highlighting one life-changing idea in each portion

Lessons in Leadership; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

Collection of R. Sacks's essays on the weekly Torah portion, focusing on the nature of power, authority, and leadership

Lessons in Leadership; Hebrew Edition

Studies in Spirituality; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible

A companion volume to R. Sacks’s celebrated Covenant and Conversation, the first such volume published after his death in 2020

The Jonathan Sacks Haggadah

R. Sacks’s commentary on the Passover haggadah

Arguments for the Sake of Heaven

Work exploring contemporary issues that influence Judaism and the controversies that affect its destiny

Ceremony and Celebration Family Edition, The Hagim

Contemporary resource for families and educators to explore and discuss holidays

Ceremony and Celebration; Introduction to the Holidays

Introductions to the themes and meaning behind Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot

Community of Faith

An evaluation of the role of the synagogue in contemporary Jewish life

Crisis and Covenant; Jewish Thought after the Holocaust

Work exploring Jewish thought and peoplehood against the backdrop of the challenges of modernity

Faith in the Future

On problems facing society at the end of the 20th century and on constructing a humane social order that honors human dignity and difference

Future Tense; A Vision for Jews and Judaism in the Global Culture

R. Sacks’s vision for the future of Judaism, Jewish life, and the State of Israel in the 21st century

Morality; Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times

Tracing the loss of a strong, shared moral code and arguing for rebuilding a common moral foundation

Not in God's Name; Confronting Religious Violence

On the phenomenon of religious extremism and violence committed in the name of God

One People? Tradition, Modernity, and Jewish Unity

Examining ways to mend the schisms between different Jewish groups and denominations

Radical Then, Radical Now

On how Judaism has survived and flourished in the face of catastrophe and adversity over thousands of years

The Dignity of Difference; How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations

R. Sacks's proposal for reconciling hatred between civilizations and religions

The Home We Build Together; Recreating Society

On the future of British society and the dangers facing liberal democracy

The Jonathan Sacks Haggadah; Essays

Essays on the themes and motifs of the Passover holiday

To Heal a Fractured World; The Ethics of Responsibility

On duties to others, society, and humanity, and on living a meaningful life in an age of global uncertainty

Tradition in an Untraditional Age

Exploring the challenges of secularization, assimilation, and antisemitism

Will We Have Jewish Grandchildren? Jewish Continuity and How to Achieve It

A study of Jewish continuity: why it matters, how it was achieved in the past, and how it can be created in the future