About the Author


Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l was an international religious leader, philosopher, and respected moral voice. The author of over 35 books, he received multiple awards in recognition of his work including the 2016 Templeton Prize. He was the recipient of 18 honorary doctorates, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer, taking his seat in the House of Lords in October 2009. Rabbi Sacks zt”l served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. Rabbi Sacks zt”l was born on the 8th March 1948 and passed away on the 7th November 2020 (Shabbat Kodesh 20th MarCheshvan 5781).
These weekly teachings from Rabbi Sacks zt”l are part of the ‘Covenant & Conversation’ series on the weekly Torah reading. Read more essays from the series on www.rabbisacks.org.
Also available: The FAMILY EDITION of Covenant & Conversation, designed to enhance your parsha conversation with everyone from teenagers to great-great-grandparents. To read and print this family-friendly learning resource, for an inter-generational discussion around your Shabbat table on Rabbi Sacks’ ideas for the week, please click here.


Parsha: Doing and Hearing

Parsha: To Thank Before We Think

Parsha: Music, Language of the Soul

Music and the power of transcendence.

Parsha: Renewable Energy

Parsha: The Spiritual Child

Connecting children to something larger than themselves.

Parsha: Spirits in a Material World

Parsha: Turning Curses Into Blessings

Parsha: On Not Predicting the Future

Parsha: Reframing

If we change the way we think, we will change the way we feel.

Parsha: To Wait Without Despair

God answers our prayers, but often not when we thought or how we thought.

Parsha: How to Change the World

Change a life, and you begin to change the universe.

Parsha: Feeling the Fear

Courage does not mean having no fear. It means having fear but overcoming it.

Parsha: How the Light Gets In

Parsha: A Father’s Love

Why did Isaac love Esau?

Parsha: Faith in the Future

First you have to build a future. Only then can you mourn the past.

The Jews, 50 Years from Now

What will be the condition of the Jewish community 50 years from now?

Parsha: To Bless the Space Between Us

Parsha: Journey of the Generations

Parsha: The Courage to Live with Uncertainty

Parsha: The Art of Listening

Exploring the sin of the first man.

Parsha: Moses' Death, Moses' Life

Parsha: The Arc of the Moral Universe

Parsha: Torah as Song

 

The Two Voices: A New Perspective on the Meaning of Teshuvah

An intellectual journey exploring the concept and deep meanings of Teshuvah. (1 hr class)

 

Why I Am a Jew

The most fateful moment in my life came when I asked myself, “Who am I?” This is my answer.

Parsha: Why Judaism?

Because there is no more challenging way of choosing life.

Parsha: The Pursuit of Joy

Parsha: Letting Go of Hate

To be free, you have to let go of hate.

Parsha: To the Third and Fourth Generations

Parsha: Environmental Responsibility

Parsha: The Second Tithe and the Making of a Strong Society

Parsha: The Power of Gratitude

Gratitude is at the heart of what it means to be a Jew.

Parsha: The Right and the Good

Heroes of the moral life go the extra mile and do more than they are commanded.

Parsha: Why Are There So Many Jewish Lawyers?

Justice lies at the beating heart of Jewish faith.

Parsha: Leadership at Times of Crisis

Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah: lessons in leadership.

Parsha: Retribution and Revenge

Parsha: Elijah and the Still, Small Voice

Parsha: Assembling Reminders

Parsha: Inspiring Greatness in Others

Parsha: Two Versions of the Moral Life

Parsha: The Politics of Responsibility

Parsha: The Economics of Liberty

Parsha: The Circumcision of Desire

Parsha: Violence and the Sacred

Parsha: What do We Sacrifice?

A deeper look into the philosophy of animal sacrifices.

Parsha: Integrity in Public Life

Parsha: The Spirit of Community

Parsha: Can There be Compassion without Justice?

Parsha: The Ethic of Holiness

Parsha: The Labour of Gratitude

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