Rabbi Lord Sacks died yesterday, Shabbat 7 November 2020, after starting treatment for cancer four weeks ago.
Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was present at what later prompted the beginning of the Jewish Small Communities Network, when he attended the first Small Communities meeting (photo), held at Arnside Road in Southport in 2003 bringing together communities from across the North West.
As Chief Rabbi for 22 years he was a light to all in the Jewish community, a friend and a mentor to those who sought his guidance, but also he gave inspiration to religious leaders of many different faiths and political leaders across the world. It was a popularly held saying that he had become Chief Rabbi to the World.
His Torah and profound understanding of philosophy made him an intellectual giant. But he excelled too at delivering a powerful message with great simplicity, as in his explanations of the growth of and fight against antisemitism, especially in the animated explanations he became well known for, and which you can access on the JSCN website.
We will mourn the passing of a great man, but we are blessed that his words and his learning stay with us.
In the Torah we read of the life of Abraham – a life dedicated to finding G-d, and spreading morality and enlightening not just his descendants but the entire world.
This was indeed the way of Rabbi Lord Sacks ZT”L.
When G-d calls he whispers our name – and the greatest reply simply Hineni: ‘Here I am’.
Baruch Dayan Emet
May his memory always be for a blessing
Amen to all you have said, lovely tribute to a person who leaves an unfillable hole but as you say, his words and unquenchable moral compass will stay with us.