Jonathan Sacks Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jonathan Sacks.

Jonathan Sacks (born March 8, 1948 - died November 7, 2020) was a British religious leader, philosopher, and author. He served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013, making him the spiritual leader of the largest synagogue body in the UK.

Sacks was born in London and educated at Cambridge University, where he earned a first-class honours degree in philosophy. He later obtained a Ph.D. in ethics from King's College, London. Throughout his career, Sacks was known for his insightful writings and lectures on Judaism, morality, ethics, and interfaith dialogue. He emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between religious tradition and the modern world.

Jonathan Sacks authored numerous books, including "The Dignity of Difference" which won the Grawemeyer Prize for Religion in 2004. He was a frequent contributor to various publications, and his articles were widely read and admired by people from diverse backgrounds.

Sacks was highly regarded for his efforts to strengthen interfaith relations and promote social justice. His message of compassion, unity, and reconciliation resonated with people worldwide, earning him respect as a prominent religious leader and moral authority.

Sadly, Jonathan Sacks passed away on November 7, 2020, leaving behind a remarkable legacy and inspiring generations with his teachings and wisdom.

Freedom is not won by merely overthrowing a tyrannical ruler

Freedom is not won by merely overthrowing a tyrannical ruler or an oppressive regime. That is usually only the prelude to a new tyranny, a new oppression.

If we are to negotiate the coming years safely, we may need

If we are to negotiate the coming years safely, we may need a new kind of leadership. To put it more precisely, we need the rediscovery of an ancient kind of leadership that has rarely been given the prominence it deserves. I mean the leader as teacher.

Leadership

Marriage, sanctified by the bond of fidelity, is the nearest

Marriage, sanctified by the bond of fidelity, is the nearest life gets to a work of art.

Life Art Work Marriage

Food prices are often kept artificially high. The result is

Food prices are often kept artificially high. The result is that the Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations at the start of the new millennium are not being reached. Fine words have not yet been turned into deeds.

Food

In an ecology of love, people can relate in trust and face t

In an ecology of love, people can relate in trust and face the future without fear. They do not need to play it safe. They can take uncertainty in their stride.

Fear

If you want a free society, teach your children what oppress

If you want a free society, teach your children what oppression tastes like. Tell them how many miracles it takes to get from here to there. Above all, encourage them to ask questions. Teach them to think for themselves.

Society

Frequent worshippers are also significantly more active citi

Frequent worshippers are also significantly more active citizens. They are more likely to belong to community organizations, especially those concerned with young people, health, arts and leisure, neighborhood and civic groups and professional associations.

Health

Whole communities are growing up without fathers or male rol

Whole communities are growing up without fathers or male role models. Bringing up a family in the best of circumstances is not easy. To try to do it by placing the entire burden on women - 91% of single-parent families in Britain are headed by the mother, according to census data - is practically absurd and morally indefensible.

Family

We are biological creatures. We are born, we live, we die. T

We are biological creatures. We are born, we live, we die. There is no transcendent purpose to existence. At best we are creatures of reason, and by using reason we can cure ourselves of emotional excess. Purged of both hope and fear, we find courage in the face of helplessness, insignificance and uncertainty.

Courage

Religion survives because it answers three questions that ev

Religion survives because it answers three questions that every reflective person must ask. Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?

Religion

Which European leader today would not relish the wonder-work

Which European leader today would not relish the wonder-working powers of a Moses? Budget deficit? Unpopular cuts? How about just a little miracle, an overnight increase in gold reserves, a new oil field, or the next world-changing communications technology? Surely that's not too much to ask.

Technology

Part of the beauty of Judaism, and surely this is so for oth

Part of the beauty of Judaism, and surely this is so for other faiths also, is that it gently restores control over time. Three times a day we stop what we are doing and turn to God in prayer. We recover perspective. We inhale a deep breath of eternity.

Beauty

A survey carried out across the U.S. between 2004 and 2006 s

A survey carried out across the U.S. between 2004 and 2006 showed that frequent church- or synagogue-goers are more likely to give money to charity.

Money

Religion creates community, community creates altruism and a

Religion creates community, community creates altruism and altruism turns us away from self and towards the common good... There is something about the tenor of relationships within a religious community that makes it the best tutorial in citizenship and good neighborliness.

Religion

We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because t

We from every religion feel comfortable in Britain because there is a host. The Church of England is a good host, it has been a major force in shaping England into such a tolerant society.

Religion

Science will explain how but not why. It talks about what is

Science will explain how but not why. It talks about what is, not what ought to be. Science is descriptive, not prescriptive it can tell us about causes but it cannot tell us about purposes. Indeed, science disavows purposes.

Science

The world we build tomorrow is born in the stories we tell o

The world we build tomorrow is born in the stories we tell our children today. Politics moves the pieces. Education changes the game.

Education

In thinking about religion and society in the 21st century,

In thinking about religion and society in the 21st century, we should broaden the conversation about faith from doctrinal debates to the larger question of how it might inspire us to strengthen the bonds of belonging that redeem us from our solitude, helping us to construct together a gracious and generous social order.

Faith

While everyone else is thinking about economics and politics

While everyone else is thinking about economics and politics, executive salaries and the future of the euro, do the opposite, even if it's hard. Invest in the spirit.

Future

There's always hope. You can lose everything else in the wor

There's always hope. You can lose everything else in the world, but Jews never lose hope.

Hope