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Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Of a White Christmas.” Felix look after itself for a day while you the challenges without fear and
Mendelssohn, grandson of one celebrate the good things that come inspiring others to do likewise.
of the first “enlightened” Jews, not from working but resting, not
Moses Mendelssohn, composed from buying but enjoying, the gifts What Moses meant in those
church music and rehabilitated you have had all along but did not extraordinary words, “It is not up
Bach’s long-neglected St. Matthew have time to appreciate. in heaven …nor is it beyond the
Passion. Simone Weil, one of the sea,” (Deuteronomy. 30:12-13) was:
deepest Christian thinkers of the In Judaism, G-d is close. He is there Kinderlach, your parents trembled
20th century, described by Albert in the poetry of the Psalms. He is when they heard the voice of G-d
Camus as “the only great spirit of our there listening in to our debates as at Sinai. They were overwhelmed.
times” was born to Jewish parents. we study a page of the Talmud or They said: if we hear any more we
So was Edith Stein, celebrated by offer new interpretations of ancient will die. So G-d found ways in which
the Catholic Church as a saint and texts. He is there in the joy of the you could meet Him without being
martyr, but murdered in Auschwitz festivals, the tears of Tisha B’Av, overwhelmed. Yes, He is Creator,
because to the Nazis she was a Jew. the echoes of the shofar of Rosh Sovereign, supreme power, first
And so on. Hashanah and the contrition of Yom cause, mover of the planets and the
Kippur. He is there in the very air of stars. But He is also parent, partner,
Was it the failure of Europe to accept the Land of Israel and the stones of lover, friend. He is Shechinah, from
the Jewishness of Jews and Judaism? Jerusalem, where the oldest of the shachen, meaning the neighbor next
Was it Judaism’s failure to confront old and the newest of the new mingle door.
the challenge? The phenomenon together like close friends.
is so complex it defies any simple So thank Him every morning for the
explanation. But in the process, we G-d is near. Judaism needed no gift of life. Say the Shema twice daily
lost great art, great intellect, great cathedrals, no monasteries, no for the gift of love. Join your voice
spirits and minds. abstruse theologies, no metaphysical to others in prayer so that His spirit
ingenuities, beautiful though all
To some extent, the situation has these are, because for us G-d is the may flow through you, giving you the
changed both in Israel and the G-d of everyone and everywhere, strength and courage to change the
Diaspora. There has been much who has time for each of us, and world. When you can’t see Him, it is
new Jewish music and a revival who meets us where we are, if we are because you are looking in the wrong
of Jewish mysticism. There have willing to open our souls to Him. direction. When He seems absent,
been important Jewish writers and He is there behind the door, but you
thinkers. But we are still spiritually I am a Rabbi. For 22 years I was a have to open it.
underachieving. The deepest roots Chief Rabbi. But in the end, I think
of spirituality come from within: it was we, the Rabbis, who did not Don’t treat Him like a stranger. He
from within a culture, a tradition, do enough to help people open loves you. He believes in you. He
a sensibility. They come from the their doors, their minds, and their wants your success. To find Him
syntax and semantics of the native feelings to the Presence-beyond- you don’t have to climb to heaven
language of the soul: “The word is the-universe-who-created-us-in- or cross the sea. His is the voice you
very near you; it is in your mouth love that our ancestors knew so hear in the silence of the soul. His is
and in your heart so you may obey well and loved so much. We were the light you see when you open your
it.” The beauty of Jewish spirituality afraid. Of the intellectual challenges eyes to wonder. His is the hand you
is precisely that in Judaism, G-d of an increasingly secular culture. touch in the pit of despair. His is the
is close. You don’t need to climb a Of the social challenges of being breath that gives you life.
mountain or enter an ashram to in, yet not entirely of, the world. Of
find the Divine presence. It is there the emotional challenge of finding
around the table at a Shabbat meal, Jews or Judaism or the State of 1 Deuteronomy 30:14.
in the light of the candles and the Israel criticized and condemned. 2 See Rashi to Numbers 13:18.
simple holiness of the kiddush wine So we retreated behind a high wall,
and the challot, in the praise of the thinking that made us safe. High Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is Emeritus
Eishet Chayil and the blessing of walls never make you safe; they only Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew
children, in the peace of mind that make you fearful. The only thing Congregations of the Commonwealth
2
comes when you leave the world to that makes you safe is confronting @RabbiSacks · www.RabbiSacks.org

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