Page 4 - TORCH Magazine #17 - Autumn 2020

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CUFI.ORG.UK
Remembering
ORabbi Sacks
n 7 November 2020, the UK and the world lost one of the great philosophical minds of our time when Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
died, succumbing to cancer at the age of
72.Rabbi Sacks was the former Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth, but his influence reached far beyond the Jewish community. He shared his vast wisdom through his
many writings and media broadcasts, including being a regular on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought of the Day’. His profound insights were valued by world leaders, religious leaders
and even royalty.
Prince Charles, a friend of Rabbi
Sacks, described him as a “trusted
guide” and a “light unto this nation”. Tony Blair, who was prime minister for much of the time that Sacks was chief rabbi, described him as “a man of huge intellectual stature but with the warmest human spirit.” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said Sacks “devoted so much of his life to reflecting on God at the most profound level – and we are all the beneficiaries of his wisdom.” And Israel’s President Rivlin said that Sacks “bravely faced difficult questions and always found the right words to illuminate the Torah and explain its paths.”
These are all touching words for a remarkable man, but just as importantly, as you will read, Rabbi Sacks was the man who gave sweets to children at synagogue.
We present some of his profound insights into various topics surrounding Judaism and Israel.