Key Facts
Career & Education
About
Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks (1948–2020), was an English Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, author, and public intellectual born on March 8, 1948, in London, and who passed away on November 7, 2020, from cancer after battling the disease. He served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013, a position he held for 22 years, leading the largest Orthodox synagogue body in the UK. During his tenure, he revitalized Anglo-Jewry's educational institutions, focused on 'Jewish Continuity,' promoted interfaith dialogue, and navigated occasional frictions between the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and progressive wings of the community, while making ethical contributions to broader society. He faced internal Jewish community criticisms over theological pluralism and responses to progressive movements. Prior to this, he taught at Middlesex Polytechnic (now Middlesex University) from 1971 to 1973 and at Jews’ College from 1973 to 1990, where he also served as principal from 1984 to 1990. After retiring as Chief Rabbi, he became the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Global Distinguished Professor of Judaic Thought at Yeshiva University, Professor of Judaic Thought at New York University, and Visiting Professor at King's College London, continuing to influence global discourse on religion, science, and ethics. Appointed a Life Peer in the United Kingdom’s House of Lords in 2009, Sacks was a Crossbench peer renowned for his work on Jewish identity, interfaith relations, morality, antisemitism, social cohesion, and the role of religion in public life, as well as his voice for faith and morality and advocacy against materialism and religious extremism. A prolific author of over 30 books, including award-winning works like 'The Dignity of Difference' and 'Not in God's Name,' he blended Jewish thought with universal philosophy and advocated for religious tolerance and the compatibility of science and religion. He was a vocal commentator on moral issues, known for his eloquent media presence with frequent contributions to BBC programs and national newspapers. His contributions to interfaith understanding were recognized with the prestigious Templeton Prize in 2016. His legacy endures through his writings, broadcasts, and the Rabbi Sacks Legacy organization preserving his teachings.