בס״ד ּי וַ ִ ׁשְ ַ ל ח VAYISHLACH

Volume 34 | #8 Memorial edition in loving memory of Emeritus Chief Lord Jonathan Sacks zt'l (1948-2020) 5 December 2020 for his sheloshim 19 5781 מורה מוה"ר יעקב צבי בן דוד אריה זצ"ל Shabbat ends: London 4.46pm Sheffield 4.50pm Glasgow 4.49pm Edinburgh 4.43pm Birmingham 4.50pm Southport 4:55pm Jerusalem 5.14pm

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Artscroll – p170 Haftarah – p1139 Hertz – p122 Haftarah – p135 Soncino – p195 Haftarah – p220 Daf Hashavua PHOTO: THE OFFICE OF RABBI SACKS Sidra breakdown Rabbi Lord ּי וַ ִ ׁשְ ַ ל ח Vayishlach Jonathan Sacks zt’l: 8th Sidra in: in memoriam ּבְרֵאׁשִ ית Bereishit by Rabbi Baruch Davis, Chigwell & Hainault , Editor-in-Chief of Daf Hashavua By Numbers: 153 verses 1,976 words Rabbi Sacks’ from Laban only to encounter Esau extraordinary life – and marching to meet him with a force 7,458 letters therefore his untimely of four hundred men. He emerges passing – have touched from that meeting unscathed, only every one of us. Much to be plunged into the drama of the Headlines: has been written and said about his conflict between Joseph and his vast contribution to so many walks other sons, which caused him great Jacob in of life, but I want to focus on his grief. Alone among the patriarchs, the Land ability to inspire hope in a time of he dies in exile. Jacob wrestles, as crisis; to find a way forward where his descendants – the children of none seemed possible. Israel – continue to wrestle with a In his Covenant and Conversation world that never seems to grant us for Vayishlach (5769/2009), Rabbi peace. Sacks wrote that Abraham, Isaac Yet Jacob never gives up and Jacob epitomised different and is never defeated. He is the aspects of faith. This is what he man whose greatest religious wrote regarding Jacob: experiences occur when he is alone, Jacob is faith as struggle. Often at night, and far from home. Jacob his life seemed to be a matter of wrestles with the angel of destiny Daf Hashavua escaping one danger into another. and inner conflict and says, “I will Produced by US Living & Learning He flees from his vengeful brother not let you go until you bless me.” together with the Rabbinical Council of only to find himself at the mercy That is how he rescues hope from the United Synagogue of deceptive Laban. He escapes catastrophe – as have always Editor-in-Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Editorial and Production Team: Rabbi Daniel Sturgess, Rabbi Michael Laitner, Rebbetzen Nechama Davis, Joanna Rose Sidra Summary www.theus.org.uk 1st Aliya (Kohen) – Bereishit 32:4-13 ©United Synagogue 2020 Yaakov sends angels to inform his brother Esav that he is returning home, after To sponsor Daf Hashavua please decades away. Yaakov’s message offers Esav the chance to make peace, but also contact Danielle Fox on 020 8343 6261, conveys Yaakov’s own strength (Rashi). The angels return, warning Yaakov that Esav or [email protected] is approaching with 400 men. Yaakov becomes afraid, divides his camp into two and If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email prays to God for survival. [email protected] done. Their darkest nights have We have come through so much; we across Rabbi Sacks’ message to us always been preludes to their most will come through this too.” all in the current pandemic, based on creative dawns. On another occasion, we had a line in Psalm 30, that we say every Rabbi Sacks liked to give a bar in our shul in tragic day in our morning prayers (p.36 in examples from , such circumstances since the boy had just the green ). “You have turned as the redaction of the Mishna finished sitting shiva for his mother. my sorrow into dancing, You have following the destruction of the Emotions were high and the sidra removed my sackcloth and clothed Second Temple and the proliferation was Vayechi, in which both Jacob me with joy”. “Life may be hard”, of commentaries on the and and Joseph die. What was I to say? said Rabbi Sacks, “but there will during the persecution of Once again, Rabbi Sacks provided always be moments of joy. It is our the Middle Ages. In addition, he words of reassurance, based on that job to find those moments of joy and gave examples from more recent sidra. “Joseph charged his brothers treasure them”. times, of the creation of the State to instruct their offspring: ‘God will A few days later, speaking at his of Israel only three short years after remember you and take you out from father’s funeral, this remarkable , quoting a line from here (Egypt). When he does, you will young man drew on Rabbi Sacks’ the psalms of Hallel: Lo amut ki take my bones with you.’ Say to the teaching and was able to reflect on echyeh. I shall not die, but live and bar mitzvah, ‘Wherever you go and moments of joy that had been woven praise God’s works (p.626 in the whatever you do, you will take your into his life during these difficult green siddur). mother’s legacy and love with you.’” years. Rabbi Sacks did not only view this Perhaps even more striking is As we emerge from the sheloshim principle from the prism of history in an event that occurred after Rabbi for Rabbi Sacks, we extend general, but also in the lives of each Sacks’ passing. What does one continued wishes of comfort to one of us. I recall two occasions say to a young man, engaged to be Lady Elaine, Joshua, Dina, Gila and in particular during his time as married, whose father is about to family. May Rabbi Sacks’ many Chief Rabbi when I turned to him die, having already lost his mother teachings, kindnesses and personal for much-needed advice. The first and brother two years ago? On the example continue to inspire and was in 2000, on Erev Succot. The day that I needed inspiration, I came encourage us. Second Intifada had been launched against Israel and seemed to be out of control. Then, as some readers may recall, the horrific lynching of As we emerge from the sheloshim for Rabbi two Israeli reservists took place in Sacks, we extend continued wishes of comfort Ramallah. “Rabbi Sacks” I asked, “Succot is Zeman Simchatenu, the to Lady Elaine, Joshua, Dina, Gila and family. festival of our rejoicing. What am May Rabbi Sacks’ many teachings, kindnesses I to say to my community in shul tomorrow?” “Baruch”, came the and personal example continue to inspire and answer, “always give them hope. encourage us.

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 32:14-30 ‘Yisrael’ and blesses him. Yaakov sends copious gifts to Esav, hoping to appease him. That night, Yaakov’s family crosses over the Yabok 3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 32:31-33:5 stream. Yaakov is left alone. He is attacked by ‘a man’, Yaakov’s injury is the source of the prohibition of eating identified by the as the ministering angel of the sciatic nerve of an animal. As Esav approaches, Esav. They wrestle until dawn. The ‘man’, unable to Yaakov bows to him seven times. Esav embraces and defeat Yaakov, nevertheless dislocates Yaakov’s hip. The kisses Yaakov, and they both weep. ‘man’ then tells Yaakov that his name will later change to about what constitutes a lasting Tribute to Rabbi Lord Sacks legacy as opposed to fleeting fame. Legacy has nothing to do with one’s name and everything to do with one’s zt’l by Chief Rabbi Ephraim impact. Rabbi Sacks was widely acclaimed, but the measure of his Mirvis given on BBC Radio 4's greatness is in the countless lives he enriched as well as the timelessness of his wisdom. Thought For The Day One of Rabbi Lord Sacks’s brilliant original thoughts relates to history, for which there is no word in the Hebrew 22nd Marcheshvan 5781/9th November 2020 Bible. Rather, the word ‘Zachor’ is used, which means memory. He explained that history is ‘his story’ – Very sadly, yesterday same without the voice of Rabbi Sacks. an account by another person about afternoon, we laid to his Every year, coinciding with the events which happened to others. eternal rest my illustrious anniversary of the death of Moses, We recall it and study it, but we predecessor, Rabbi Lord we read the portion of the Bible feel disconnected. Memory is quite Jonathan Sacks, whom which describes how he oversaw the different – we internalise it, carry I had the privilege of working with for building of the sanctuary, a home for it with us and make it a part of our the past thirty years. God. Yet, astonishingly, his name is future. He had a distinctive, familiar voice. entirely absent from the text. God Rabbi Sacks is now not only a part It was a voice of clarity and erudition; goes out of His way not to address of our shared history. He will also live a voice of hope and promise; a voice Moses by name, even whilst he on in our collective memory. of tolerance and love; a voice of embarked on a most sacred task. As ever, he himself put it perfectly: warmth and wisdom, interlaced with There is a powerful message here “Mortality,” he said, “is written sensitivity and humour; a voice that into the human condition, but so too will be profoundly missed by Thought is the possibility of immortality, in the for the Day listeners, by Jewish good we do that continues long after communities around the world and by Rabbi Sacks is now we are here, to beget further good. all those right across the globe who not only a part of our There are lives that defeat death and found in him an invaluable guide who redeem existence from tragedy.” inspired faithfulness, moderation and shared history. He It is from Rabbi Sacks’ own words compassion. that we can be certain that his The pain of his loss has been felt far will also live on in our remarkable voice will continue to be and wide – the world will not be the collective memory. with us always.

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 33:6-33:20 still holding Dinah captive. Yaakov’s sons are outraged. Each person in Yaakov’s family bows to Esav. Yaakov Chamor speaks to them, suggesting that their two families successfully urges Esav to accept the gifts that he had unite in marriage, as well as offering them trade and sent. Esav suggests that he and Yaakov travel together, but land prospects. Shechem offers a large dowry for Dinah. Yaakov politely declines. Esav departs for Seir and Yaakov Yaakov’s sons trick Chamor and Shechem – they offer the departs for a place called Succot. Yaakov then travels to Israelite girls only if all the town’s males are circumcised. Shechem. Chamor and Shechem agree; all the men of the town circumcise themselves. Three days later, when they are in 5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 34:1-35:11 great pain, Shimon and Levi kill them all, take Dinah back Dinah is captured and violated by Shechem the son of and plunder the town. Yaakov rebukes them. Chamor, ruler of the town. Shechem falls in love with God appears to Yaakov, telling him to go back to Beit El, Dinah and asks his father to secure her as his wife, whilst where he originally built an altar when escaping from The following two articles were written by Rabbi Sacks for Daf Hashavua Rosh Hashanah editions. We include them in tribute to Rabbi Sacks for two reasons. The first is that the messages in the articles resonate throughout the year, not just for Rosh Hashanah. The second is because of the enthusiasm with which these articles were received. Investing Time: Ten life-changing principles by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt’l

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are Time is short. Down time. That, according to the Rambam, festivals that ask us how we have Maimonides, is what Rosh Hashanah lived thus far. Have we drifted? Have here on earth we only is about. The shofar, he says, is we been travelling to the wrong God’s wake-up call. Without it, we destination? Does the way we live have one life to live; can sleepwalk through life, wasting give us a sense of purpose, meaning and unlike money, time on things that are urgent but not and fulfilment? is the satellite important, or that promise happiness navigation system of the soul, and Rosh time lost can never be but fail to deliver it. Hashanah is the day we stop and see Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur whether we need to change direction. regained. are festivals that ask us how we Time is short. Down here on earth have lived thus far. Have we drifted? we only have one life to live; and unlike principles I have learned from our Have we been travelling to the wrong money, time lost can never be regained. faith, offered in the hope that they destination? Does the way we live Judaism is the world’s oldest and most may help you as you reflect on the give us a sense of purpose, meaning elaborately refined time management year that has passed and the one that and fulfilment? Judaism is the system, designed to ensure that we live is to satellite navigation system of the soul, for the things that matter, that bring There are banks and accountants and Rosh Hashanah is the day we stop meaning and value and joy. to tell us how to invest our money. and see whether we need to change Here are some life-changing Judaism tells us how to invest our direction.

Esav. As the angel had previously foretold, God changes 7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 36:20-36:43 Yaakov’s name to Yisrael. The Torah lists eight Edomite kings and their origins.

Point to Consider: Why did Yaakov rebuke Shimon and Levi? Haftarah (see Rashi to 34:30) The Haftarah, according to the general United Synagogue custom, is taken from the Book of Hoshea (ch. 11-12). The 6th Aliya (Shishi) – 35:12-36:19 prophet refers to events in Yaakov’s life, including his struggle Rachel dies whilst giving birth to Binyamin and is buried in with the angel. Hoshea encourages the people to learn from Beit Lechem. After Rachel’s death, Reuven, Leah’s son, moves Yaakov’s responses to the spiritual challenges he faced, so his father’s bed out of Bilhah’s tent and into Leah’s (Rashi). that they can become worthy of being his descendants. Yitzchak dies, aged 180. He is buried by Esav and Yaakov. Esav’s descendants are listed. Time is short. Down here on earth what they are and thankful for what make sacrifices for their faith usually we only have one life to live; and you helped them become. succeed in passing it on to their unlike money, time lost can never children; those who don’t, often don’t. be regained. Judaism is the world’s (3) BE A LIFELONG LEARNER. oldest and most elaborately refined Learning Torah will exercise your mind (5) FORGIVE. Emotional energy is time management system, designed to and keep it young. It will stretch your too precious to waste on negative ensure that we live for the things that soul and give it strength. Virtually all emotions. Resentment, grievance and matter, that bring meaning and value the classic texts of Judaism are today hate have no part in the inner life of and joy. available in English translation. Better a . In chapter 19 of Vayikra, the Here are some life-changing still, learn bechevruta, ‘with a friend’, Torah says, “Don’t hate your brother principles I have learned from our faith, so that you can each be the other’s (or sister) in your heart”. Don’t take offered in the hope that they may help personal trainer, helping one another to vengeance. Don’t bear a grudge. Those you as you reflect on the year that has who forgive travel more lightly through passed and the one that is to come: Yes, we have life, freed of the burden of feelings that do no one any good. (1) GIVE THANKS. Praying, we give problems, fears, pains; thanks to God for all we have, and but they can wait until (6) DON’T TALK LASHON HARA. for life itself. This may sound simple The Talmudic Sages define lashon but it is life-transforming. It makes we have finished giving hara, ‘evil speech’, as saying us notice what otherwise we would thanks; and once we negative things about other people merely take for granted. It helps us see even if they are true. They were that we are surrounded by blessings. have given thanks, harsh about it, regarding it as one We are here, we are free, we have our problems seem a of the worst interpersonal sins. family, we have friends, we have Those who speak badly about others opportunities our parents did not have little smaller and we poison the atmosphere in families and our grandparents could not even feel a little stronger. and communities. They undermine imagine. Yes, we have problems, fears, relationships and do great harm. They pains; but they can wait until we have spiritual health. Even better than that, say, “But it’s true,” forgetting that finished giving thanks; and once we learn with your children. Daven with lashon hara only applies to truth. If have given thanks, our problems seem them. Send them to a Jewish school an allegation is false it is called motsi a little smaller and we feel a little and let them teach you things you did shem ra (‘spreading a bad name’) and stronger. There is medical evidence not know. Help them to climb higher up is a different kind of sin. They say, that people who have an attitude the Jewish ladder than you did. That is “But it’s only words”, forgetting that of gratitude live longer and develop parenthood, Jewish-style, and it is one in Judaism words are holy, never to be stronger immunities to illness. Be that of Judaism’s most glorious insights. taken lightly. See the good in people as it may, the psychological evidence – and if you see the bad, be silent. No- is incontrovertible: giving thanks brings (4) NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR one whose respect matters, respects happiness even in hard times. JUDAISM IN PUBLIC. If you want those who speak badly of others. your children to stay Jewish, be (2) GIVE YOUR CHILDREN VALUES, consistent. Don’t keep kosher at home (7) KEEP SHABBAT. If Shabbat had NOT PRESENTS. Presents give but not outside. Don’t have a simcha not been created, someone would delight for a day, values bring in shul and then a non-kosher function have made a fortune discovering happiness for a lifetime. Give your elsewhere. That gives children a mixed and marketing it. Here is a one-day children materialistic values and you message, and children respond to miracle vacation that has the power will spoil them forever; nor will they mixed messages by concluding that you to strengthen a marriage, celebrate thank you for it in later life. Give them cannot be that serious about Judaism, family, make you part of a community, ideals, teach them to love, respect, so why should they? Consistency rejoice in what you have rather than admire, train them to take responsibility matters not just within the family but worrying about what you don’t yet and to give to others. Help them be at way beyond. Non-Jews respect Jews have, relieve you from the tyranny home in Jewish life and let them give who respect Judaism. Non-Jews of smartphones, texts and 24/7 you Jewish pride, and they will grow are embarrassed by Jews who are availability, reduce stress, banish the in stature until they walk tall, proud of embarrassed by Judaism. Those who pressures of work and consumerism, PHOTO: THE OFFICE OF RABBI SACKS and renew your appetite for life. It is feeling alone. Bring the gift of your soul and might. Love your neighbour supplied with wine, good food, fine presence to someone else, and you as yourself. Love the stranger, for words, great songs and lovely rituals. will no longer feel alone. you were once strangers. Love is the You don’t need to catch a plane or alchemy that turns life from base book in advance. It’s a gift from God (9) CREATE MOMENTS OF JOY. metal to gold; that etches our days via Moshe, and for more than 3,000 It can be as simple as a walk on a with the radiance of the Shechinah, years it has been the Jewish private spring day, or watching an internet the Divine presence. True happiness, island of happiness. To get there all video of an old song that brings back whether in marriage or parenthood, you need is self-control, the ability warm memories, or paying someone friendship or career, is always the to say ‘no’ to work, shopping, cars, an unanticipated compliment, or product of love. Where love is, there televisions and phones. But then, giving someone a spur-of-the-moment is God, for when we love others, God’s everything worth having needs self- gift. There is a place in Judaism for love flows through us. To live you have control. osher/ashrei, “happiness,” but the key to learn to love. positive emotion in the Torah and the Do any of these things and slowly, (8) VOLUNTEER. Give of your time Book of Psalms is simcha, “joy.” Ivdo gradually, you will begin to notice a to others. There is no greater cure for et Hashem besimcha… serve God change in your life. You will be less depression than to bring happiness with joy. Happiness often depends on pressured, less anxious, less hurried into the lives of others. Visit the external circumstances but you can and harried. You will find you have sick. Invite someone lonely to your experience joy even in tough times. time for the things that are important Shabbat or Yom Tov meal. Share your Like sunshine piercing the clouds, but not urgent, which are what you skills with someone who needs to joy liberates the spirit and breaks most neglect now. The result will be acquire them. Join one of the many the hold of sadness. Let yourself, in more satisfaction, fulfilment, joy. Your outstanding organisations in our Wordsworth’s words, be “surprised by relationships will be better, especially community. Hebrew has a beautiful joy.” Joy means opening your soul to in the home. People will respect you word for such acts: chesed, meaning the radiance of life, refusing to let age more. You will feel yourself blessed. love-as-deed, love-as-kindness. The or time dull your sense of wonder. This may or may not add years to your great Jewish psychotherapist Viktor life, but it will certainly add life to Frankl used to say, “The door to (10) LOVE. Judaism was the world’s your years. You will then feel to the happiness opens outward,” meaning first, and is still the greatest, religion full extent what it is to be written into that feeling low often comes from of love. Love God with all your heart, God’s Book of Life. Who am I? by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt’l

Who am I? What are the caring about trivialities. The sound of life expectancy. Not always: surely we most important things in the shofar wakes us up and makes us all know of deeply spiritual people who my life? What do I want conscious of the fragility of life. Who die tragically young. But for the most to be remembered for? If, knows how much time we have left. part, faith gives us an anchor in the as a purely hypothetical None of us will live forever. So – how storm, a compass as we navigate the exercise, I were to imagine reading do we use our time? future, a shelter when we are buffeted my own obituary, what would I want it Much recent research on happiness by the winds of circumstance. to say? These are the questions Rosh yields surprising conclusions. We can Often in the highly charged debates Hashanah urges us to ask ourselves. spend our days in pursuit of wealth, between atheists and religious As we pray to God to write us in yet beyond a certain comfort zone believers, it seems as if all religion is, the book of life, God asks us what where we do not have to worry, greater is a set of beliefs. It surely is, but that we intend to do with this, His most wealth is not correlated with higher is not all it is. Judaism is a way of life, precious gift. How do we use our time? levels of happiness. The status of a code of conduct, a calendar. It shapes The shofar of Rosh Hashanah a particular job has less to do with our experience of time into a kind reminds us of many things. It recalls happiness than the fulfillment we of rhythm. Three times daily prayer, the binding of Isaac, when God told receive from a job well done. Shabbat, the festivals and the Days Abraham to stop and offer up, instead, of Awe, function like paragraph- and a ram that had been caught by its horn chapter-breaks in the story of our life. in a bush. It reminds us of the Torah, Judaism helps us hear So we work, but one day in seven given at Mount Sinai, when "the whole the music beneath we also rest and spend more time mountain trembled violently, and than usual with family and friends. In the sound of the shofar grew louder the noise, the theme shul we re-establish our links with the and louder." It was blown to mark beyond the episodes, community. Through the festivals we the Jubilee, the fiftieth year, when relive the history of our people, and freedom was proclaimed throughout the meaning that links cure ourselves of the narrow sense the land. our days and years of living for the moment. On Rosh The shofar was the sound of victory Hashanah we ask, why am I here? On at Jericho. It was blown in celebration into a story of a life Yom Kippur we try to make amends when King David brought the Ark to well lived because it for the wrongs we have done, and Jerusalem. Jeremiah calls it the sound rededicate ourselves to the things we of war. Amos called it the sound of has been lived in the hold holy. danger: "When the shofar sounds in a light of high ideals. Does a purely secular lifestyle offer city, do not the people tremble?" Joel a greater chance of happiness? One called it the sound of the End of Days. The sources of happiness lie all of the most extraordinary scientific One of the Psalms we say on Friday around us: our family, our friends, the findings of all is that in the space of night calls it the herald proclaiming the work we do voluntarily, the sense we two generations, as people in the West arrival of the King: "With trumpets and have of being part of a community, have grown more affluent, so they the blast of the shofar, shout for joy the feeling we have that we are part have grown less happy. Depression before the Lord, the King." of something worthwhile. A whole and stress related syndromes have Maimonides, though, calls the series of medical research projects has all risen between 300 and 1,000 per shofar of Rosh Hashanah a wake-up shown that faith, prayer and regular cent. The phenomenon has a name: call. He says that without such a attendance at a house of worship affluenza. The consumer society is call, we can sleepwalk through life, actually have an effect on health and built on making us want what we do not yet have. Judaism is predicated on has entrusted into our safekeeping, lived in the light of high ideals. We celebrating what we do have. with the condition that we share some will always fall short; everyone does. No one's last thought was, 'I wish of what we have with those who have But we stand as tall as the values that I had spent more time in the office.' less. inspire us, and those of Judaism are Almost no one's obituary praises them Chesed – the love that is kindness the highest ever asked of a people. So for the car they drove, the clothes they – binds our communities into networks as you hear the shofar, think of what, wore, the homes they built, or the of support for people experiencing in the year to come, you will live for. holidays they took. These things are not crisis, illness or bereavement. Jewish And may God write you, your family, unimportant, but they are externalities. faith, which suffuses all our acts but and all Israel in the Book of Life. They are about what we own, not especially the act of prayer, tells us who we are. They give us short term that we are not alone in the universe, pleasure, not long term fulfillment. that at the heart of being is One That is what Maimonides who created us in love, hears was talking about when he our prayers, and believes in spoke about the shofar us more than we believe in of Rosh Hashanah. It ourselves. is God's call to us: Judaism helps us hear the Where are you? music beneath the noise, the What are you doing theme beyond the episodes, with your life? Do the meaning that links our days you care about the and years into a story of a life things that have well lived because it value but not a price? has been Do you spend your time on the important, or only on the urgent? Judaism is full of details. As the great architect Mies van der Rohe said, 'God is in the details.' But the details are brush-strokes in a magnificent painting which we can only appreciate if we step back and look at it as a whole. Judaism turns life into a work of art. It consecrates the love between husbands and wives, and parents and children. It sanctifies our most physical acts, through the laws of and family purity. It engages our heart in prayer, our mind in study. It asks us, through the laws of tzedakah, - charity - to look on our possessions as things God Memories of Rabbi Sacks zt’l Rabbi Sacks during his Chief Rabbinate at both United Synagogue and national events “The good we do lives on in others, and it is one of the most important things that does.” Rabbi Sacks zt’l

For more inspiring quotes from Rabbi Sacks zt’l visit www.rabbisacks.org/quotes-a-z/ PHOTO: THE OFFICE OF RABBI SACKS It was the honour of our lives to work for Rabbi Sacks zt’l Dan Sacker, Joanna Benarroch and Debby Ifield, the Office of Rabbi Sacks

When we were asked to write a world without him in it. It doesn’t the privilege of working for him, he something about our boss Rabbi Sacks, seem fair, it doesn’t make sense, and was above anything else an inspiring the truth is that we weren’t sure we we don’t think it will for a very long boss, mentor and friend. He was could. time to come. the person who phoned us multiple We didn’t know if it was possible Rabbi Sacks was a giant of his – or times a day, sometimes to discuss to find the words beyond the tears and any – generation, a Gadol HaDor, an work-related matters but more often we apologise now because this piece, irreplaceable and irrepressible leader than not just to chat about a new book try as we may, will not do him justice. of leaders, and a peerless and wise he’d ordered, a new idea he’d read, His passing, too sudden, too soon, teacher whose intellectual clarity and a random YouTube music video he’d when there was so much work still to moral voice carried such weight across discovered or to laugh at a good joke do, has left a gaping hole in so many the global Jewish community and far he’d heard. people’s lives. beyond. He was the person we spent We find it so difficult to comprehend Yet to us, as he was to all who had our working day with, helping to coordinate and prepare him for his various engagements, draft countless He was always challenging us to push articles and speeches, write and boundaries, to never accept things as they research books and record videos, always challenging us to push were, to utilise every avenue possible to boundaries, to never accept things as they were, to utilise every avenue bring his ideas to the world possible to bring his ideas to the world. He was even the person who trusted us The Gemara in Megillah 31a teaches titles. “There are those rare souls who enough to tweet and use Facebook on in the name of Rabbi Yochanan that: venture out into the unknown, explore his behalf! “Wherever you find the greatness of new areas and create new intellectual But he was so much more than the Holy One, blessed be He, there disciplines. They do not get new titles. that. He was the person who quietly, you will find His humility.” And that Instead, they give their names to their away from the limelight, gave so is, we think, what struck us more than pioneering discoveries. Jonathan Sacks many individuals, groups, rabbonim anything else about Rabbi Sacks. He ranks with the teachers of Torah whose or organisations who needed it, never fully realised, or perhaps he was personal name is the highest mark of and needed him, his most precious reluctant to realise, just how great distinction.” thing: time, which he did so willingly, he was – despite us and many others Rabbi Sacks has left us with a unfailingly and consistently. telling him. remarkable legacy and new ways of He was always challenging us to He was our and we were thinking. But he has also left us with push boundaries, to never accept things simply his talmidim. And he would a challenge. This year, his weekly as they were, to utilise every avenue always finish the same way: “Guys, Covenant & Conversation parsha possible to bring his ideas to the world what do you think?” That alone speaks essays are taken from his book Lessons He was the person who quietly volumes of the man he was. In Leadership. advised global leaders, helped mediate Whenever we shared letters We did this to allow him space to other peoples’ problems and offered of admiration or thanks with him, continue work on the Chumash which endless support and guidance to especially in the past few difficult would have undoubtedly been the anyone who asked his advice. And he weeks, he would often say: pinnacle of his many achievements. In was the person who called us when we “Compliments are fine. So long as you an unnerving sense of fate, at the end had personal traumas or issues to deal don’t inhale!” his commentary on Chayei Sarah, the with. And called again an hour later to But perhaps it was because above parsha we read on the Shabbat after check in. And again an hour after that. and beyond anything else, any titles died, Rabbi Sacks wrote: “Leaders We have read so many moving he held, books he wrote or awards he see the destination, begin the journey, tributes of how Rabbi Sacks’ teachings won, he was simply a mensch, an eved and leave behind them those who will impacted peoples’ Judaism or how a Hashem, a humble servant of God, who continue it. That is enough to endow a single interaction or phone call with had a particular mission: to inspire life with immortality.” We are totally him changed their lives. more Jews to live a Judaism engaged heartbroken that his life has come to an As his team we were unbelievably with the world and to, in his words, end. Our love goes out to Elaine, Josh, blessed. Every conversation or car “Be true to your faith and a blessing to Dina, Gila, Alan, Eliot, Brian and the journey became a and an amazing others regardless of their faith.” whole family. insight into his mind. His home Aside from the outpouring of love Yet at the same time, we feel contained thousands of seforim and since he passed away, of all the unbelievably blessed to have been so books; we used to joke that he single- wonderful accolades Rabbi Sacks close, for so long, to someone so great. handedly kept Amazon in business. received during his life, there is one It has been the honour of our lives to There wasn’t a subject he wasn’t that comes to mind because it moved have played just a small part in Rabbi an expert in. He was our rebbe and him the most. It occurred as Rabbi Sacks’ unbelievable legacy. He was a we were simply his talmidim. And he Sacks was nearing the end of his time leader who saw the destination and would always finish the same way: as Chief Rabbi in 2013 by his own began the journey. It is now up to all of “Guys, what do you think?” He – the rabbi, Rav Nachum Rabinovitch z”l, us to continue it. smartest person any of us knew – who passed away earlier this year. May his memory be for a blessing. asked us what we thought. That alone Rav Nachum spoke about how the This article originally appeared in the speaks volumes of the man he was. greatest of our teachers transcend all Jewish News, 12 November 2020. What we are called on to be by Rabbi Alex Chapper, Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue

A name has because I believe that Judaism always been so contains all there is of the much more than human story. I admire other just a random traditions and their contributions label. From the to the world. Nor am I a Jew first human being who was because of anti-Semitism or called Adam to symbolise his anti-. What happens to humble beginnings as well me does not define who I am: as his infinite potential, the ours is a people of faith, not significance of a name lies in the fate. Nor is it because I think way in which it describes the essence Why does the name Jacob remain? that Jews are better than others, of its bearer. In September 2015, Rabbi Sacks more intelligent, creative, generous That is what makes it so surprising created a whiteboard animation based or successful. It’s not Jews who are to read how God changes Jacob’s on his conclusion to Radical Then, different, but Judaism. It’s not so much (Yaakov’s) name to Israel (Yisrael). Of Radical Now, in which he explained what we are but what we are called course, God also changed Abraham why he is proud to be a Jew and what on to be.” and Sarah’s names and they become it is about Judaism that makes it so The dual designation of Jacob and permanent but even after being told unique. This passionate appeal calls Israel serves as a constant reminder to that his new name would be Israel, we on Jews around the world, from across us, his descendants, that our national find him still referred to, on subsequent the political and religious spectrum, as well as our personal story is not occasions in the Torah, as Jacob. The to connect to their people, heritage pre-destined but self-determined. Gemara questions this discrepancy: and faith. Jacob, as the name suggests, was Anyone who calls Abraham, Abram Amongst other compelling not fated to forever have to resort to transgresses a negative mitzvah, as arguments he says: “I am a Jew not guile to accrue blessings, instead he it is says: “And your name shall no became Israel, which is symbolic of longer be called Abram.” If so, then The dual designation his independently achieved elevated surely the same applies to someone status. who uses the name Jacob, as it is of Jacob and Israel To be a Jew, a proud descendant written, “Your name shall no longer serves as a constant of Jacob/Israel, is to know that we be Jacob, but Israel”? The Gemara are not shackled by who were are concludes that the name Jacob is reminder to us, his and thereby just the products of our different from the name Abram in this descendants, that our nature and environment. Instead we respect, since after God gave Abraham are free to answer what we are called his new name, the Torah never again national as well as our on to be, to make moral choices, to refers to him by anything other than personal story is not be the best versions of ourselves as Abraham. Whereas Jacob is so called possible, to deepen our knowledge of in the Torah even after he has been pre-destined but self- and connection to God and improve the given the name of Israel. determined. world around us. בס״ד

A tribute to mark the completion of Shloshim for זצ”ל Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks הרב יעקב צבי בן דוד אריה זצ”ל Sunday 6th December 2020 כ“א כסלו תשפ“א USA (West) 11am | USA (East) 2pm | UK 7pm | Israel 9pm | Australia (Melbourne/Sydney) 6am Monday Hosted by The Office of Rabbi Sacks together with The Covenant & Conversation Trust www.RabbiSacks.org/Shloshim