The Covenant & Conversation trust

A year of change a Year of Impact

Annual Review 5774 • 2013 – 2014 “The challenge of our time is to go out The Covenant & conversaTIon Trust to Jews with a Judaism that relates to the world – their world – with intellectual integrity, ethical passion and spiritual power, a Judaism Since its establishment in July 2013, The Covenant & Conversation Trust has neither intimidated by the world sought to advance the vision, mission and nor dismissive of it, a Judaism fully teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. expressive of the broad horizons and high ideals of our heritage. There is These are based on the articulation and promotion of a Judaism of both Torah v’Chokhmah (Torah and Wisdom), no contradiction, not even a conflict, one that is connected to its rich heritage and engaged between contributing to humanity with the challenges and opportunities presented by the and affirming our distinctive identity. modern world. To the contrary: by being what only we are, we contribute to the world what only we can give. Over the past year, The Covenant & Conversation To make Judaism’s classical texts more accessible Trust has focused its work 1 and engaging – Rabbi Sacks as a Teacher of Torah “In the twenty-first century, Jews will and Rabbi Sacks’ activities need the world, and the world will around three broad aims: need the Jews. We will not win the

respect of the world if we ourselves To demonstrate the contribution of Jewish thought do not respect the world: if we look 2 and ethical values to wider society, including down on non-Jews and on Jews less academia – Rabbi Sacks as a Moral Voice religious than ourselves. Nor will we win the respect of the world if we do not respect ourselves and our To embed the values of Torah v’Chokhmah in the hearts 3 and minds of future generations of Jewish leaders own distinctive identity. Now more Taken from ‘A Judaism Engaged with the World’ , a short worldwide – Rabbi Sacks as a Leader of Leaders than ever the time has come for us to pamphlet written by Rabbi Sacks in June 2013 sought to set out the engage with the world as Jews, and we global challenges facing Judaism will find that our own world of mind and the Jewish people, and what he believed needed to be done to help and spirit will be enlarged. address them.

annual review 5774 • 2013 – 2014 A RENOWNED TEACHER OF TORAH

In conversation with Professor Fania Oz-Salzberger Receiving Bar Ilan University’s Guardian of Zion and Yonatan Ariel, Jerusalem Award from Mrs Ingeborg Rennert, Jerusalem

Teaching students at Yeshiva University, New York Internationally renowned as one of the pre-eminent teachers of Torah and faith, Rabbi Sacks continues to demonstrate an ability to articulate Judaism in a way that successfully holds in balance the universal demands of the modern, multicultural world with the particularism associated with it.

With Lady Elaine Sacks meeting President Shimon Peres, Jerusalem Teaching America (across the New Council’s Modern Jewish This year, for the first York area, New Jersey, Los Thought and Experience time, Rabbi Sacks’ Angeles, Dallas), Israel Dorot Foundation Award. “Your Torah opens minds weekly Covenant & (Jerusalem, Herzliya, and hearts in ways that I find deeply inspiring.” Conversation series, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, Beit This year has also seen Jeff Swartz, founder of The read by communities Shemesh) and elsewhere Rabbi Sacks awarded Timberland Company and thousands of email (Madrid). He has also The Katz Prize for subscribers in over 100 maintained a prominent “contributions to the countries, has been profile within the Jewish practical analysis and translated into Hebrew media, including feature application of halakha and Portuguese opening interviews in: in modern life” and “There are many faiths, many religions in the world and we admire them all. up new audience to his The Times of Israel , The Guardian of Zion Aval zeh shelanu. But this is ours. Let us be strong in our faith, walk tall as Jews, teachings. His formal Tablet Magazine , Award for “contributions feel joy as Jews, and go forth from this gathering and bring pride to the Jewish people academic teaching as the The Jerusalem Post , to Diaspora Jewish life”. and blessings to the world.” Rabbi Sacks at AJC Global Forum, Washington D.C., May 2014 Kressel and Ephrat Family The N.J. Jewish Standard , University Professor of The L.A. Jewish Journal . Jewish Thought at Yeshiva Receiving The Katz Award, Jerusalem University has also Writing allowed him to engage In partnership with Koren with one of the world’s Publishers and to much Learn More foremost Jewish academic acclaim, his most recent READ: Covenant & institutions. book The Great Partnership: Conversation 5774 on God, Science and the Leadership click for more Addressing the Pardes community in the Singing with The Shabbaton Choir at Speaking Search for Meaning was Pardes Beit Midrash, Jerusalem Harkham Hillel Academy, Los Angeles Rabbi Sacks continues translated into Ivrit, and Watch: Kiddush Hashem Addressing high school students, Dallas to be a popular public the Koren-Sacks Pesach in a Complicated World speaker and Shabbat Machzor was named click for more “I, an atheist (not by choice), find your Divrei Torah very scholar-in-residence, the 2013 winner of the grounding. They’re literally my last connection to religious Listen: The Seven Principles Judaism ... Your Divrei Torah are clear, to the point, aren’t and has taught Torah in American Jewish Book to Inner Happiness shrouded in unnecessary mysticism, and offer lessons that even click for more a lowly atheist can appreciate.” Email FROM a US based subscriber annual review 5774 • 2013 – 2014 A RESPECTED MORAL VOICE

Delivering The Erasmus Lecture for In conversation with New York University’s Vice Provost for First Things, New York Global Student Leadership Initiatives Melody Barnes, New York As a respected religious leader, public intellectual, academic scholar and popular communicator, Rabbi Sacks’ voice is one that resonates beyond the Jewish community, demonstrating the positive impact that Judaism, the Judeo-Christian ethic, and faith in general can have on individuals and the global society.

Broadcasting on Being interviewed by CNN International’s Chief International Receiving The Becket Fund’s Canterbury Medal BBC Radio, London Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, London from Professor Robert George, New York Keynote Lectures Judeo Christian Ethic in in the House of Lords , Over the past year Rabbi the 21st Century’ and ‘To most recently speaking on “Deep down in this Judeo-Christian heritage is the astonishing idea that the free God Sacks has delivered Heal a Fractured World: a debate about religious seeks the free worship of free human beings. The fact that God asks us to create, sustain, several major lectures The Challenge of Faith in freedom . about Judaism and faith to the 21st Century’. and celebrate freedom tells us something very deep indeed. It tells us that more than we predominantly non-Jewish In May 2014, and in have faith in God, God has faith in us. And let us honour that faith.” audiences. These have Academic Teaching recognition of his many Rabbi Sacks on receiving The Canterbury Medal, New York, May 2014 included: on the subject In late 2013 Rabbi Sacks years of work as a voice of interfaith dialogue was appointed the Ira and of faith in the public at The Universidad Ingeborg Rennert Global square, Rabbi Sacks was “No one has articulated the Francisco de Vitoria, a Distinguished Professor awarded The Canterbury Judeo-Christian proposition of Catholic university in of Judaic Thought at Medal by The Becket the Bible more clearly, more ably, more forcefully, or more Madrid; the prestigious New York University , and Fund for Religious Liberty, persuasively than Rabbi Lord Erasmus Lecture for Professor of Law, Ethics America’s leading religious Sacks.” Professor Robert First Things, America’s and the Bible at King’s law firm, at a gala dinner George, Princeton University most influential journal College London . Those in New York. of religion and public life, academic appointments on what Christianity can included teaching and learn from Judaism about other public engagements Learn More being a creative minority; on campus in New York READ: In Defence of Religious an address on ‘Religion and and London respectively. Liberty the Common Good’ at The click for more Agora Institute for Civic Public voice Addressing students at The Agora Institute for Virtue and the Common Rabbi Sacks continues to Watch: Dignifying Difference: Civic Virtue and the Common Good, Philadelphia The Next Generation of Good at Eastern University; broadcast widely, including Multifaith Leadership and as the Eugene on BBC Radio and other click for more “He is not only a scholar, whose scholarly credentials are McDermott Lecturer at media outlets such as CNN impeccable, and also a leading public intellectual, who has Listen: The Relevance of the the University of Dallas on International . He has transcended the distinction between a scholar on the one Bible for Law and Ethics in ‘The Future of Faith: The also maintained a presence hand and a public communicator on the other. He is faithful to Society Today click for more scholarship and specialised knowledge at the same time.” With His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s College London the Archbishop of New York, New York annual review 5774 • 2013 – 2014 “There is no more important a message, nor one that resonates so deeply for a younger generation, than one which frames a vital expression of Jewish identity and practice as one that is deeply A GLOBAL JEWISH LEADER engaged with the world and in building bridges amongst its peoples. Thank you for sharing this powerful call to action with our young leadership.” Alexis Frankel, Director of AJC ACCESS With participants on The Jewish Agency’s Machon Leadership Programme, Jerusalem

Addressing participants at the Jewish Federation of Rabbi Sacks’ position as a recognised leader of the Jewish North America’s General Assembly, Jerusalem people has resulted in the development of a number of strategic partnerships with major Jewish organisations, especially in Israel and America. The primary focus of these partnerships has been on engaging the next generation of leaders.

Webinar with members of JerusalemU’s CORE 18 Leadership Programme, London Leadership Federations of North training the next leaders In all this activity, Rabbi America’s General of Israeli society; and “Never did I imagine that Sacks’ central message has Assembly in Israel; The Reut Institute , Israel’s studying a Jewish text with promoted a Judaism that Keren Hayesod’s leading think tank, on the a Rabbi could be such an seeks to bridge the growing International Leadership challenges facing Israel profound and potentially life divide between religious Reunion Conference in internally as well as the changing experience.” and secular by deepening Madrid; The American Jewish people. Rabbi A secular israeli businessman its rich heritage and Jewish Committee’s Global Sacks’ advice has also been connecting it to the world. Forum in Washington sought on major initiatives This has been reflected D.C.; and The Joint in Israel including: the in this year’s Covenant Distribution Committee’s development of the & Conversation series centennial celebrations in National Library ; focused on leadership Israel. Other partnerships the strengthening of lessons from Torah and have developed with The Israel-Diaspora relations what it means to lead Wexner Foundation and and Jewish education; Speaking to Natan Sharansky and the senior in a Jewish way. These Hillel among others. and the future of The leadership of The Jewish Agency, Jerusalem essays have been used as Jewish Agency. Addressing delegates at The educational material by Israel American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum, Washington D.C. leadership development In Israel, Rabbi Sacks has organisations in Israel, worked with a number America and beyond. of key groups, including: Learn More

Gesher, an organisation READ: Seven Principles of Jewish Leadership At the Reut Institute with Dana Somberg, Speaking dedicated to closing the gap Avraham Infeld, Rabbi Sacks, Gidi Grinstein, Rabbi Sacks has also between secular, religious click for more Speaking to civic and business leaders, Tel Aviv Amb. Matthew Gould engaged with key and ultra-Orthodox Jews in watch: The State of the leadership groups, Israel; the Interdisciplinary Jewish World Address “Judaism is a religion of doing, and what we do together is greater than any of us addressing major Jewish Center in Herzliya, an click for more could do alone. That is the challenge of leadership. Jews dared believe that together, organisational gatherings important academic Listen: Vision-Driven and with heaven’s help, we can change the world. Daring greatly makes us great. including: The Jewish institution engaged in Leadership There is no other way.” Rabbi Sacks in his introductory essay to Covenant & Conversation click for more 5774’s series on Leadership annual review 5774 • 2013 – 2014 A worldwide online footprint FUTURE Plans

Website visits from October 2013 – July 2014 In addition to the broader aims outlined www.rabbisacks.org earlier, some specific aims for 5775 include:

• Continue to engage meaningfully with organisations and groups involved in leadership development and/or Jewish education from across the religious spectrum, predominantly focused in America and 22,500 UK 12,000 Israel but not exclusively. Rest of Europe 95,000 North America 19,500 4,300 • in 5775, each of Rabbi Sacks’ Covenant & Israel Asia Conversation commentary essays on the 4,200 Africa weekly Torah portion will be themed on ethics. This focus will be carried through a selection of academic teaching engagements. 4,000 south America 7,100 • Re-establish a presence as a public voice within Australasia British society in an impactful and appropriate manner, utilising Rabbi Sacks’ established position as a voice of authority on issues of faith in the public square, democratic values, and morality.

PODcasts Website content Range of visitors • increase Rabbi Sacks’ profile within wider American society. This will focus predominantly 100,000 420,000 176 downloads page views countries on written pieces in national newspapers and Subscribe other publications.

• Continue to ensure Rabbi Sacks has dedicated time Twitter Facebook Weekly Email to produce the vital and important written work so

16,500 8,500 14,000 commonly associated with him. followers friends subscribers

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The PO Box 72007 T +44 (0)20 7286 6391 www.rabbisacks.org “The output from the website is amazing as far as quantity and quality.” Covenant & London [email protected] @rabbisacks Conversation Dr Robert Sreter, Israel trust nw6 6rw

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