I sum up the Jewish imperative, very simply―and it has been like this since the days of Abraham: to be true to your faith is a blessing to others regardless of their faith.

Jonathan Sacks

A Blessing to Others

Topic: Interfaith Pathways

By being what only I can be, I give humanity what only I can give. It is my uniqueness that allows me to contribute something unique to the universal heritage of humankind. I sum up the Jewish imperative, very simply―and it has been like this since the days of Abraham: to be true to your faith is a blessing to others regardless of their faith. That’s the big paradox when you really reach the very depth of particularity.

Jonathan Sacks

Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks, was born on March 8, 1948, in Lambeth, London. He became a notable British Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, author, and politician. From 1991 to 2013, he served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, playing a pivotal role in guiding and representing Jewish communities across the region.

Beyond his leadership in the Jewish community, Sacks was deeply passionate about character education, morality, and the importance of family. He frequently emphasized the role of ethical teachings in forming well-rounded individuals and believed in the necessity of strong family bonds for a stable society. An accomplished author, his books often explored the intersections of faith, morality, and contemporary challenges, aiming to make religious insights relevant to a wide audience. These works not only resonated within religious circles but also found acclaim in academic and political spheres due to their timely and profound insights.

Sacks passed away on November 7, 2020, in London. His legacy, marked by interfaith dialogue, advocacy for character education, and a steadfast commitment to the Jewish community, continues to inspire many. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Taylor Sacks, whom he married in 1970.

(1948-2020) Judaism
Enriched by Difference

Tippett, Krista. Becoming Wise: an Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. Penguin Books, 2017. Pages 188-190.

Jonathan Sacks

Theme: Interfaith Dialogue

About This Jonathan Sacks Quotation [Commentary]

Lord Jonathan Sacks expresses a timeless principle in his statement: “to be true to your faith is a blessing to others regardless of their faith.” He emphasizes that the Jewish imperative, rooted in Abraham’s teachings, calls for a form of religious fidelity that benefits the wider community. For Sacks, being authentic to one’s spiritual heritage not only enriches the individual but also contributes positively to the lives of those from different faiths, creating a shared sense of blessing.

In the context of interfaith dialogue, Sacks challenges the idea that religious particularity leads to division. Instead, he argues that the depth of one’s religious commitment can enhance understanding and appreciation of others’ beliefs. The uniqueness of each faith tradition, he suggests, is not a barrier but a source of universal enrichment. By embracing these differences, we add something valuable to the collective spiritual heritage of humanity, fostering a spirit of openness in interfaith interactions.

Sacks also cautions against limiting our understanding of God to any single religious framework. He reminds us that God’s presence can be found in unexpected places and through people of various faiths. This perspective encourages believers to recognize the sacred in all traditions, understanding that true spirituality is inclusive rather than exclusive. Sacks advocates for a religious life that, while deeply rooted in its own tradition, serves as a blessing to all, promoting mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose across different faiths.

Jonathan Sacks with Krista Tippett (Excerpt)

JS— The Bible is saying to us the whole time: Don’t think that God is as simple as you are. He’s in places you would never expect him to be. And you know, we lose a bit of that in English translation. When Moses at the burning bush says to God, “Who are you?” God says to him three words: “Hayah asher hayah.” Those words are mistranslated in English as “I am that which I am.” But in Hebrew, it means “I will be who or how or where I will be,” meaning, Don’t think you can predict me. I am a God who is going to surprise you. One of the ways God surprises us is by letting a Jew or a Christian discover the trace of God’s presence in a Buddhist monk, or a Sikh tradition of hospitality, or the graciousness of Hindu life. Don’t think we can confine God into our categories. God is bigger than religion.

KT—Although at the same time as you say that God is bigger than religion—and I think this is an “and” for you and not a “but”—there is also a special relationship that is evidenced in those texts and a covenant that is particular to the Jewish people. So even as you honor the dignity of difference in the contemporary world, you are upholding the dignity of particularity.

JS—By being what only I can be, I give humanity what only I can give. It is my uniqueness that allows me to contribute something unique to the universal heritage of humankind. I sum up the Jewish imperative, very simply—and it has been like this since the days of Abraham: to be true to your faith and a blessing to others regardless of their faith. That’s the big paradox when you really reach the very depth of particularity.

—Tippett, Krista. “Enriched by Difference―Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.” On Being with Krista Tippett, The On Being Project, 10 June 2016, onbeing.org/blog/enriched-by-difference-rabbi-jonathan-sacks/.

Lord Jonathan Sacks Awarded The Templeton Prize

The Templeton Prize ceremony honoring Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was held at Central Hall Westminster on May 26, 2016. In his remarks that evening, Rabbi Lord Sacks said:

“You can’t outsource conscience. You can’t delegate moral responsibility away. When you do, you raise expectations that cannot be met. And when, inevitably, they are not met, society becomes freighted with disappointment, anger, fear, resentment and blame. People start to take refuge in magical thinking, which today takes one of four forms: the far right, the far left, religious extremism and aggressive secularism. The far right seeks a return to a golden past that never was. The far left seeks a utopian future that will never be. Religious extremists believe you can bring salvation by terror. Aggressive secularists believe that if you get rid of religion there will be peace. These are all fantasies, and pursuing them will endanger the very foundations of freedom.

“If we continue to forget that a free society is a moral achievement that depends on habits of responsibility and restraint,” he continued, “then what will come next…will be neither liberal nor democratic, and it will certainly not be free. We need to restate the moral and spiritual dimensions in the language of the twenty-first century, using the media of the twenty-first century, and in ways that are uniting rather than divisive.”

—Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks [2016 Templeton Prize Ceremony (May 26, 2016)].

A Blessing to Others

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