The sanctity of marriage, the need for sexual restraint, and the responsibilities of parenthood, especially fatherhood, will be recovered, because there are in our midst [religious] communities that have done their best to preserve them, at the very least as ideals.
Jonathan Sacks
The Sanctity of Marriage
Topic: Family & Friendship
“At some stage it will begin to dawn on thoughtful people that what we are doing to our children by the deconstruction of marriage is harmful, irresponsible and ultimately unconscionable. The sanctity of marriage, the need for sexual restraint, and the responsibilities of parenthood, especially fatherhood, will be recovered, because there are in our midst [religious] communities that have done their best to preserve them, at the very least as ideals. That is the power of tradition in an untraditional age and religion in a secular society.”
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.
The Home We Build Together
Sacks, Jonathan. The Home We Build Together: Recreating Society. Continuum, 2009, p. 216 [Jonathan Sacks, The Home We Build Together (Chapter 18)].
Jonathan Sacks
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Families Are the Crucible of Our Humanity
Human parenthood is a massive commitment… marriage and its attendant sanctions – the sacredness of the marriage ceremony, social disapproval of infidelity – are crucial to its success. In return, the societal gain is vast. It means that adult males [fathers] share in the work of raising the next generation…. Together, fathers and mothers enable their children to understand the difference between the sexes, their distinctive cognitive and affective styles, and thus develop emotional intelligence.
Families are the crucible of our humanity. They are the miniature world in which we learn how to face the wider world. Strong families beget strong individuals, people able to confront the future without fear. Fractured or unstable families beget individuals not fully at home in the world. They grow up angry or anxious, aggressive of defensive, not at peace with others or themselves. For good or bad, the family is the seedbed of the future. Stability and love are its sun and rain. It is the best way we have yet found of replacing insecurity with trust and making love the generative principle of life.
–Jonathan Sacks [Celebrating Life: Finding Happiness in Unexpected Places, Chapter 28, Fractured Families] pp. 94-95