The Rabbi Sacks Legacy The Pursuit of Meaning (Rabbi Sacks on Vayikra, Covenant & Conversation)
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Mar 17, 2026 A thoughtful exploration of the difference between fleeting happiness and lasting meaning. Reflections on how suffering can reveal purpose and Viktor Frankl’s lesson from Auschwitz. Discussion of unique personal callings, biblical examples of being summoned, and how vocation often requires sacrifice. Practical guidance on finding where your desires meet the world’s needs.
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Meaning Is Distinct From Happiness
- Meaning differs from happiness as purpose over time rather than present feeling.
- Rabbi Jonathan Sacks contrasts happiness (satisfying needs) with meaning (giving and judging life as a whole).
Viktor Frankl's Auschwitz Lesson
- Viktor Frankl used his Auschwitz experience to show meaning sustained survival under extreme suffering.
- He helped prisoners live by giving them future-oriented reasons like a child or unwritten books to continue living.
Ask What Life Wants From You
- Frankl reframed the question from what we want to what life wants from us, implying unique tasks tied to our gifts and circumstances.
- Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains each person has a tikkun only they can perform based on timing and situation.
