The Rabbi Sacks Legacy
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Follow the audio shiurim, lectures and speeches of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, global religious leader, philosopher, author of over 30 books and moral voice for our time. Rabbi Sacks served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth between September 1991 and September 2013. A full biography - together with an extensive online archive of Rabbi Sacks' work - is available at www.rabbisacks.org or you can follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @rabbisacks.
Episodes
Mentioned books
20 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 41min
From the Archives: A Pesach Shiur by Rabbi Sacks | From Freedom to Responsibility (March 2013)
A pre-Pesach shiur exploring layered readings of Torah and a counter-narrative to Exodus. Literary parallels between Creation and the Mishkan are traced, with emphasis on numeric patterns and doublings. The talk moves from divine action to human partnership, arguing for freedom matured into law-based responsibility and communal civic duty.
12 snips
Mar 24, 2026 • 11min
(Violence and the Sacred) Rabbi Sacks on Tzav, Covenant & Conversation
A probing look at why ancient sacrifices existed and how they might channel human violence. The discussion contrasts theories from Albo, Girard, and Ignatieff about meat, murder, and revenge. It explores how ritual, law, and justice interplay to prevent cycles of vengeance and shape communal life.
12 snips
Mar 17, 2026 • 9min
The Pursuit of Meaning (Rabbi Sacks on Vayikra, Covenant & Conversation)
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.
7 snips
Mar 10, 2026 • 14min
The Spirit of Community (Rabbi Sacks on Vayakhel-Pekudei)
A reflection on restoring moral order after a crisis and how ritual rebuilds community. Contrasts two 1831 journeys that reshaped ideas about society. Explores how evolution, religion, and civic habits create social bonds. Shows why shared worship, Sabbath, and the sanctuary forge collective virtue and freedom.
9 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 10min
Between Truth and Peace (Rabbi Sacks on Ki Tissa, Covenant & Conversation)
A meditation on the golden calf story and Aaron’s role in it. Short reflections on competing responses: strict truth versus conciliatory peace. A look at ancient defenses of Aaron and later traditions that recast him as a peacemaker. A discussion about how leadership needs both justice and reconciliation to hold a community together.
4 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 9min
Inspiration and Perspiration (Rabbi Sacks on Tetzaveh, Covenant & Conversation)
Short routines of great artists and thinkers are explored as the soil for creativity. The paradox that genius coexists with repetitive discipline gets highlighted. The talk contrasts brief insights with sustained daily practice and links hard work to spiritual service. Scientific and religious views show how ritual reshapes character and builds resilience.
12 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 8min
The Gift of Giving (Rabbi Sacks on Terumah, Covenant & Conversation)
A reflection on building a sanctuary and the paradox of housing the Divine. Discussions on why sacred space arises from human hearts rather than stone. Exploration of divine contraction making God approachable. A look at giving as a practice that draws the Divine presence close.
13 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 9min
Doing and Hearing (Rabbi Sacks on Mishpatim, Covenant & Conversation)
A reflection on na'aseh v'nishma and what it means to commit before fully understanding. A look at Talmudic and medieval debates about assent and chronology. A modern take that action can precede comprehension in religious life. A proposal of three covenant ratifications and the idea of unified practice with diverse spiritual experiences.
6 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 9min
To Thank Before We Think (Rabbi Sacks on Yitro, Covenant & Conversation)
A reflection on the Ten Commandments as an ancient treaty structure and their grouping into themes of God, creation and society. A focus on why coveting stands apart as an inner, violent force that fuels rivalry and antisemitism. A case for gratitude as the practical antidote to envy, transforming personal life away from competition and consumption.
8 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 10min
Looking Up (Rabbi Sacks on Beshallach, Covenant & Conversation)
A reflection on the Red Sea miracle and the shift from divine rescue to human responsibility. Insights on how leaders uplift morale and shape group emotion. The importance of looking up to sustain hope and guide teams through struggle. Historical and psychological examples tie spiritual vision to practical leadership.
