A Riveting Quote from Jonathan Sacks

One of my favorite people on the planet to read is Jonathan Sacks. Sacks is the Chief Rabbi of England and one of those individuals who have significantly helped me understand the biblical text and our calling in the world. I was introduced to his writings in seminary when we were required to read for our ethics class, The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid a Clash of Civilizations. Ever since day one, I have been blown away by this man’s insights. He is absolutely brilliant. Not only is he a phenomenal scholar, but also incredibly accessible. I often get lost in all the scholarly jargon, so to have someone who can take a difficult concept and put it into plain words is truly a gift I greatly appreciate.

To get my weekly dose of Rabbi Sacks, I am subscribed to Covenant & Conversation, his weekly article on the Torah portion for the week, and inevitably I glean something incredibly significant from each article. If you are interested in subscribing as well, click Here. If you would like to access the archives and other articles, click Here.

Last night I began, To Heal a Fractured World, and I came across one of those riveting quotes that you simply have to share because it is remarkable and challenging and compelling and you want as many people as possible to read it. I hope it stirs you as much as it stirred me (and you may have to reread it several times – it’s that good). Enjoy!

“We are here to make a difference, to mend the fractures of the world, a day at a time, an act at a time, for as long as it takes to make it a place of justice and compassion where the lonely are not alone, the poor not without help; where the cry of the vulnerable is heeded and those who are wronged are heard. ‘Someone else's physical needs are my spiritual obligation’, a Jewish mystic taught. The truths of religion are exalted, but its duties are close at hand. We know God less by contemplation than by emulation. The choice is not between ‘faith’ and ‘deeds’, for it is by our deeds that we express our faith and make it real in the life of others and the world.”

[Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, To Heal a Fractured World, pg. 5].

Permalink Wednesday, 8 Feb 2012

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