Emerging from Crisis, Stronger - with Rabbi Sacks
Five years since his untimely passing, reflections on an engaging and inspiring conversation, one of Rabbi Sacks' last interviews, recorded in a different time but with much to teach us today.
I was undoubtedly nervous, perhaps it shows on the rewatch.
It was April 2020, and much of the world was in lockdown. The word of the day was ‘pivot’. Everyone was coming to terms with the new world ushered in by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. While my wife and I tried to get our kids used to distance-learning by day, by night our educational organization, StandWithUs, pivoted to online teaching.
Fast forward to today, and we are lucky enough to have a beautiful TV studio at the StandWithUs Katz Education Center in Jerusalem. But back then, even if we had such a venue, I would not have been allowed to travel there and so I presented daily interviews from home - praying that the internet connection would hold and trying to master the (then-new) Zoom software that now is commonplace.
And as we approached Passover, we wanted an extra-special guest: Britain’s former Chief Rabbi and global thought leader Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. The world has moved on now, but back then, things looked pretty bleak. Indeed, the UK Jewish community was among the hardest-hit ethnic and religious groups in the early phase of the pandemic. My home community, where I was born and raised, was one of the hardest hit.
Across Britain, over 150 Jews had died due to Covid-related symptoms - Purim gatherings, it seems, which took place before the British lockdowns were in place, were part of that. The Office for National Statistics later confirmed that Jewish communities had some of the highest early mortality rates among religious groups.
So by Passover 2020, for the first time since WWII in Britain, and for the first time in a long time globally, many synagogues had shut entirely and people around the world were facing Seder night with just their core family, or in many cases, completely alone.
Against this backdrop, we hosted Rabbi Sacks. As I began my introduction, looking down the barrel of the webcam and praying that the live broadcast was working, I was soon lost in the inspiring nature of the conversation. On the other end of line was a beaming Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Tieless and tireless, he engaged on multiple issues: resilience during a crisis, bereavement, fighting antisemitism, self-interest versus the common good, whether miracles exist today, the centrality of Israel to Judaism, and so much more.
Sadly, this ended up being among the last interviews that Rabbi Sacks did, as he tragically passed away just half a year later. It was, I believe, such an important conversation, that I am reproducing it here for you to watch (link above) and listen to (podcast link below).
As I write, five years have now passed since we lost Rabbi Sacks. Who could have known at the time what dark days still lay ahead for the Jewish people just a few years later? (His youngest daughter, Gila Sacks, gave an electrifying speech on how Rabbi Sacks might have responded to the events of October 7, 2023, - I have also included it below.)
And so, here is the interview in full. I believe much of the wisdom Rabbi Sacks imparted during it still resonates powerfully today as we grapple with the post-October 7, 2023, world. I hope it brings you comfort and strengthens your resilience as well.
May the memory of Rabbi Sacks be a blessing, zecher tzadik livracha.
If you prefer to listen to the interview as a podcast, click below:
Below, just weeks after the terrible events of October 7, 2023, Gila Sacks reflects on how her father might have responded, speaking at the Sacks Conversation hosted by The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, who have done an incredible job of keeping his teachings alive and continuing to impact a global audience. It is a powerful seven-minute reflection, and well worth your time to watch:
I was fortunate to encounter Rabbi Sacks in many ways. From my youth as a madrich in Bnei Akiva in the UK to being appointed to its Mazkirut, Executive, including co-organizing its ‘National Weekend’, where Rabbi Sacks famously led a throng of 1,000 in Jewish singing and dancing while standing on his chair - and with multiple further interactions throughout my career at StandWithUs.
Later, when I was writing my own book, ISResilience: What Israelis Can Teach the World, I asked Rabbi Sacks for an endorsement, which he kindly gave. It appears on the book’s front cover. He said:
“The extraordinary resilience of the Jewish people in the face of adversity through every generation since Moses is one of the keys to our collective identity and sense of purpose. This idea is beautifully captured by Michael Dickson and Dr. Naomi Baum in ISResilience through a series of inspiring stories that demonstrate the power of the modern State of Israel, not just as a country or as the homeland of the Jewish people, but as a shining example of resilience for the world.”
One of the most meaningful moments for me after publishing the book was seeing my youngest daughter tucked up in bed reading it. I have had many conversations with my kids since about the incredible Israelis that we profile in the book and their stories, each of which is emblematic of the innate resilience of the Jewish State. If you know someone who might be inspired by its story, consider ordering a copy for them.
May we all continue to have faith in the future and emerge from adversity even stronger and more resilient.
Oh, and one more thing: I’m writing this on Giving Tuesday, the international day of unity and giving and so if you appreciate the work of StandWithUs, fighting antisemitism and supporting Israel around the world, then please take a moment to donate to keep that work strong. Thanks to generous supporters, every donation you make today will be matched and doubled. Thank you for standing with us!
