Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science

Rabbi and Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020) was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. Although he was recognized as the spiritual head of the United Synagogue, the largest synagogue body in the United Kingdom, his authority was not recognized by the...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
Format: Article
Language:ces
Published: Kulturní studia 2023-05-01
Series:Kulturní Studia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://kulturnistudia.cz/rabbi-jonathan-sacks-religious-pluralism-and-the-partnership-of-religion-and-science/
_version_ 1797810747874476032
author Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
author_facet Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
author_sort Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
collection DOAJ
description Rabbi and Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020) was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. Although he was recognized as the spiritual head of the United Synagogue, the largest synagogue body in the United Kingdom, his authority was not recognized by the Haredi Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, or by non-Orthodox Jewish congregations that belong to Masorti, Reform and Liberal Judaism. Although his authority was limited, Rabbi Sacks was a highly influential public intellectual of global renown and impact. Writing to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, Rabbi Sacks articulated his views on a range of existential problems and challenges, including the breakdown of the family, religious violence, the loss meaning and the rise of despair, political polarization, and climate change. While speaking in a particularly Jewish idiom and from a Judaic perspective, Rabbi Sacks became a spiritual guide to millions of people worldwide who appreciated his wisdom and the wisdom of Judaism. His contribution to the spiritual dimension of human life was formally recognized in 2016 when he received the Templeton Prize for his life-long contribution to humanity. This essay explores the relationship between Rabbi Sacks’ approach to religious pluralism and his contribution to the dialogue of religion and science. The essay argues that Rabbi Sacks was a post-secular thinker who offered a distinctly Judaic approach to humanity’s current challenges. By “universalizing particularity,” as Rabbi Sacks defined his own project, Rabbi Sacks sought to prevent the clash of civilizations and to heal our divided world.
first_indexed 2024-03-13T07:13:30Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f0992e357ac04cf09ebfcc280869cbed
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2336-2766
language ces
last_indexed 2024-03-13T07:13:30Z
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher Kulturní studia
record_format Article
series Kulturní Studia
spelling doaj.art-f0992e357ac04cf09ebfcc280869cbed2023-06-05T17:11:20ZcesKulturní studiaKulturní Studia2336-27662023-05-011202332410.7160/KS.2023.200101Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and ScienceHava Tirosh-Samuelson0Center for Jewish Studies, Coor Hall 4466, Arizona State University,Tempe, AZ, USARabbi and Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948-2020) was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013. Although he was recognized as the spiritual head of the United Synagogue, the largest synagogue body in the United Kingdom, his authority was not recognized by the Haredi Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, or by non-Orthodox Jewish congregations that belong to Masorti, Reform and Liberal Judaism. Although his authority was limited, Rabbi Sacks was a highly influential public intellectual of global renown and impact. Writing to Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, Rabbi Sacks articulated his views on a range of existential problems and challenges, including the breakdown of the family, religious violence, the loss meaning and the rise of despair, political polarization, and climate change. While speaking in a particularly Jewish idiom and from a Judaic perspective, Rabbi Sacks became a spiritual guide to millions of people worldwide who appreciated his wisdom and the wisdom of Judaism. His contribution to the spiritual dimension of human life was formally recognized in 2016 when he received the Templeton Prize for his life-long contribution to humanity. This essay explores the relationship between Rabbi Sacks’ approach to religious pluralism and his contribution to the dialogue of religion and science. The essay argues that Rabbi Sacks was a post-secular thinker who offered a distinctly Judaic approach to humanity’s current challenges. By “universalizing particularity,” as Rabbi Sacks defined his own project, Rabbi Sacks sought to prevent the clash of civilizations and to heal our divided world.https://kulturnistudia.cz/rabbi-jonathan-sacks-religious-pluralism-and-the-partnership-of-religion-and-science/science and religionrabbi samson raphael hirschtorah im derekh eretzneo-orthodoxyuniversalismparticularismpluralismmulticulturalism
spellingShingle Hava Tirosh-Samuelson
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
Kulturní Studia
science and religion
rabbi samson raphael hirsch
torah im derekh eretz
neo-orthodoxy
universalism
particularism
pluralism
multiculturalism
title Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
title_full Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
title_fullStr Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
title_full_unstemmed Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
title_short Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Religious Pluralism and the Partnership of Religion and Science
title_sort rabbi jonathan sacks religious pluralism and the partnership of religion and science
topic science and religion
rabbi samson raphael hirsch
torah im derekh eretz
neo-orthodoxy
universalism
particularism
pluralism
multiculturalism
url https://kulturnistudia.cz/rabbi-jonathan-sacks-religious-pluralism-and-the-partnership-of-religion-and-science/
work_keys_str_mv AT havatiroshsamuelson rabbijonathansacksreligiouspluralismandthepartnershipofreligionandscience