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Lord Sacks: the two sides of the chief rabbi Lord Sacks: the two sides of the chief rabbi
(25 days later)
The chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, stands down from his post at the end of the month. Since taking up the role in 1991, he has been a popular figure on the national stage and an effective ambassador for British Jewry as well as for his beloved Arsenal football club. Speaking of his "distinguished tenure as chief rabbi", the Prince of Wales commented that "it is a very sad moment for many us who have grown to value and admire the truly extraordinary contribution to our national life over the past 22 years". He took up office just after the beginning of the Gulf war and has steered his Orthodox community through increasingly troubled times in the Middle East. During this insecure period he has provided a focus of pride for British Jewry. This is no small thing.The chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, stands down from his post at the end of the month. Since taking up the role in 1991, he has been a popular figure on the national stage and an effective ambassador for British Jewry as well as for his beloved Arsenal football club. Speaking of his "distinguished tenure as chief rabbi", the Prince of Wales commented that "it is a very sad moment for many us who have grown to value and admire the truly extraordinary contribution to our national life over the past 22 years". He took up office just after the beginning of the Gulf war and has steered his Orthodox community through increasingly troubled times in the Middle East. During this insecure period he has provided a focus of pride for British Jewry. This is no small thing.
But his public image belies a more complex character, often seen as too much under the thumb of the Orthodox right. Perhaps his least attractive side was revealed in his refusal to attend the funeral of the widely popular Rabbi Hugo Gryn. Unwilling to dignify a Reform event with his presence, he agreed to attend a memorial service in recognition of his fellow Radio 4-er "not as a Reform rabbi but as a survivor of the Holocaust". Being a member of the Reform movement, Rabbi Gryn was a part of a "false grouping" and one of "those who destroy the faith", Lord Sacks wrote in subsequently leaked private correspondence. Reform rabbis reacted angrily: "It seems that, constantly, the chief rabbinate is forced into two conversations, embodying two sets of language and two messages tailored to the respective recipients."But his public image belies a more complex character, often seen as too much under the thumb of the Orthodox right. Perhaps his least attractive side was revealed in his refusal to attend the funeral of the widely popular Rabbi Hugo Gryn. Unwilling to dignify a Reform event with his presence, he agreed to attend a memorial service in recognition of his fellow Radio 4-er "not as a Reform rabbi but as a survivor of the Holocaust". Being a member of the Reform movement, Rabbi Gryn was a part of a "false grouping" and one of "those who destroy the faith", Lord Sacks wrote in subsequently leaked private correspondence. Reform rabbis reacted angrily: "It seems that, constantly, the chief rabbinate is forced into two conversations, embodying two sets of language and two messages tailored to the respective recipients."
What is especially troubling about this side of Lord Sacks is that it appears to be so out of kilter with his public pronouncements and philosophy. Antisemitism, he has argued, is fundamentally "dislike of the unlike". Jews "insisted on the right to be different" and that is what has made antisemitism the world's oldest hatred. Thus the necessity of recognising "The Dignity of Difference", the title of his most successful and controversial book. Controversial because, in its first edition, it claimed "God has spoken to mankind in many languages: through Judaism to Jews, Christianity to Christians, and Islam to Muslims". Following publication, he was summoned to a gathering of 20 fellow Orthodox rabbis in Manchester, who duly charged him with heresy and called for a retraction. A second edition was published with the offending passages redacted. Unconvincingly, Lord Sacks called it a "clarification" rather than a retraction.What is especially troubling about this side of Lord Sacks is that it appears to be so out of kilter with his public pronouncements and philosophy. Antisemitism, he has argued, is fundamentally "dislike of the unlike". Jews "insisted on the right to be different" and that is what has made antisemitism the world's oldest hatred. Thus the necessity of recognising "The Dignity of Difference", the title of his most successful and controversial book. Controversial because, in its first edition, it claimed "God has spoken to mankind in many languages: through Judaism to Jews, Christianity to Christians, and Islam to Muslims". Following publication, he was summoned to a gathering of 20 fellow Orthodox rabbis in Manchester, who duly charged him with heresy and called for a retraction. A second edition was published with the offending passages redacted. Unconvincingly, Lord Sacks called it a "clarification" rather than a retraction.
It would have been better had Lord Sacks stuck to his guns. It was another pickle created by the perceived need to juggle various audiences at the same time and an unwillingness to upset his more conservative colleagues. In this regard, he handled the job in a similar way to that of his fellow beardy and academic, Lord Williams. On lesbian and gay inclusion, Lord Sacks spoke out against equal marriage despite the fact that, as research conducted by YouGov for the Westminster Faith Debates has suggested, British Jews are now in favour of allowing same-sex marriage by roughly the same percentage as the population at large. Indeed, the chief rabbi is chosen by Orthodox synagogues that represent just over half of the roughly 75% of those British Jews who attend synagogue. He certainly doesn't speak for all.It would have been better had Lord Sacks stuck to his guns. It was another pickle created by the perceived need to juggle various audiences at the same time and an unwillingness to upset his more conservative colleagues. In this regard, he handled the job in a similar way to that of his fellow beardy and academic, Lord Williams. On lesbian and gay inclusion, Lord Sacks spoke out against equal marriage despite the fact that, as research conducted by YouGov for the Westminster Faith Debates has suggested, British Jews are now in favour of allowing same-sex marriage by roughly the same percentage as the population at large. Indeed, the chief rabbi is chosen by Orthodox synagogues that represent just over half of the roughly 75% of those British Jews who attend synagogue. He certainly doesn't speak for all.
So, for instance, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, the chief rabbi for the Reform movement, commented diplomatically: "It has been an honour to represent British Jewry alongside Lord Sacks. He articulated the position of Orthodox Judaism with dignity and erudition. However, it is wrong to assume that he reflects the views of the majority of Jews in Britain, who are aligned with the general population in supporting complete gender equality and the diversity of family life including LGBT families and individuals."So, for instance, Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner, the chief rabbi for the Reform movement, commented diplomatically: "It has been an honour to represent British Jewry alongside Lord Sacks. He articulated the position of Orthodox Judaism with dignity and erudition. However, it is wrong to assume that he reflects the views of the majority of Jews in Britain, who are aligned with the general population in supporting complete gender equality and the diversity of family life including LGBT families and individuals."
Lord Sacks's mellifluous voice may have charmed millions. But he was unable convincingly to explain why the dignity of difference does not also mean the dignity of diversity.Lord Sacks's mellifluous voice may have charmed millions. But he was unable convincingly to explain why the dignity of difference does not also mean the dignity of diversity.
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