For obvious reasons, January 2020 feels like a lifetime ago, but I can nevertheless recall with vivid clarity one evening that month when I heard Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks speak at Sephardic Temple. Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, died November 7 at the age of 72 after a struggle with cancer.
I remember him as he appeared in January. Sacks stood before a crowd of 600 people in the temple’s sanctuary. There was an air of privilege permeating the pews, a feeling that we were lucky to be hearing live remarks from one of the world’s most prolific and oratorically gifted Jewish leaders for the synagogue’s centennial celebration.
I was reporting on the evening program for the Jewish Journal. I was typing up key points from my seat when the man next to me asked if I could find another way to take notes, as he couldn’t hear Sacks speak over the sounds of my fingers punching the keys. So I found a pen and began scribbling in my notepad the highlights of the lecture.
Here are some of the points Sacks made:
- The best way to fight anti-Semitism is to wear your identity with pride.
- Israel is the home of the Jewish people, and this is why we must defend the state of Israel.
- Anti-Zionism is one form of the new anti-Semitism.
At Sephardic Temple, Sacks had discussed the challenges facing contemporary Jewish life, from the virus that is anti-Semitism to the miracle that is the State of Israel, speaking eloquently in a soft British accent. But it was his statements about how to live a more enriching Jewish life that have stuck with me.
Speaking persuasively about the power of Shabbat, Sacks said, “Shabbat was made for the twenty-first century,” an effective way to unplug from everyday distractions, whether cable news, Facebook feeds, or dating apps. Sacks also described the Daf Yomi (learning one page of Talmud every day) as an “antithesis to our short attention spans. There’s nothing like it — the Jewish commitment to studying and learning.”
But Rabbi Sacks’ impact on my life extended beyond the one event. During the height of the pandemic, Rabbi Sacks made an unexpected appearance in my apartment and continued to teach me about how to incorporate Judaism in my life more meaningfully.
Our interaction began because COVID-19 left me with much more time at home. With my days lacking the structure they once had, I had taken to praying and wrapping tefillin in the mornings. When I first started wrapping, I wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. Which arm do I wrap? How many times do I wrap around the arm? What to do once I’ve wrapped all the way to my palm?
So I did what any millennial does when he or she is trying to do something new but gotten stuck: I Googled it.
One of the top search results was a Chabad video with step-by-step instructions on how to wrap tefillin. Rabbi Sacks appears in the introduction to the clip, explaining the reasons for wrapping tefillin and citing the “V’ahavta,” which says, “You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart…Take these instructions…Bind them as a sign on your head and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead.”
It was an a-ha moment, the rare instance when I’d seen Jews do something all the time, had done it a few times myself, but had never understood why we do it.
And here was Rabbi Sacks explaining why we do it.
I had learned something, and I had Rabbi Sacks to thank for that. Going forward, I will search for the meaning of why I do things in the name of my faith. Sacks reminded me that sometimes it just takes a teacher — whether educating in-person or from afar — to bring that meaning to light. Sacks was that teacher for many, bringing the joy of Judaism and the promise of deep engagement to each Jew he met.
May his memory be a blessing.
A Teacher from Afar
Ryan Torok
For obvious reasons, January 2020 feels like a lifetime ago, but I can nevertheless recall with vivid clarity one evening that month when I heard Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks speak at Sephardic Temple. Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, died November 7 at the age of 72 after a struggle with cancer.
I remember him as he appeared in January. Sacks stood before a crowd of 600 people in the temple’s sanctuary. There was an air of privilege permeating the pews, a feeling that we were lucky to be hearing live remarks from one of the world’s most prolific and oratorically gifted Jewish leaders for the synagogue’s centennial celebration.
I was reporting on the evening program for the Jewish Journal. I was typing up key points from my seat when the man next to me asked if I could find another way to take notes, as he couldn’t hear Sacks speak over the sounds of my fingers punching the keys. So I found a pen and began scribbling in my notepad the highlights of the lecture.
Here are some of the points Sacks made:
At Sephardic Temple, Sacks had discussed the challenges facing contemporary Jewish life, from the virus that is anti-Semitism to the miracle that is the State of Israel, speaking eloquently in a soft British accent. But it was his statements about how to live a more enriching Jewish life that have stuck with me.
Speaking persuasively about the power of Shabbat, Sacks said, “Shabbat was made for the twenty-first century,” an effective way to unplug from everyday distractions, whether cable news, Facebook feeds, or dating apps. Sacks also described the Daf Yomi (learning one page of Talmud every day) as an “antithesis to our short attention spans. There’s nothing like it — the Jewish commitment to studying and learning.”
But Rabbi Sacks’ impact on my life extended beyond the one event. During the height of the pandemic, Rabbi Sacks made an unexpected appearance in my apartment and continued to teach me about how to incorporate Judaism in my life more meaningfully.
Our interaction began because COVID-19 left me with much more time at home. With my days lacking the structure they once had, I had taken to praying and wrapping tefillin in the mornings. When I first started wrapping, I wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. Which arm do I wrap? How many times do I wrap around the arm? What to do once I’ve wrapped all the way to my palm?
So I did what any millennial does when he or she is trying to do something new but gotten stuck: I Googled it.
One of the top search results was a Chabad video with step-by-step instructions on how to wrap tefillin. Rabbi Sacks appears in the introduction to the clip, explaining the reasons for wrapping tefillin and citing the “V’ahavta,” which says, “You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart…Take these instructions…Bind them as a sign on your head and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead.”
It was an a-ha moment, the rare instance when I’d seen Jews do something all the time, had done it a few times myself, but had never understood why we do it.
And here was Rabbi Sacks explaining why we do it.
I had learned something, and I had Rabbi Sacks to thank for that. Going forward, I will search for the meaning of why I do things in the name of my faith. Sacks reminded me that sometimes it just takes a teacher — whether educating in-person or from afar — to bring that meaning to light. Sacks was that teacher for many, bringing the joy of Judaism and the promise of deep engagement to each Jew he met.
May his memory be a blessing.
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
Shabbat HaGadol – Redeeming Dibbur – Voice and Speech of God
Ha Lachma Anya
Passover 2024: The Four Difficulties
Israel Strikes Deep Inside Iran
NSFW – A Poem for Parsha Metzora
Israel War Room Launches in Spanish
Culture
Make Felt Seder Plate Elements
Oct. 7 Events to Be Depicted in New Stage Show
Shani Seidman: Manischewitz, Passover Memories and Matzo Brei
Was Spinoza a Victim of Cancel Culture?
Modern Book Bans Echo Past Atrocities and Further Silence Marginalized Voices
While many book ban efforts have focused on politically conservative states like Florida and Texas, such efforts have been occurring even in states with more liberal reputations.
The Power of the Passover Seder to Unite Jews
This year, just six months after the brutal terrorist attack on October 7th, the Passover holiday is more important than ever.
Dr. Nicole Saphier Reflects on Motherhood and Jewish Advocacy
Just in time for Mother’s Day, Saphier has put out a new book called, “Love, Mom: Inspiring Stories Celebrating Motherhood.”
Israel’s David Moment
How Iran’s attack on the Jewish state could help unify a fractured Middle East
Beit Issie Shapiro Gala, David Labkovski Exhibit, de Toledo College Signing Day, JFSLA Shabbat
Notable people and events in the Jewish LA community.
Hollywood
Spielberg Says Antisemitism Is “No Longer Lurking, But Standing Proud” Like 1930s Germany
Young Actress Juju Brener on Her “Hocus Pocus 2” Role
Behind the Scenes of “Jeopardy!” with Mayim Bialik
Podcasts
Shani Seidman: Manischewitz, Passover Memories and Matzo Brei
Joan Nathan: “My Life in Recipes” and Pecan Lemon Torte
More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.