Jonathan Sacks has been Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth since 1991 and has received honorary degrees from universities around the world. He is the award-winning author of a dozen previous books, writes frequently for The Times (London) and other periodicals, and is heard regularly on the BBC. Rabbi Sacks was knighted in 2005. He lives in London. From the Hardcover edition.
In this engaging, accessible, insightful, instructive, and delightful book, Sacks (chief rabbi, United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain & the Commonwealth) explores traditional interpretations of the Bible, Jewish law, and theology, as well as the works of philosophers and ethicists from other cultures, to examine what constitutes morality and moral behavior. He seeks "to honor the image of [God] in other people and thus turn the world into a home for the divine presence" in a book he considers a "personal protest against suicide bombers, religiously motivated terrorists and preachers of hate of whatever faith." Chapters 3-9 set out Judaism's key concepts of social ethics: justice, charity, love-as-action, sanctifying God's name, the ways of peace, and "mending the world" (Tikkun Olam). Interspersed throughout are snippets from other peoples' lives that have inspired Sacks. This brilliant book is not only for Jews but also serves as a moral Jewish voice in the conversation of humankind. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. [In June, Sacks was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the Jewish community and interfaith relations.-Ed.]-David B. Levy, Ner Israel Rabbinical Coll. Lib., Baltimore Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Although written by a rabbi, this powerful, biblically based plea for ethical behavior will appeal to non-Jews as well as to Jews. The erudite author, the chief rabbi of Great Britain, contends that all people have to be both ethically and socially responsible, and supports this through examples of people he's met or read about as well as through biblical and Hasidic tales. His analysis of these stories and their lessons is beautifully informed by philosophy, psychology, theology, poetry and literature. Sacks's wide-ranging scholarship is evident in the authorities he cites, including Plato, Karl Marx, Victor Frankl, Joseph B. Soloveitchik, William Wordsworth, Rashi, Maimonides, Jean-Paul Sartre, John Donne, Erich Fromm, Sigmund Freud and many others including Talmudic and rabbinical sources. Sacks claims that he "tried to make the book as simple and readable" as possible, but it is at times somewhat heavy-footed. Patient readers will be rewarded by exposure to a great intellect who demonstrates how his knowledge and experiences have led him to the conclusion that each individual has responsibility "to heal where others harm, mend where others destroy, [and] to redeem evil by turning its negative energies to good." (Oct. 11) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
"I have rarely met anyone who combines spirituality, intelligence, wisdom, and compassion in quite the way Dr. Jonathan Sacks does. He has taught me so much about the Abrahamic faiths. He is truly a spiritual Master, which is why I believe he can be called Mahatma, or Great Soul." --Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University "Upon receiving this latest volume by Rabbi Sacks, I appreciated again his well-deserved reputation for marrying high content to elegant style. There are no pious preachments here, and no self-conscious intellectual posturings. To Heal a Fractured World is carefully reasoned yet warm, intellectually engaging, and entirely quotable." --Dr. Norman Lamm, Chancellor, Yeshiva University From the Hardcover edition. " I have rarely met anyone who combines spirituality, intelligence, wisdom, and compassion in quite the way Dr. Jonathan Sacks does. He has taught me so much about the Abrahamic faiths. He is truly a spiritual Master, which is why I believe he can be called Mahatma, or Great Soul." --Professor Akbar Ahmed, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University " Upon receiving this latest volume by Rabbi Sacks, I appreciated again his well-deserved reputation for marrying high content to elegant style. There are no pious preachments here, and no self-conscious intellectual posturings. To Heal a Fractured World is carefully reasoned yet warm, intellectually engaging, and entirely quotable." --Dr. Norman Lamm, Chancellor, Yeshiva University "From the Hardcover edition."
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