October 27, 10:00 AM

B'nai Israel Congregation
420 Spotswood Ave, Norfolk

Previous books discussed

The first book in the six-event series was Future Tense: Jews, Judaism and Israel in the 21st Century.

Written in 2009 and referencing past armed conflict in Gaza, it was a particularly appropriate beginning to the series considering the recent violence in Israel. A lively interactive discussion ensued, touching on the main themes of the book and its central premise calling for a Judaism engaged in the world. As Rabbi Sacks states, “We are in danger of forgetting who Jews are and why, why there is such a thing as the Jewish people, and what its place is within the global project of humankind.”

Future Tense challenges the narrative that Jews are destined to be hated and a people that forever shall dwell alone. For Sacks, this isn’t the Jewish story. The book argues that without a positive vision, Jews will split apart. This unity requires a shared religious commitment, “Without the covenant of faith, there is no covenant of fate. Without religion, there is no global nation.” Sacks notes the paradox of Jewish continuity, “when it was hard to stay a Jew, people stayed Jewish, when it became easy to be a Jew, people stopped being Jewish.” Staying Jewish requires a level of connection beyond ethnic or culture identification. Maintaining an identity requires duty, commitment, and loyalty.

The book concludes with a call for the Jewish people to engage in the world and unite Torah with chochma (wisdom). It is a call to action, to understand the world and bring the light of Torah out to improve it. As noted in the title, Future Tense, Judaism is a forward-thinking religion. The golden age of the Jewish people is yet to come.

The second book in the six-event series was The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning.

“The Great Partnership” begins by explaining why so many view religion and science as incompatible. It then makes a forceful case for why religion matters and directly addresses major challenges to faith.  

The book starts with contrasting accounts of the world.  One narrative describes a universe where random chance overwhelmed massive improbability, resulting in the spontaneous formation of life with ever-increasing complexity. There is no purpose or higher meaning; we simply exist in a brief instant of time along the continuum of infinity.  Our actions and thoughts are no more than preprogrammed responses from our genetic code of no moral consequence.   

An alternative offers a universe called into being from an entity outside it.  Under the laws that we call nature and understand as science, Homo sapiens became sentient and endowed with free will to make moral choices.  These choices have consequences that endow life with meaning.  As Sacks describes, “The meaning of the system lies outside the system. Therefore, the meaning of the universe lies outside the universe.  That was the revolution of Abrahamic monotheism.”  

Sacks makes the case that Judaism in its original form complements scientific advancement without serious theological difficulties.  Utilizing classic Jewish sources, he discusses how religious faith is not threatened but may even be strengthened by scientific advances that include the universe's origins and evolutionary biology.  Ultimately, “Science takes things apart to see how they work.  Religion puts things together to see what they mean.”

For some, science alone serves the function of religion. However, science has no space for empathy or to account for human dignity.  The search for meaning is made, not discovered, and we find it in the stories we tell, the prayers we say, and the rituals we perform.   We don’t have to choose between embracing science and pursuing faith as we navigate our lives.  

The second book in the six-event series was Not in God's Name: Confronting Religious Violence.

Religiously inspired violence is a source of deep pain and disillusionment for many. Rabbi Sacks argues that if religion can be part of the problem, it must also be part of the solution. He explores how a zero-sum view of religion—believing one's own faith is the only true path to God, thereby dismissing others—can lead to what he terms “altruistic evil,” resulting in inevitable conflict. Through an insightful examination of the roots of violence and its connection to religion, along with groundbreaking biblical analysis, Rabbi Sacks demonstrates that such violence stems from misinterpretations of biblical texts common to all three Abrahamic faiths. 

Hear from Rabbi Sacks about why he wrote the book below.

"To Heal a Fractured World: The Ethics of Responsibility" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explores the concept of personal responsibility and the ways in which individuals can contribute to repairing the world (tikkun olam). Sacks argues that each person has a moral duty to respond to the suffering of others and to act with compassion, justice, and kindness. He emphasizes the importance of seeing beyond oneself and working towards the betterment of society.

Throughout the book, Sacks draws on Jewish teachings, biblical stories, and philosophical reflections to show how ethical responsibility is a core component of Judaism. He highlights themes such as charity, forgiveness, and the value of community, asserting that by taking responsibility for one another, we can create a more just and compassionate world.

Sacks also stresses the balance between personal autonomy and communal duty, arguing that a meaningful life is built not solely on individual success but on the positive impact we have on others. The book calls readers to actively engage in repairing relationships, institutions, and the world around them by acting with moral integrity and responsibility.