Prince Charles warned of a growing rise in anti-Semitism in Britain as high-profile leaders from within and beyond the British Jewish community gathered to pay tribute to outgoing Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks at a dinner in his honour Monday night.
Renowned academic, author and inter-faith worker Lord Sacks is due to leave office in September after 22 years in his role as Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth.
The second in line to the throne led a sea of praise of Sacks’ work in office, commenting especially on “that all-important principle of which this country has long been an exponent – the principle of tolerance”, which he said had been a common theme throughout his tenure as Chief Rabbi.
"I sometimes fear not enough recognition is given to the role of the faith communities in the life of our country in promoting such a critical principle, and I join with you, in mounting anxiety, at the apparent rise in anti-Semitism, along with other poisonous and debilitating forms of intolerance,” he added.
Returning the tribute, Lord Sacks’ heralded the Prince’s “exceptional work” for the Jewish community and institutions, which he said was characterised by a handwritten six-page letter of condolence he wrote to the Chief Rabbi on the passing of his father, which he said “brought me comfort I will never forget”. “You have been such a blessing to us and to the nation. May God continue to bless all you do,” he added.
Elsewhere, British Premier David Cameron led a host of video messages from the present and former government heads, as he offered “a very special thank you for 22 years of incredible service” on behalf of the nation to the outgoing Jewish community head. Recalling a recent meeting at the Prime Minister’s headquarters in Downing Street in the presence of his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, where he recalled inadvertently introducing Sacks to the Israeli leader as “my Rabbi”. This, he said, was “a symbol of the impact that you’ve had on this country, far beyond the Jewish community”.
“Over the past two decades, you have been not just a leader for Jewish people but for all of us. You’ve challenged us to stand up for the place of religion in modern society, you’ve promoted the importance of ethics and responsibility, providing not just a religious voice, but frankly a moral voice in our country too,” he continued.
Continuing to champion Sacks’ “huge” role in interfaith relations, he said he been successful in “teaching the dignity of difference and the power of what faiths can achieve when they work together”. His philosophy on building a collective society had helped inform Cameron’s own views, “something that can transcend the divide of party politics”. Concluding his address, he thanked the outgoing leader for “the very special contribution you’ve made to the Jewish community and to our whole country”.
Heading the tributes from across other faiths, The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, expressed his special appreciation for the “lasting legacy” of Sacks’ interfaith cooperation. “We thank you for so much you have done, but especially in this area of interfaith relations and your relationships with the Catholic Church,” he added.
One of the most genuine praises came from former Premier and Labour party leader Gordon Brown who began by asking “how you sum up someone who is the greatest scholar you know, the greatest philosopher you know, the greatest writer you know, one of the greatest thinkers in the world”.
Answering his own question, he said “that he was always and has always been ahead of his time”. Heralding his forward-thinking “politics of hope”, he praised the Jewish leader for his response to global tragedies such as 9/11, he added that he had “led the way” in responding to great modern debates, such as the gulf between science and religion, which Sacks explored in a television documentary featuring three eminent scientists last year.
Relating personal piece of advice he received from the Rabbi, “you can only get your views across and explain what you’re doing by telling stories”, he further commended Sacks as “one of the greatest storytellers I’ve ever met”.
Former Archbishop of Canterbury, The Right reverend and Right Honourable Lord Carey of Clifton praised the outgoing leader as “an amazing intellectual, communicator and a unifier”. In these capacities, Sacks had shown himself to be “outstanding” as he offered his own gratitude “for the way you’ve been able to combine a generosity of spirit with your commitment to Orthodox Judaism”.
Another former Archbishop of Canterbury, The right Reverend and Right Honourable The Lord Williams of Oystermouth declared Sacks “a national treasure”, as he added he had more particularly been a treasure to faiths worldwide. “Whenever people ask who are the most important intellectuals in this country, usually the first name they come up with from the religious community has been Jonathan Sacks, and I think that’s a tremendous tribute to him, to the Jewish community as well, to the way in which that community has supported and nurtured an intellect of this quality and has worked itself into the mainstream of British social and political thinking,” he concluded.
Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major said the night of tributes was “justified for the enormous contribution you’ve made, for more than 20 years, to public life in the UK and, of course, to your own faith”. His achievements during his tenure had been “profound, many people have benefitted from it, and very few people will forget the enormous contribution that you’ve made”.
Former Premier and current Mid East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair said Sacks had “exercised leadership with the most extraordinary skill and dedication and commitment”. Paying tribute to the “intellectual giant”, he further paid tribute to his “outstanding contribution, not just not to British and international Jewry, but to British and international public life”.
In his own typically-modest address, Lord Sacks refuted the myriad praise, as he insisted that “in truth, it wasn’t me, it was you”. “When a leader has such friends, leadership itself becomes not a challenge but a privilege, and I want to say thank you,” he added.
Expressing his optimism for the future of British and Commonwealth Jewry under the tenure of his successor, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, however he characterised two “global dangers” facing the Jewish world as assimilation and marrying out. “The two fastest growing elements in the Jewish world are those who embrace the world and reject Judaism, and those who embrace Judaism and reject the world,” he continued, as he asked who would be left to fight against the emerging forces of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism faced with such depleting trends.
“We are here to engage with the world, to be true to our faith and a blessing to others regardless of their faith. That is the Judaism you and I believe in,” he insisted as he praised the achievement of Anglo Jewry in demonstrating “that you can bring the voice of Judaism into the public arena, you can be involved in the world, and at the same time intensify Jewish life, build Jewish schools, raise children who know more about Judaism than we did and grandchildren who will know yet more. All it needs is vision and courage, and since when have Jews ever lacked vision and courage?”
Looking ahead to future challenges and to the next stage of his life’s journey, he concluded: “I want to inspire young Jews throughout the world to believe in and live a Judaism that is tolerant, inclusive, embracing, non-judgmental; that is intellectually open and ethically uplifting; that is neither defensive nor arrogant, but that lives the life of faith in such a way as to enhance the life of others within and beyond the Jewish community.”