Image credit: European Parliament on Flickr. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)
Salford residents have paid tribute to the former chief rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, following his death on Saturday.
Lord Sacks passed away at the age of 72 in the early hours of Saturday 7 November.
Jeremy Michaelson, a representative of the Salford Borough Council’s SACRE (Standing Advisory Council For Religious Education) and Representative of Salford Stenecourt synagogue on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: “Rabbi Lord Sacks was an intellectual and spiritual giant.
“He represented Judaism within our community, and to the world at large as a positive, dynamic way of life that could impact on individuals, the community and the world.
“He showed us that you could be an observant Jew and still be fully engaged in improving the modern world.”
Lord Sacks was the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 until 2013 when he retired and he was greatly respected by the Jewish community. After completing his general education, he attended Gonville and Caius College at the University of Cambridge where he studied Philosophy. He married his wife in 1970 and became a rabbi in 1976.
Many people have fond memories of him, including Salford resident, psychologist and UCLAN university lecturer, Dr. Sandi Mann.
When reminiscing about meeting him in 1991, where she covered the dedication of the new Salford-based Bnei Akiva Bayit for local radio, she said: “He was totally in tune with the young people of Bnei Akiva and danced and sang with them as well as the expected speech.
“It was such a special event that all those present will never forget.”
Lord Sacks was an author of over 30 books; his most recent work, Morality: Restoring the Common Good in Divided Times, was published earlier this year and was on the Sunday Times best seller list.
He also held 18 honourary doctorates and was knighted in 2005, and honoured with a seat in the House of Lords in 2009.
He was held in high esteem by the wider community as well, and when his death was announced, Prince Charles released a statement.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, has shared a message of condolence following the passing of former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks on Saturday.
We will always remember Rabbi Lord Sacks as a giant in Torah learning, a man who stood up against antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/WoB50wUVi7
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) November 8, 2020
He is survived by his wife Elaine, their three children, his three brothers and several grandchildren.
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