Shared at the Mizrachi Canada Memorial for Rabbi Sacks, zt”l – November 9, 2020
[TRANSCRIPT]
I am humbled at the opportunity to share some reflections on Rabbi Sacks, zt”l, in a moment where, as has been pointed out, the only one who would truly have the right words, would be Rabbi Sacks himself.
It is Rabbi Sacks who said describing Rav Soloveitchik, zt”l:
“Occasionally in the history of the Jewish encounter with God, a thinker arises who lets us see our ancient tradition in a new light, like a poet describing an emotion we instantly recognize but never before were able to articulate. When this happens within a faith, old texts reverberate with new meanings. Acts we had performed unthinkingly a thousand times stand revealed in their depth and power. As if for the first time, we begin to understand why those who came before us did as they did, and we and the tradition are renewed.”
These words seem strikingly applicable to the great thinker that was Rabbi Sacks, zt’l.
Entering into the almost prophetic world of Rabbi Sacks was like entering into a washing machine of the mind.
As we say daily in our prayers and translated by Rabbi Sacks in his siddur:
רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב אִישׁ – “Many are the intentions in a person’s mind,”
וַעֲצַת ה’ הִיא תָקוּם – “But the Lord’s plan prevails.”
With brilliance, eloquence and regalness, Rabbis Sacks shook our mind, scrubbed our thoughts, removing the smallness and pettiness that infested our heads. One then came out clean, re-focused on the most important priorities of our time —God’s priorities and God’s enduring plan.
What he was for the collective he was for the individual.
Just four and half years ago, on his last visit to Montreal, I had a serendipitous meeting with Rabbi Sacks. I was tasked to drive one of my greatest heroes from his hotel to his first speaking engagement.
This was a most transformative drive to say the least, as I have shared many times.
Among my missions on that drive, I aimed to ask Rabbi Sacks one good question. After some chit chat, which was hardly chit chat, I waited for my chance, careful not to interrupt his careful preparations and all while trying to keep my eyes on the road.
“Where can one make a greater impact,” I asked “in a day school or a synagogue?”
Rabbi Sacks paused, and answered in a way the only he could:
“Without question one can make the most impact on day schools, communities should have their primary focus on day schools, BUT in partnership with strong synagogues.”
Most would have seen it as a diplomatic answer, but as he unpacked his response asserting that shuls are where day school graduates are integrated into the community, and their strength will help determine the success of the day school experience, it was nothing close to a pareve answer.
After sharing a quote from Rav Hirsch and a personal anecdote to justify his position, the matter was settled.
At this critical juncture in my life, having my feet somewhat unsettled in both schools and shuls, it turned out to be an affirming and transformative car ride. One almost akin to his own encounters with the Lubavitcher Rebbe, that he has shared.
Today I realize there was so much more breadth and depth to his answer.
Did Rabbi Sacks truly believe one can make the most impact on day schools? I don’t know.
But, Rabbi Sacks was answering ME, he was clarifying MY intentions. He was somehow unbelievably sensitive to where I was, and was fully invested in me in that moment.
Perhaps if a shul Rabbi had asked, he would have answered differently. An author? A scholar? A philosopher? A physician? A simpleton?
When asked about his greatest achievement, Rabbi Sacks would point to the fact that he more than doubled the capacity of the Jewish Day School system in the UK during his tenure as Chief Rabbi.
Somehow I would not be surprised if someone had told me that it was a day school leader who had asked him the question.
Rabbi Sacks’ great accomplishments span wide realms –as a pulpit Rabbi, Chief Rabbi, a teacher, an author, a world faith leader, as a spouse a parent, a grandparent.
Because it wasn’t about him. It was about YOU and clarifying YOUR intentions. It was about the JEWISH PEOPLE and clarifying OUR intentions, it was about the WORLD and clarifying ITS intentions. It was ultimately about GOD’s priorities and GOD’s enduring plan.
On hearing the news of the passing of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, zt”l, not long ago, Rabbi Sacks said:
“…he had an unrivalled ability to convey religious truths even to very secular people. He was imaginative, humorous, unconventional but deeply spiritual. He was unique and we are now an orphaned generation.”
We have had the greatest privilege to live in the generation of Rabbi Sacks, losing him we have become further orphaned.
In a letter to the father of Reb Leibele Eiger, the Kotzker Rebbe wrote:
“Parents bring us into this world, teachers bring us to the next world.”
Rabbi Sacks was my teacher, Rabbi Sacks was a teacher of a generation.
To conclude in his own words:
“Teachers open our eyes to the world. They give us curiosity and confidence. They teach us to ask questions. They connect us to our past and future. They’re the guardians of our social heritage. We have lots of heroes today – sportsmen, supermodels, media personalities. They come, they have their fifteen minutes of fame, and they go. But the influence of good teachers stays with us. They are the people who really shape our life.”
What a privilege. What a loss. What a responsibility on us all.
יהי זכרו ברוך – May his memory be for an eternal blessing.
rEddieTalk 