Morality

Jonathan Sacks is one of the great moral thinkers of our time. His latest book, Morality, applies his powerful approach to the unprecedented challenges of our time - social, political, economic, and above all, cultural. May his words be heeded throughout the land.

Sacks unpacks a whole litany of dystopian trends arising from our relentless preoccupation with me, me, me

Sacks presents an articulate and impassioned argument . . . He is a fine exegete of the Hebrew Scriptures, and his belief in the common good is profound.

The strength of Morality does not reside in Jonathan Sacks's discussion of political and philosophical theorists, but in those passages in which he speaks to us as rabbi and community leader.

'Sacks argues convincingly that this pursuit of the common good has been disappearing from the West, and has left us impoverished and damaged.'

The inheritor of a tradition with a long historical memory of loss, exile, death and mourning, Sacks has things to say that speak more directly to our present condition than anything in recent liberal thinking.

'Let Us Dream thus joins a growing body of Covid-era literature calling for a communitarian reset of liberal values and institutions... Morality by the late Jonathan Sacks have all traversed similar territory. The collective pro noun is back in fashion.'

And so this last book reads like a summation of his life's work - a propitiously timed gift and a starting point for discussion.

the work will stand as a worthy successor to, and, in many respects, summation of Sacks's impressive oeuvre

Awarded Book of the Year 2020 in the National Jewish Book Awards Lady Elaine Sacks commented: 'I know my late husband was very proud of Morality and would have been most honoured by this recognition from the Jewish Book Council. Though he had won many previous Jewish Book Awards, none of his books had been named as the Book of the Year. This shows the particular relevance of Morality in today's increasingly complex world. In the book, he aimed to show society a way forward, and one which prioritises the "We" over the "I" - something he passionately believed in throughout his life. Though he is much missed by our family and so many others, I am delighted the book has been recognised in this way.'

His last book, Morality, while written before the spread of coronavirus, is highly relevant to today's situation. He would not have been silent were he still with us, and his voice is sadly missed.