Remembering Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l

The sudden passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks earlier this month represents a huge loss, not only to modern and centrist orthodoxy but to Judaism and humanity at large.

Rabbi Sacks was sought out by people of all religions, and of none, as a source of guidance, ethical clarity, and inspiration throughout his tenure as the Cheif Rabbi of the United Kingdom and for the too few years following his retirement.

Koren Publishers are honored to have published his translation and commentary on the siddur and mahzorim as well as his thoughts on the weekly parasha and the holidays under the Maggid imprint. Although he did not live to see it published, Rabbi Sacks' groundbreaking translation of the five books of Moses was sent to press only days after his passing, and work continues on his commentary on the Humash.

We sat down with some of Rabbi Sacks' colleagues and friends from Koren ahead of the shloshim (30 days since his passing) to share memories, thoughts, and feelings about what it was like to work with Rabbi Sacks during his lifetime and our hopes for his legacy in the future. Our guests were publisher Matthew Miller, editor-in-chief of various projects and vice-president emeritus of the Orthodox Union Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, educator and author Dr. Daniel Rose, and editor, translator, and long time collaborator Jessica Sacks.

We were privileged to have been joined by Rabbi Sacks zt"l on the Koren Podcast before Rosh Hashana for what would turn out to be one of his final interviews, we had hoped to have hosted him again as a guest on the podcast but hope that his episode will go some way to provide comfort for his family, friends, colleagues, and all who benefited from his inimitable teachings throughout his life.