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The Rabbi Sacks Book Prize

 

The Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center is proud to announce the winner and finalists of the Rabbi Sacks Book Prize 2023, funded by a generous gift from the Rohr Family. The $50,000 prize recognizes a book published in 2023 deeply sourced in Jewish texts, reflecting Rabbi Sacks' broad appeal. We thank the judges - Lady Elaine Sacks, Dr. Robert George, Dr. Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, Dean Daniel Rynhold, Dr. Shira Weiss - and the support of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy of the UK. We congratulate all three authors whose books, diverse in genre and style, make impactful contributions to contemporary Jewish thought.

2023 Winner

The Rabbi Sacks Book Prize has been awarded to Dr. Daniel Gordis for his book Impossible Takes Longer: 75 Years After Its Creation, Has Israel Fulfilled Its Founders' Dreams? (Ecco, 2023).

 

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Dr. Daniel Gordis, Koret Distinguished Fellow at Shalem College, assesses how Israel measures up against its founders’ aspirations in Israel's Declaration of Independence. He discusses reasons for the establishment of the State, the flourishing Jewish and Israeli culture, the nation's economy, the Israeli-Arab conflict, the distinct form of Judaism that has emerged, and the nation's complex relationship with the Diaspora.

To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Dr. Daniel Gordis, click here.

To purchase the book, click here.


2023 Finalists

Questioning Belief: Torah and Tradition in an Age of Doubt (Koren, 2023) by Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, Dean of the London School of Jewish Studies. Rabbi Dr. Zarum presents thorough, reasoned responses, based on Torah and tradition, to some of Judaism's most challenging questions of belief, science and ethics.

To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Rabbi Dr. Raphael Zarum, click here.

To purchase the book, click here.

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Covenant and World Religions: Irving Greenberg, Jonathan Sacks and the Quest for Orthodox Pluralism (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization in association with Liverpool University Press, 2023) by Rabbi Dr. Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Founder and Director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute. Rabbi Dr. Goshen-Gottstein analyzes the theological and social views of Rabbi Sacks and Rabbi Greenberg, as they advocated to change how Judaism sees world religions.

To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Rabbi Dr. Alon Goshen-Gottstein, click here.

To purchase the book, click here. (discount code ADISTA5)

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Book Events

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Rabbi Sacks Book Prize 2022 Winner and Finalists

WINNER

The inaugural Rabbi Sacks Book Prize of $50,000 has been awarded to 

Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation (Yale University Press, 2022) by Professor Daniel Matt.

A volume in Yale University Press’ Jewish Lives Series, Becoming Elijah traces how depictions of the prophet transform from the Bible to Rabbinic Judaism, Kabbalah and Jewish ritual. In a sophisticated, yet accessible manner, Matt, a scholar of Kabbalah, brings the prophet to life as he comprehensively chronicles the diverse references to Elijah from history and faith traditions. He explains how Elijah fills a need for hope and for justice; though his identity is variable, it is shaped by an ethical imperative that continues to inspire. 

To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Professor Daniel Matt about Becoming Elijah, click here
To purchase the book click here


Finalists

A Guide for the Jewish Undecided: A Philosopher Makes the Case for Orthodox Judaism (Koren, 2022) by Professor Sam Lebens. 
To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Professor Sam Lebens about 
A Guide for the Jewish Undecidedclick here

To purchase the book click here.

Care and Covenant: A Jewish Bioethic of Responsibility (Georgetown University Press, 2022) by Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner. 

Care and Covenant

To listen to a podcast conversation between Dr. Shira Weiss and Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner about 
Care and Covenant: A Jewish Bioethic of Responsibilityclick here.
To purchase the book click here.


We congratulate all three authors whose books, diverse in genre and style, make impactful contributions to the field of contemporary Jewish thought.

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