Your Daily Phil: On his 4th yahrtzeit, Israel’s National Library unveils Rabbi Sacks’ archive
Good Friday morning.
For less-distracted reading over the weekend, browse this week’s edition of The Weekly Print, a curated print-friendly PDF featuring a selection of recent eJewishPhilanthropy and Jewish Insider stories, including: After 10 years, Aliza Kline steps down as CEO of OneTable; Dan Tadmor tapped to lead Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History; and ICC warrants unlikely to lead to trial but likely to block Netanyahu travel. Print the latest edition here.
In today’s edition of Your Daily Phil, we report on a new survey showing that Jewishly engaged teens tend to have a more positive view of Israel, and feature an opinion piece by Faith Leener about the importance of reclaiming homes as the central location for Jewish engagement. Also in this newsletter: Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann, Rabbi Rick Jacobs and Todd Siwak.We’ll start with “The Sacks Conversation,” honoring former British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks on the fourth anniversary of his death, in Jerusalem last night. Shabbat shalom!
In honor of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’ fourth yahrtzeit, the National Library of Israel unveiled the former British chief rabbi’s personal archives, which were presented to the library earlier this year, inviting British expats, dignitaries, scholars of his works and journalists on Thursday evening to peruse his letters, rough drafts, speech outlines and other writings, reports eJewishPhilanthropy’s Judith Sudilovksy from the event.
The annual memorial event — dubbed “The Sacks Conversation” — also featured an on-stage conversation between U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew and Jerusalem-born writer Rachel Sharansky Danziger. This year’s theme, “The People of the Book,” reflects Sacks’ commitment to “learning, dialogue and the power of ideas,” organizers said.
In his remarks, Lew recalled a conversation he had earlier in the day with the family of one of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, in which he had unintentionally echoed a quote from Sacks about the necessity of hope. “I said, ‘I’m more hopeful today than I’ve been in weeks and I can’t tell you that it’s going to change tomorrow, but if things proceed as I hope they will over the coming days, there is a new opening… to bring out the 101 hostages,’” Lew said. “That is something that we have to keep alive because the alternative is giving up… It’s a very narrow path, and we have to believe that it will lead to where we all want it to go. I don’t know if it made him feel better.”
Reflecting on next month’s Hanukkah holiday, when Jews are meant to put their hanukkiot in the window so others can see the light, Lew said that Jews — specifically Jewish academics — had to speak out against antisemitism and falsehoods about Israel.
“We have to keep putting our story out there and hoping that it will shine… And it’s hard,” he said. “I’ve met with every group of American faculty that traveled here over the past year, and I’ve met hundreds of faculty members. And I’ve asked them, ‘When things were said that you thought were wrong, did you stand up then and explain why it was wrong?’ And very few said they felt comfortable doing it… They didn’t want to be ostracized.”
Some of the documents from the Sacks’ archives have been put on display as the archival work on the documents, handwritten correspondence, certificates, and notes for some of Sacks’ most influential speeches continues. Digitalization of the documents is planned for a later date so for now a small portion of the archives will be available for viewing only at the library.
One of the documents in the archives includes a partially handwritten note by now-King Charles addressing him as “Dear Chief Rabbi” and thanking Sacks for his congratulatory note on his engagement to now-Queen Camilla.
A poignant document that Rachel Misrati, who is archiving the Sacks documents, found in the collection was a piece that he wrote in the Jewish Chronicle in 1998 called “The Courage to Rejoice” in which he speaks about Simchat Torah and how Jews manage to rejoice on the holiday even in spite of their tragic history.
“I think that’s a very [relevant] point of today,” said Misrati, referring to the fact that the Oct. 7 attacks took place on Simchat Torah in Israel. “It says the essence of Judaism is to overcome and to be able to celebrate. Archiving his documents is just amazing. He was just a man of great stature and such an example and a moral voice, who was not afraid to stand up for being a Jew and his voice is sorely missed now.”
Because most of his work is in English, until recently he was less known to Israelis, according to Tanya White, a former student and scholar of Sacks. But as his books are being translated into Hebrew by Israeli journalist and poet Tsur Ehrlich, more Israelis are now being exposed to his works, she said.
“Rabbi Sacks was very idiosyncratically British, and his Hebrew wasn’t great, so it was difficult for Israelis to identify with him when he spoke,” White said. “Now four years on, people know him much more than they did before when he was alive because his written work has been translated. And it speaks to the moment.”
EXCLUSIVE
Jewishly engaged teens are far more likely to view Israel positively — study
Teenagers who are active in the Jewish community — through day schools, supplementary schools or summer camps — are far more likely to have a positive view of Israel in general and of its war against Hamas specifically than those who are less engaged, according to a new study by Mosaic United that was shared with eJewishPhilanthropy’s Nira Dayanim. Mosaic’s global survey, developed in collaboration with the Tovanot Institute, collected hundreds of responses from Jewish teenagers — ages 14-18 — from around the world, but mainly from the United States.
Highs and lows: Forty percent of respondents met the survey’s criteria for “low engagement” with Jewish life. “This is a very unengaged group that we don’t usually get to [speak with]. And there were just really clear differences between those that didn’t come from highly engaged backgrounds and those that did,” Alana Ebin, director of Mosaic United’s Teen Travel Pillar, told eJP. For instance, 87% of respondents with a “high” Jewish background score reported feeling a connection to Israel, with 67% describing themselves as Zionists. Among those with a “low” Jewish background score, 67% reported feeling a connection with Israel, and 48% described themselves as Zionists.
Clear findings: “It’s a pretty definitive statement on the power of Jewish engagement. More activities equals stronger, more engaged Jews, with prouder Jewish identities and also stronger connections,” said Ebin. The organization plans to present the full survey findings to partners and interested parties at a webinar on Monday.
WELCOME GUESTS
Gathering in our homes feels more important than ever
“I remember the moment I learned about the importance of the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, welcoming guests into one’s home. I was sitting in my Chumash Bet (Level 2) class at Pardes, in one of the ground-floor classrooms, listening to Rabbi Meir Scheweiger swell with pride as we discussed Parshat Vaieyera and Avram and Sarah’s devotion to receiving guests with alacrity, focus and humility. It reminded me of my home growing up, surrounded with people from all over the world that my mother invited in through her work with a nonprofit called International House… Until I learned about this mitzvah, I never connected this chapter of my childhood to my Jewish identity,” writes Faith Leener, the chief innovation officer of the Pardes Institute, in an opinion piece for eJewishPhilanthropy.
Lean in to discomfort: “Being a guest can be uncomfortable… Being a host can be as well. What if no one comes? What if the conversation doesn’t flow?… In a post COVID-19 era, many of us still struggle to find the inertia to go out at all… All of these anxieties stop us from hosting and from allowing ourselves to be a guest, to try something new, to surprise ourselves and find ourselves in a place of radical wonder (to borrow from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.)”
Shul won’t cut it: “In a post-Oct. 7 world, when many Jews are looking around for a way to connect, we’re so well-positioned to be warm, welcoming and open-minded ambassadors of Jewish life. We can’t just rely on federations, JCCs and synagogues. We must reclaim our homes as critical meeting places for people to combat loneliness and a sense of helplessness. With a little food and a little Torah, and a whole lot of questions, we can create hope and connection. I know we can. I’ve seen it and lived it. Won’t you join us?”
Worthy Reads
A Sign of Things to Come?: In J. The Jewish News of Northern California, David A.M. Wilensky wonders what the recent announcement about the shuttering of the San Francisc’s Contemporary Jewish Museum signifies for the larger Jewish nonprofit space. “The Contemporary Jewish Museum, the delightfully idiosyncratic San Francisco institution focused on modern Jewish life and artwork, will close for at least one year, starting on Dec. 15… Attendance at CJM never quite bounced back after the pandemic. Plus, donations are down — and there are a few reasons for that. Personally, I have always gotten the sense that some of the usual big donors in our community would prefer a more, let’s say, normal Jewish museum… But since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, donor dollars have been increasingly diverted to organizations focused on Israel and antisemitism, as CJM leaders acknowledged in our Nov. 15 report… I have to wonder: When big philanthropists and small donors are done saving Israel, will there be life left in diaspora communities? When they are done circling the wagons to fend off antisemitism, will there be institutions of value left to defend?… Are we looking at a major crisis — or am I blowing this out of proportion?” [J.]
Spread the Light: In The Forward, Rabbi Areyah Kaltmann, the director of Chabad Columbus, considers how the Jewish community should respond to the recent neo-Nazi march through his Ohio town. “The question for me as a communal leader is how to help my community heal and find strength amidst the hate… The answer, I believe, lies in the teachings of my mentor and spiritual teacher Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory… Despite his personal experience, his teachings about antisemitism were characteristically non-combative. He preached that the most effective way to combat darkness — physical, spiritual or societal — is to transform it into light. While fear and anger are often the first reaction to instances of hate, the Rebbe encouraged Jews to channel these dark moments into opportunities to engage more meaningfully with their Jewish identity… This approach — meeting hatred with positive action — not only strengthens us but inspires others. While we can and should condemn antisemitism, we must also nourish and uplift ourselves through connection to our heritage. Being Jewish is not just about standing up to hate; it’s about connecting deeply with our traditions and spreading our values of kindness and compassion.” [Forward]
Around the Web
Many House Democrats withdrew their support for a bill that would make it easier for the federal government to strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits suspected of supporting terrorist groups, after a growing number of Jewish organizations came out against the measure, warning that it could too easily be abused to punish political rivals…
On its podcast, Haaretz interviewed Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, about the state of progressive Judaism post-Oct. 7 and his movement’s liberal Zionism…
Todd Siwak was chosen to serve as the next board chair of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis; he succeeds Bob Newmark, who has held the role for two years…
MacKenzie Scott awarded more than $150 million in housing and financial development grants this fall…
A Jewish art museum in Tulsa, Okla., buried the remains of Holocaust victims in the museum’s possession…
Former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was denied a visa to enter Australia, due to a stipulation that allows the rejection of a visa if there is reason to believe the applicant may “vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community”…
Dozens of anti-Israel protesters demonstrated outside the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life at Columbia University to protest an event featuring Israeli journalist Barak Ravid…
The Grinspoon Hillel Center for Jewish Community at Cornell University submitted plans to build a stand-alone center, with the goal of completing the building by the summer of 2026…
Moment magazine examines how rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on college campuses have affected Jewish student journalists…
Steven Rosen, a former director of foreign policy issues for AIPAC, died on Oct. 28 at 82…
Rabbi Amiram Gabay, founder of Philadelphia’s Congregation Beit Harambam and a major figure in the city’s Sephardic community, died last month…
Pic of the Day
A group of Jewish educators takes part in a session at New York City’s Congregation Beit Simchat Torah as part of a three-day conference, “The Path Forward: Your Post-October 7th Toolkit,” which was organized by The Jewish Education Project and RootOne.
More than 100 educators —including day school teachers, supplementary school teachers, youth group professionals, camp professionals and others — took part in the event, which focused on teaching about Israel, Jewish pride, peoplehood and antisemitism.
Birthdays
Former co-CEO of global shopping center company Westfield Corporation, he is also chairman of the World Board of Trustees of Keren-Hayesod United Israel Appeal, Steven Lowy, celebrates his birthday on Sunday…
FRIDAY: Real estate developer and former majority owner of MLB’s New York Mets for 33 years ending in 2020, he was a high school teammate of Sandy Koufax, Fred Wilpon… Professor at NYU Law School, she worked at OMB and the National Economic Council in the Clinton White House, Sally Katzen… Novelist and screenwriter, he is editor-at-large for The Epoch Times, Roger Lichtenberg Simon… Born to a Jewish family in Tunisia, he served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons until 2006, Jacques Saada… President emeritus of the 1.9 million-member Service Employees International Union, now a senior fellow at the Economic Security Project, Andy Stern… Incoming member of Congress who defeated Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in the Democratic primary in New York’s 16th Congressional District, Rep.-elect George Latimer … Senior vice president of development for Hillel International, his bar mitzvah was at Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Tim R. Cohen… Television personality and advertising executive, Donny Deutsch… IT specialist at the IRS, Martin Robinson… Chairman of Dynamo Kyiv (Kyiv’s soccer team) since 2002, Ihor Surkis… Author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, Peggy Orenstein… Classical composer, conductor and pianist, Benjamin Yusupov… President and CEO of Paramount Pictures, known professionally as Brian Robbins, Brian Levine… Israeli film and television actor, Ishai Golan… Senior editor at The City and columnist for the New York Daily News, Harry Siegel… Former State Department spokesperson, now serving as deputy to the U.S.’ United Nations ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Edward “Ned” Price… Actress, she is the highest-grossing female box office star of all time, Scarlett Johansson… Vice president of communications and media relations for theSkimm, Jessica Sara (Turtletaub) Pepper… Actor, who has appeared in films directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, the Coen brothers and Warren Beatty, Alden Ehrenreich… Actor and comedian, he was on the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” Jon Rudnitsky… Social media personality known as Baby Ariel, she has 36 million followers on TikTok, Ariel Rebecca Martin… Former chief of staff to Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Yarden Golan…
SATURDAY: Former mayor of Pasadena, Calif., Terry Tornek… Senior U.S. District Court judge in Massachusetts, Judge Mark L. Wolf… Senate majority leader (D-NY), Chuck Schumer… Phoenix resident, Richard S. Levy… Board member of the Yitzhak Rabin Center and former member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, Andrea Lavin Solow… President of Eastern Savings Bank in Hunt Valley, Md., Yaakov S. Neuberger… Emeritus professor of Jewish studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Elliot R. Wolfson… Long Beach, N.Y., resident, Ellen P. Shiff… Graduate of Hebrew U, he is a Los Angeles-based cost and management accountant, Simon Ordever… Israeli-born entrepreneur, Raanan Zilberman… Television personality and author of both fiction and non-fiction books, Keith Ablow… Founder of Union Main Group, a private holding company focused on platform buildups of small companies, Marc Hanover… Professor of chemistry at Northwestern University, Chad Mirkin… Former owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Daniel Snyder… Neurosurgeon specializing in the treatment of brain tumors and aneurysms, he is a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine, Aaron Cohen-Gadol… Senior vice president at Glen Echo Group, Amy Schatz… Berlin-based journalist on the Bloomberg News Automation team, Leonid Bershidsky… Executive at Hakluyt & Company, Keith Lieberthal… SVP and financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Baltimore, P. Justin “P.J.” Pearlstone… Partner at Blueprint Interactive for digital strategy, having previously managed a number of congressional campaigns, Geoff Mackler… Senior tribal policy manager in the office of the attorney general of Washington State, Erin Ross… Associate at Herbst & Weiss, Shmuel Winiarz… New England regional director for J Street, Jasmine Gothelf Winship… Rapper, singer, songwriter and recording artist, better known under her stage name Lanz Pierce, Alana Michelle Josephs… Former pitcher on the Israeli National Baseball Team, now working in renewable energy in Seattle, Corey A. Baker… Development and grant writer for Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans (Beit Halochem), Elise Fischer… Toronto-based lyricist, author and playwright, Naomi Matlow…
SUNDAY: Former member of Congress, secretary of agriculture and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, Dan Glickman… Retired English teacher, she is the mother of Sheryl Sandberg, Adele Einhorn Sandberg… Chairman of Lyons Global Insurance Services, he is a senior advisor to the Ashcroft Group, Simcha G. Lyons… Professor emeritus of chemistry at Bar Ilan University, he is also an ordained rabbi, Aryeh Abraham Frimer… Coordinator for the International Association of Jewish Free Loans, Tina Sheinbein… President of Gesher Galicia, Dr. Steven S. Turner … Actress, best known for her role as Gaby in the film “Gaby: A True Story,” Rachel Chagall… Senior consultant at Marks Paneth (now CBIZ), he is an honorary vice president of the Orthodox Union and a trustee of Congregation Shearith Israel, Avery E. Neumark… Partner in the Los Angeles-based law firm of Gordon & Rees, Ronald K. Alberts… Past president of the University of Michigan, Mark Steven Schlissel… Former coordinator of clinical oncology trials at Englewood Health, Audrey E. Ades… Born to a Jewish family in Havana, Cuba, secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas… Media executive, lobbyist, political consultant, he is a graduate of Yale Law School, Jeff Ballabon… Author and founder of Nashuva, a Los Angeles area Jewish outreach community, Rabbi Naomi Levy… Member of the Knesset for the Democrats (the merger of Labor and Meretz), she is a granddaughter of Rudolf Kastner, Merav Michaeli… Executive vice president and COO of the Orthodox Union, Rabbi Dr. Joshua M. Joseph… Israeli actor and screenwriter, he is best known for portraying Doron Kabilio in the political thriller television series “Fauda,” Lior Raz… Professional poker player, his tournament winnings exceed $9.5 million, Robert Mizrachi… President of global affairs and co-head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, he is an adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, Jared Cohen… Olami Texas rabbi at the Austin campus of the University of Texas, Rabbi Moshe Trepp… Assistant director of the electric unit at the Georgia Public Service Commission, Benjamin Deitchman… Director at Green Strategies, Rachel Kriegsman… Senior director of strategic marketing at Phreesia, Madeline Bloch… Actress best known for her lead role in the Netflix series “Bonding,” Zoe Levin… Chief of staff for Douglas Murray, Kennedy Lee… Michael Davis…
