The Jonathan Sacks Institute
The Jonathan Sacks Institute was established to foster engagement with Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks's thought and legacy, integrate his ideas and values into academic, intellectual, and public discourse, and cultivate a new generation of leaders in Israel shaped by his vision.
Prof. Jonathan Rynhold, academic director of the Institute, explains: "Rabbi Sacks developed a powerful synthesis between Jewish tradition and the pressing political and social issues facing global society. He was deeply concerned by the threats to democratic societies posed by unbridled individualism and religious extremism. Rabbi Sacks' message is timeless—and this Institute is committed to securing his legacy within the canon of great Jewish and Western thinkers."
Bar-Ilan University enjoyed a close and enduring relationship with Rabbi Sacks. He served as a distinguished member of its Board of Trustees, received an honorary doctorate, and was a frequent and celebrated speaker on campus. His intellectual legacy continues to inspire the University community.
The Institute was established in cooperation with the Rabbi Sacks Legacy.
Prof. Deborah Lipstadt Awarded the Jonathan Sacks Institute Prize for 2026
Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, one of the world’s foremost authorities on Holocaust history, antisemitism, and the defense of historical truth, has been selected as the recipient of The Jonathan Sacks Institute Prize for Outstanding Achievement as a Public Intellectual, in Memory of Samuel Gewurz z”l for 2026. She is receiving the prize for her leadership in combating antisemitism and strengthening public awareness of its nature, manifestations, and the threats it poses in today’s world. The prize was established by the Gewurz family of Montreal in memory of Samuel Gewurz to honor individuals whose work advances the ideas, values, and moral vision of Rabbi Lord Sacks. Ceremony to take place in May.
Call for Applications - Noé Sacks Scholarships
Please see the attached flyers, announcing the call for applications for the second cohort of the Noé Sacks Scholarship for the 2026–27 academic year.
Scholarships are available for both PhD and MA students who wish to pursue academic research related to the thought and legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.
Note that the deadline for submitting applications is April 30, 2026.
Good luck!
Join BIU's groundbreaking new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), "The Jewish Philosophy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks”
This innovative course opens access to Rabbi Sacks’s profound intellectual and moral legacy to learners worldwide—free of charge. Dr. Miriam Feldmann-Kaye who developed (along with Bar-Ilan's Learning and Teaching Division) and leads the course: “Our journey will not only be an intellectual exploration but also an opportunity for introspection and dialogue. We will consider how Rabbi Sacks's teachings can inspire us to engage with the challenges of our time, fostering a sense of responsibility and ethical conduct in our personal and communal lives.”
YNET article here.
Learn more and sign up here (for English) or here (for Hebrew).
What's New
Watch the AFBIU Webinar with Prof. Rynhold and Dr. Tanya White, "What Would Rabbi Sacks Say? A Playbook for Today’s Challenges”
In today’s post-war landscape and amid rising antisemitism worldwide, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l’s teachings on ethics, community, faith, and human dignity remain ever-relevant—even five years after his passing. Join Prof. Jonathan Rynhold and Dr. Tanya White of Bar-Ilan University as they apply Rabbi Sacks’ principles to the most pressing issues facing Israel and the Diaspora today. The conversation is moderated by Harvey Kaminski, AFBIU National Board Member.
Watch the webinar here.
We Have Sinned, We Have Transgressed, We Have Polarized
President Isaac Herzog met with Dr. Alon Shalev, research associate at the Jonathan Sacks Institute, following the publication of Shalev’s article “We Have Sinned, We Have Transgressed, We Have Polarized” in the seventh issue of Ofakim, published by the Shalom Hartman Institute.
The two discussed the challenges facing Israeli society, the need to strengthen the sense of unity and mutual responsibility, and possible ways to share the article’s ideas and messages more widely among the Israeli public.
Read the article here.
Meet Our Researchers
Jonathan Sacks Institute researchers met with the head of the Institute, Prof. Jonathan Rynhold (seated in the middle), to open this academic year at Bar-Ilan University. We are looking forward to productive and fruitful academic engagement with the ideas of Rabbi Lord Sacks o.b.m.
Sacks Ideas Presented at 19th WCJS in Jerusalem
The 19th World Congress of Jewish Studies took place at Hebrew U in early August. Twelve papers discussed the ideas of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, among them the following which were presented by Institute members:
- The Religious Zionism of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and the future of Religion in Israel (Prof. Jonathan Rynhold)
- Divine Revelation & the Infinite Flames of the Burning Bush: Continental Philosophy in Light of Rabbi Sacks’ Demands (Dr. Miriam Feldmann Kaye)
- A Dialogical Theodicy: Rabbi Sacks’ Covenantal Response to Evil (Dr. Tanya White)
Dr. Feldmann Kaye chaired the session entitled “Theological and Philosophical Aspects in Rabbi Sacks’ Thought.”
Prof. Adam Ferziger chaired the session entitled “Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in Dialogue with Modern Challenges.”
New BIU MOOC: The Philosophy of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
Dive deep into the profound philosophical legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, pioneered and taught by Dr. Miriam Feldmann-Kaye, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jewish Philosophy, and developed by the Bar-Ilan Learning and Teaching Division. Featuring original material and rare interviews, this Massive Online Open Course is designed to reach thousands worldwide over the next decade. Learn more here.
For more information, and to sign up (in Hebrew), click here.
Watch the AFBIU Webinar with Prof. Rynhold, "Iran Strike: What’s Next for Israel, the U.S., and the World?”
Watch the “Iran Strike: What’s Next for Israel, the U.S., and the World?” webinar here.
