Product Description

The Torah is an encounter between past and present, moment and eternity, that frames Jewish consciousness. In this first volume of a five-volume collection of parashat hashavua, Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks explores these intersections as they relate to universal concerns of freedom, love, responsibility, identity and destiny. Rabbi Sacks fuses Jewish tradition, Western philosophy and literature to present a highly developed understanding of the human condition under God s sovereignty. Erudite and eloquent, Covenant & Conversation allows us to experience Rabbi Sacks sophisticated approach to life lived in an ongoing dialogue with the Torah.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42173 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 366 pages

Review
Among the most creative expositions on the Book of Genesis. ----The Jewish Star (Long Island)

Covenant & Conversation is not just another book on the Parasha. It is an intellectual and philosophical journey through the underpinnings of our faith and the origins of our people. The essays based on the weekly Torah portion are challenging, thought provoking, and relevant. Rabbi Sacks has a unique ability to impart to his audience an authentic appreciation for the breadth and depth of the wisdom of our Torah. --Rabbi Steven Weil, Executive Vice President, Orthodox Union

Jonathan Sacks is truly a towering figure. He ranges with extraordinary ease across different fields, making a contribution that is uniquely and distinctively his own. In particular, as few other people can, he relates the insights of religion to the modern world and retells the story of faith in a compelling way, and that is a rare and remarkable achievement. --Tony Blair

Sacks is both a great scholar and a great communicator, and he has done a superb job in crafting commentary than is at the same time erudite and accessible to the average reader...Sacks calls on the wisdom of ancient commentators and modern scholars alike as he takes readers on their weekly journey through the Torah. --The Jewish Standard (New Jersey)

About the Author
Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth, is one of the world s leading Jewish figures. Educated at Cambridge University and Jews College London, he has served as Principal of Jews College London and President of the Council of Christians and Jews in the United Kingdom. Chief Rabbi Sacks is the author of numerous books of Jewish thought, and recently provided the English translation and commentary for The Koren Sacks Siddur, the first new Orthodox prayer book in a generation.

Customer Reviews

Parshanut- at the highest level
This is one of the finest books of 'Parshanut' I have ever read. Each unit consists of a set of small essays on each Biblical Parsha, or weekly reading. Rabbi Sacks in reading the text addresses contemporary moral and religious issues. He does this with great intelligence and insight. But perhaps even more importantly what we are given in the book is a coherent Jewish philosophical reading of the situation and purpose in the world of humanity. Rabbi Sacks defense of the Jewish tradition is not based on special pleading, or hiding one's head in the sand but rather on a hard look on central issues facing the Jewish people and mankind as a whole.
I have been reading the Biblical text since early childhood but was again and again surprised by the reflections and wisdom of Rabbi Sacks.
I do not think I could give a stronger recommendation to a book than I give to this one.

A must read to understand Genesis
Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks is not just a good and brilliant man, he has the gift to be able to communicate the true Jewish tradition of Torah study to anyone of any faith or lack thereof. The loving care and depth of understanding found in our tradition of Torah study, from the biblical period to the present, is alive and well in 'Covenant & Conversation'. The insights into each parsha (weekly reading) starting with Adam, through Noah and on to Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Joseph and his brothers, clarifies the conflicts, resolutions and partial resolutions that all of us find in our life today. It is Rabbi Sacks gift to make these ancient personalities very much alive and right next to us as we eat breakfast, drive or walk to work and on through the day. Start reading and you may find yourself, right there on the page.

"In the Beginning..."
Sacks, Rabbi Sir Jonathan. "Covenant and Conversation: A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Genesis: The Book of Beginnings", Koren Publishers, 2009.

"In the Beginning..."

Amos Lassen

The Five Books of Moses's book of Genesis is a puzzling series of readings that has mystified us for ages. It is also one of the hardest to relate to others. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks makes that a little easier by giving us a creative exposition of Genesis and I love it. The book is a philosophical and educational look at the beginnings of time and Judaism and the history of the Jewish people. Reading his interpretations is a challenging experience and he makes it look so easy. Sacks is a scholar who is able to communicate what he knows and thinks. He uses the ancient commentators as well as his own ideas to give us a new way to look at the holy writings.
The Torah brings together past and present and in doing so it gives Jewish consciousness a context. He takes the Torah portions and then relates them to modern concerns--love, freedom, identity, destiny and responsibility and he takes Jewish traditions and welds it the modern world. By doing so we get a more complete look at the sovereignty of God.
Each unit or Torah portion (the Torah or Five Books of Moses) is divided into weekly readings and what Rabbi Sacks does is address contemporary moral and religious issues. This is a wonderful addition to the canon of books that explore the Pentateuch.