More than 50,000 watch Havdallah Live in memory of Rabbi Lord Sacks

Hours after news of the former Chief Rabbi's death broke, Rabbi Benjy Morgan of the JLE led a powerful ceremony to end Shabbat and pay tribute

Screenshot of Rabbi Benjy Morgan during Havdallah Live in memory of Lord Sacks
Screenshot of Rabbi Benjy Morgan during Havdallah Live in memory of Lord Sacks

Thousands tuned in for a special Havdallah Live on Saturday night in memory of Rabbi Lord Sacks.

Hours after the death of the former Chief Rabbi was announced, Rabbi Benjy Morgan of the Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) led a powerful tribute on Jewish News’ Facebook page, as he marked the end of Shabbat.

The live stream featuring masked musicians and his two sons, Chaim and Michoel, has so far been viewed more than 53,000 times, and included a special tribute from Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Warren Goldstein.

Rabbi Morgan said: “The JLE joins with the entire Jewish world in mourning the untimely sad death of Lord Rabbi Sacks.”

He reflected on the void that has been left, saying Rabbi Sacks “was a teacher who had such an incredible ability to bring the Torah to life with such relevant, meaningful teachings for the modern age. Each encounter left you proud and inspired to be Jewish and deepen your Jewish knowledge. Each powerful speech left you empowered to go out and make a difference in a world of darkness and confusion. May his legacy compel us to continue to light up the world.”

Rabbi Goldstein said: “we are all so devastated and saddened” by his death.

“I feel a great sense of personal loss of a Rabbi who was such a colossal and historic Torah leader and thinker, and who influenced the lives of millions of people around the globe.

“His achievements were staggering, inspirational and historic, now is the time to pause and feel the sense of loss, because we are all mourners”.

Havdallah Live on Jewish News’ Facebook page is a weekly partnership in conjunction with JLE.

Watch the performance here.

 

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