One of the things that's so extraordinary about Torah is that it is so ancient, but it is so contemporary. So for instance, the major programme of international debt relief was actually called Jubilee 2000, because it's based on the biblical concept of Yovel which is in the 25th chapter of the book of Vayikra, which is all debts are cancelled in the year of release and all property that you've had to sell returns to its original owners. And of course in America, you remember that, because one verse of that chapter is engraved on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. So there is an ancient, ancient biblical law, which has been governing international finance for the last ten years.
When the Chancellor of the Exchequer in Britain launched his Child Poverty Action programme, he asked me to help launch it. And of course, [in Judaism we prioritise alleviating] child poverty - our insistence on tzedakah as relieving poverty, and children are the most vulnerable - [so] he asked a Rabbi to help him launch that government programme of action, because he himself got his social conscience from reading the Bible. I think if you're talking about economic policy, poverty release and so on, then you're going back to Biblical wisdom.
We sent a biblical message to the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. And of course, the most appropriate words were the words spoken 2000 years ago by the Rabbis in a Midrash in which God says to Adam, "Look at the beauty of this universe. All I have created I have made for you. Be careful, therefore, that you do not destroy what I made, because if you do, there will be no one left to repair the damage."
Now that was said 2,000 years ago. Environmental ethics didn't come on the agenda of the world until Rachel Carson's Silent Spring back in 1947. So this ancient wisdom is so immediate and relevant. And that makes me think, don't seriously doubt that you can hear God's voice through this Torah because somehow or another, the eternal wisdom must come from the eternal Himself. So there's hardly a day goes by, when politicians or social activists don't ask me for my thoughts on such and such, and to find an answer, you open the book of books. It speaks to us in every age.
SHARE
More JInsider Videos
![rabbi sacks on the jewish narrative youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108131426/rabbi-sacks-on-the-jewish-narrative-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Jewish Narrative
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on future tense take aways part 1 youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108132228/rabbi-sacks-on-future-tense-take-aways-part-1-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Future Tense Take Aways: Part 1
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on future tense take aways part 2 youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211104204014/rabbi-sacks-on-future-tense-take-aways-part-2-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Future Tense Take Aways: 2
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the universal jewish story youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108132139/rabbi-sacks-on-the-universal-jewish-story-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Universal Jewish Story
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on eco judaism roots youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108133139/rabbi-sacks-on-eco-judaism-roots-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Eco-Judaism Roots
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on peoplehood jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211105000411/rabbi-sacks-on-peoplehood-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Peoplehood
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on an engaged judaism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108132055/rabbi-sacks-on-an-engaged-judaism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on an Engaged Judaism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on charity priorities youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108133108/rabbi-sacks-on-charity-priorities-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Charity Priorities
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a responsible life youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108131926/rabbi-sacks-on-a-responsible-life-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Responsible Life
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on reconciliation youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108131638/rabbi-sacks-on-reconciliation-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Reconciliation
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on community conflict youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108133534/rabbi-sacks-on-community-conflict-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Community Conflict
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on particular vs universal youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108141856/rabbi-sacks-on-particular-vs-universal-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Particularism vs Universalism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a culture of hope youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108142037/rabbi-sacks-on-a-culture-of-hope-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Culture of Hope
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on his personal hatikvah youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108142247/rabbi-sacks-on-his-personal-hatikvah-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on his Personal Hatikvah
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on israel and jewish society jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108142441/rabbi-sacks-on-israel-and-jewish-society-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Israel and Jewish Society
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on one prayer youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108140124/rabbi-sacks-on-one-prayer-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Prayer
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on indifference youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108134758/rabbi-sacks-on-indifference-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Indifference
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the jewish role in the world youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108133907/rabbi-sacks-on-the-jewish-role-in-the-world-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Jewish Role in the World
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on torah and the real world youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108133650/rabbi-sacks-on-torah-and-the-real-world-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Torah and the Real World
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on free market and judaism jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108143205/rabbi-sacks-on-free-market-and-judaism-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Free Market and Judaism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on antisemitism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108143340/rabbi-sacks-on-antisemitism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Antisemitism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on future tense youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108132821/rabbi-sacks-on-future-tense-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Future Tense
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on love as deed jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108143959/rabbi-sacks-on-love-as-deed-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Love as Deed
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on combatting antisemitism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108153427/rabbi-sacks-on-combatting-antisemitism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Combatting Antisemitism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on material loss youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108154100/rabbi-sacks-on-material-loss-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Material Loss
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the antidote to materialism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108144327/rabbi-sacks-on-the-antidote-to-materialism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Antidote to Materialism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on parenting youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108131233/rabbi-sacks-on-parenting-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Parenting
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a tzedakah tale jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108144153/rabbi-sacks-on-a-tzedakah-tale-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Tzedakah Tale
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a family story youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108144655/rabbi-sacks-on-a-family-story-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Family Story
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the internet and judaism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108154448/rabbi-sacks-on-the-internet-and-judaism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
On the Internet and Judaism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on platos ghost youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108154656/rabbi-sacks-on-platos-ghost-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Plato's Ghost
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on optimism vs hope youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108145617/rabbi-sacks-on-optimism-vs-hope-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Optimism vs. Hope
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on victim mentality youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108145719/rabbi-sacks-on-victim-mentality-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Victim Mentality
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on jerusalem youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108145236/rabbi-sacks-on-jerusalem-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Jerusalem
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on advice for our times youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108142857/rabbi-sacks-on-advice-for-our-times-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Advice for our Times
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on fundamentalism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108150311/rabbi-sacks-on-fundamentalism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Fundamentalism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on time jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211105000324/rabbi-sacks-on-time-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Time
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the chosen people youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108143705/rabbi-sacks-on-the-chosen-people-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Chosen People
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on 21st century israel youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109180726/rabbi-sacks-on-21st-century-israel-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on 21st Century Israel
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the origins of antisemitism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109181403/rabbi-sacks-on-the-origins-of-antisemitism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Origins of Antisemitism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on understanding jewish exile youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109182037/rabbi-sacks-on-understanding-jewish-exile-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Understanding Jewish Exile
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on anger youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109182113/rabbi-sacks-on-anger-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Anger
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the historical evolution of antisemitism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109180541/rabbi-sacks-on-the-historical-evolution-of-antisemitism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Historical Evolution of Antisemitism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on interfaith relations youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109180622/rabbi-sacks-on-interfaith-relations-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Interfaith Relations
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on coincidence and providence youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109180849/rabbi-sacks-on-coincidence-and-providence-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Coincidence and Providence
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on free will youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109182332/rabbi-sacks-on-free-will-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Free Will
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on family and marriage youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108152818/rabbi-sacks-on-family-and-marriage-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Family and Marriage
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on tzedakah defined youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108152530/rabbi-sacks-on-tzedakah-defined-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Tzedakah Defined
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on daily life youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108151803/rabbi-sacks-on-daily-life-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Daily Life
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on being jewish youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109181855/rabbi-sacks-on-being-jewish-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Being Jewish
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on his personal rebbe rabbi nachum rabinovitch youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108151742/rabbi-sacks-on-his-personal-rebbe-rabbi-nachum-rabinovitch-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on his Personal Rebbe, Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on connecting to god youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108151244/rabbi-sacks-on-connecting-to-god-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Connecting to God
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on god and evil jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108151036/rabbi-sacks-on-god-and-evil-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on God and Evil
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on dialogue with atheists youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109180806/rabbi-sacks-on-dialogue-with-atheists-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Dialogue with Atheists
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on doubt jinsider youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211114183653/rabbi-sacks-on-doubt-jinsider-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Doubt
Jinsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on tikkun olam youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109181032/rabbi-sacks-on-tikkun-olam-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
On Tikkun Olam
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a response to atheism youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109181644/rabbi-sacks-on-a-response-to-atheism-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Response to Atheism
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on finding purpose youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211114184328/rabbi-sacks-on-finding-purpose-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on Finding Purpose
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on a responsible life example youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211109181535/rabbi-sacks-on-a-responsible-life-example-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on a Responsible Life - Example
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the dignity of difference part 2 youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108143129/rabbi-sacks-on-the-dignity-of-difference-part-2-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Dignity of Difference - Part 2
JInsider (March 2010)
![rabbi sacks on the dignity of difference part 1 youtube thumbnail](https://media.rabbisacks.org/20211108135018/rabbi-sacks-on-the-dignity-of-difference-part-1-youtube-thumbnail-400x225.jpg)
Rabbi Sacks on the Dignity of Difference - Part 1
JInsider (March 2010)