Celebrating Life
Finding Happiness in Unexpected Places

British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has an extraordinary way with words – poetical, philosophical, magical, intensely personal and exquisitely inspirational. His latest book 'Celebrating Life' is a joyous discovery of the power of prayer, the majesty of faith, the landscape of beauty, the meaning of happiness, the glory of God, and, above all, the gift of life – which, he says, is nothing more than “being ourselves.” Making a blessing over life, writes the Chief Rabbi, is the best way of turning life into a blessing. God often chooses circuitous routes, “but it helps to know that where we are, here, now, is where we need to be.” And, quoting the 19th-century philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore, he adds: “We are worth what we are willing to share with others… Happiness is not made by what we own: it is what we share.” Shot through with humility, humour, and hope, this book is itself an act of sharing. Each of the 50-odd essays – the summation of Rabbi Sacks’ own tests and tribulations – provides a rich and rewarding read to anyone with five minutes or so to spare, particularly (though not exclusively) in the throes of a fraught and frustrating day. The intimate, and often courageous, reflections of one of this country’s most respected religious leaders, they constitute a powerful antidote to despair and depression, a path to happiness and peace, and a recognition, in the Chief Rabbi’s words, that “life is beautiful if we open our eyes."