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Educational Resources

Cards and Conversation

Thoughtful sets of cards inspired by the wisdom of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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Welcome to these conversation cards inspired by the wisdom of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l - a thinker and teacher whose words continue to guide and inspire people of all backgrounds.

Designed for educators, parents, youth leaders, and students, they encourage meaningful conversation and personal reflection, bringing Jewish wisdom into everyday life. These cards are appropriate for students aged 10+.

Judaism is a faith built on dialogue - on asking, listening, and learning together. We hope these cards help you share in that tradition and bring Rabbi Sacks’ vision of a Judaism that speaks to the world into your own circles.

Two editions are available:

The Letters to the Next Generation Edition

Each card pairs a thought from Rabbi Sacks with a reflective question, inviting dialogue and discovery around themes like education, prayer, and science.

The Chumash Edition

Each card draws on the weekly Torah portion and brings together three elements:

  • A meaningful quote from Rabbi Sacks’ commentary on the Chumash
  • A big Jewish question to spark discussion
  • A powerful image to explore and interpret

The order form for card packs is at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, you can download these PDFs to create your own sets.

DOWNLOAD: CHUMASH EDITION
DOWNLOAD: LETTERS TO THE NEXT GENERATION EDITION

How to Use These Cards

There are many ways to integrate these cards into your teaching, discussions, and personal reflection. Below are some suggested activities tailored for different audiences:

  1. Discussion Circles – Select a card and have students share their initial thoughts before reading Rabbi Sacks’ insight. Encourage debate and discussion.
  2. Think-Pair-Share – Give each student a card. They think about their response, discuss it with a partner, and then share with the group.
  3. Creative Writing Prompts – Use a card as inspiration for an essay, poem, or personal reflection.
  4. Jewish Values Mapping – Have students group similar themes and explore how they connect to Jewish tradition.
  1. Hot Seat – One participant picks a card at random and shares their perspective before others respond.
  2. Storytelling Challenge – After reading the card, participants share a personal or historical story that connects to the theme.
  3. Speed Conversations – Split into pairs, each with a different card, and rotate partners every few minutes to discuss multiple topics.
  4. Moral Dilemmas – Use a relevant card to create a real-life scenario and discuss the Jewish approach to decision-making.

  1. Shabbat Table Conversations – Pick a card at the start of the meal and let the discussion unfold naturally.
  2. Parent-Child Learning – Encourage children to choose a card and discuss their thoughts with parents.
  3. Jewish Values Challenge – Throughout the week, try to implement the teaching of a particular card in daily life.
  4. Gratitude & Reflection – Before bedtime, choose a card related to self-improvement or values and reflect on its meaning.
  1. Journaling – Use a card as a daily or weekly journaling prompt to explore personal thoughts and challenges.
  2. Meditation & Mindfulness – Contemplate a card’s message and how it applies to your life.
  3. Goal-Setting – Choose a card that resonates with you and set a practical goal related to its teaching.
  4. Social Media Reflection – Post about a card’s theme and invite friends or followers to share their thoughts.

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Lesson Plan

A suggested approach for educators to utilise the Letters to the Next Generation edition with a group of students.

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Cards and Conversation is currently available to educators and youth leaders. We hope to make these more widely available in the future. To request a set, please complete the form below.

To cover our costs, there is a minimal charge for Cards & Conversation packs, as follows:

  • £10 for one pack of cards.
  • £18 for two packs of cards (one of each theme).

(Costs cover P&P.)