Bar-Ilan University launches new online course exploring philosophy of Rabbi Sacks

Bar-Ilan University is to launch a new online Jewish philosophy course intended to give learners worldwide the chance to access the intellectual and moral legacy of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks – free of charge and in multiple languages.

Developed over the eighteen months under the academic leadership of Dr. Miriam Feldmann-Kaye, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), was announced during commemorations of the fifth yahrzeit of the late former Chief Rabbi.

It explores Rabbi Sacks’ philosophical insights on religion and modernity, ethical interpretation of Jewish texts, science and faith, interfaith relations, morality, and human dignity.

The course already has over 300 Bar-Ilan students and will now become publicly available on CampusIL, Israel’s national platform for online learning.

Initially released in Hebrew and English, it will later expand to include Arabic and additional languages, making Rabbi Sacks’ teachings accessible to diverse audiences across cultures and faiths and different countries.

Prof. Jonathan Rynhold, director of The Jonathan Sacks Institute at Bar-Ilan University, said: “Rabbi Sacks’s thought continues to inspire rigorous scholarship and profound moral reflection. Through this new MOOC, Bar-Ilan University and the Jonathan Sacks Institute are extending his intellectual influence to new audiences - bridging academia and the public sphere and ensuring that his voice continues to shape global conversations on faith, ethics, and human dignity.”

Dr. Feldmann-Kaye, assistant professor at the university’s department of Jewish Philosophy and senior researcher at its Jonathan Sacks Institute, said: “Our exploration of Rabbi Sacks’ thought will be multifaceted. We will examine his reflections on the role of religion in the contemporary world, his insights into the challenges of multiculturalism, and his exploration of the relationship between science and faith. We will also delve into his profound understanding of morality and ethics, as well as his perspectives on leadership and community.”

Joanna Benarroch, President of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy, said: “Launching the MOOC on Rabbi Sacks’ philosophy in time for his fifth yahrzeit feels deeply fitting and meaningful. It’s a beautiful way to honour his legacy - opening up his ideas and teachings to the wider world, in a way that truly reflects his vision of education, dialogue, and shared moral purpose.”

Interested participants can visit the Jonathan Sacks Institute at Bar-Ilan University for registration details and updates: https://sites.biu.ac.il/en/MOOC