A New Collaboration Between The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, Sefaria, and Koren Jerusalem

Ten years ago, when Sefaria was little more than an idea, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l became one of their earliest champions. Sefaria, he said, “has the potential to become the digital home of the book for the people of the book.”

An historic collaboration has now been announced between The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, Sefaria, and Koren Jerusalem, to bring Rabbi Sacks’ literary legacy online and maximise its impact and reach.

Beloved by millions who appreciated his intelligent and accessible approach to Jewish thought, Rabbi Sacks demonstrated the relevance of our shared texts in contemporary life. While that legacy fortunately survives in the teachings and writings that he published tirelessly throughout his lifetime, there’s more to be done. Thanks to a generous gift from the William Davidson Foundation, we can now bring Rabbi Sacks’ work to more learners around the globe.

As part of this collaboration, Koren Jerusalem is publishing new English volumes by Rabbi Sacks and translating many of his books into Hebrew – as well as reprinting earlier works that have been unavailable for years.

Meanwhile, The Rabbi Sacks Legacy will develop and disseminate new pedagogical resources based on Rabbi Sacks’ teachings at ⁠www⁠.rabbisacks⁠.org, one of the first websites to link its textual citations to the Sefaria library and home to a searchable database of quotes, writings, and video content.

Ultimately, all of Rabbi Sacks’ works published by Koren will be available on Sefaria – more than three dozen volumes in total. These will join the library in stages over the coming years, starting with an initial release in 2024.

A decade ago Sefaria was just a prototype, but Rabbi Sacks understood its potential. He continued to support the library as, slowly but surely, it became essential digital infrastructure for Jewish learning. Now, as Sefaria enters its next ten years, we are honoured to partner in the creation a permanent home for Rabbi Sacks’ legacy within the Jewish canon online.

Joanna Benarroch, Global Chief Executive of The Rabbi Sacks Legacy, said, “Rabbi Sacks was not only a brilliant scholar but also a beloved leader who bridged the wisdom of the past with the demands of the present. This collaboration pays homage to his enduring influence on Jewish learning.”

Sefaria is a digital library of 3,000 years of Jewish texts, translations, and commentaries enabling everyone to participate in the ongoing process of studying, interpreting, and creating Torah.

Koren Jerusalem is a leading publisher of Jewish books, known for its dedication to the highest quality of content and design.

The Rabbi Sacks Legacy perpetuates the timeless and universal wisdom of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks as a teacher of Torah, a leader of leaders, and a moral voice.