On Receiving the Jewish News Lifetime Achievement Award

At the Jewish News’ Night of Heroes, Rabbi Sacks was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Tony Blair

Former Prime Minister paid tribute to the emeritus Chief Rabbi as the man ‘who inspired me to re-read the Torah and discover its power and wisdom’

For the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Sward, sponsored by the Clore Duffield Foundation, there could only be one presenter. Former prime minister Tony Blair arrived in Britain from the Middle East on Monday morning and on Monday night he and the former Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks, fell into heartfelt familiarity which clearly struck a chord with everyone present at the Night of Heroes.

The tone was struck by compere David Walliams who announced that “the leader of the Labour Party” was going to present the award to Lord Sacks, before winking and declaring, to laughter, that it was a Labour leader with different dates from the present incumbent.

And Mr Blair himself seemed slightly taken aback by the warm reception he received, admitting that “I don’t often get that kind of reaction these days”.

In remarks which spoke of the long friendship between the two men, Mr Blair recalled his first days in No. 10 Downing Street and telling the then Chief Rabbi that he envied him. “Here am I, Jonathan, I have a whole country to manage. You’ve only got to manage the Jewish community”. Lord Sacks truly replied: “I feel your envy is somewhat misplaced.”

Jonathan Sacks’ greatest achievement, said Mr Blair, was the ability to teach “without making you feel stupid. It was he who inspired me to re-read the Torah, what we call the Old Testament, and re-discover its power and its wisdom. His mission has never been to dazzle, but to educate.”

Britain’s Jewish community, he said, “embodies the best of Jewish values the world over, ambition, creativity, compassion. And Jonathan in his time as Chief Rabbi explained it, represented it, celebrated it, and where necessary, defended it.”

In pointed comments Mr Blair declared: “I do not want to see antisemitism rear its ugly head ever in this nation. Not in this country, not in our time, not in any space in our national life, and certainly not in any political party”.

The former premier, who had just returned from his 190th visit to Israel, said Lord Sacks was the first to explain to him that the country was “not just a state, but an idea, and not only a nation, but the homeland of the people”.

It was, for all intents and purposes, the night of the Jewish Oscars, bang in the middle of the awards season — and a triumphant occasion when the Jewish community got to celebrate its own winners.

The Jewish News’ “Night of Heroes”, in partnership with the technology company LABS, more than two years in the planning, attracted almost 500 people from across the community and beyond. It was a unique occasion for, as editor Richard Ferrer put it, telling stories, the DNA of every newspaper.

On this night, however, the stories were not always the headline-makers, but the stories of ordinary men and women — and children — who had somehow become extraordinary, who had risen above difficulties placed in their paths and done the impossible. It was a night of eye-popping surprise with full-blown fan worship, as international Israeli footballer Tomer Hemed appeared among many other stars. Former prime minister Tony Blair’s emotional speech honouring Lifetime Achievement winner Rabbi Lord Sacks can be viewed in this video, as well as Rabbi Sacks’ acceptance speech.

Tributes to Rabbi Sacks on this ‘Night of Heroes’ can also be viewed here >