Jonathan Sacks, whose long tenure as chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth expires in March, when he turns 65, has for decades been an inspiration to many Modern Orthodox Jews, who are impressed by his synthesis of erudition in Western philosophy with a steadfast defense of Orthodox doctrines and norms. At the same time, Sacks has proved a deep disappointment to equally as many non-Orthodox British Jews, mainly on account of their widespread perception of his having caved all too often to the demands of Orthodox fundamentalists, including members of his own beit din, or rabbinical court, thus exacerbating, rather than healing, historic rifts that plague Anglo-Jewry.
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