Voice of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Narrates New JLI Promo

By COLlive reporter

One of the notable people who has spoken out against the rise of antisemitism and its new concealed forms in recent times has been Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory.

The former Chief Rabbi of Britain has repeatedly addressed the correlation between the classic hatred of Jews and modern hate for Israel, its government and citizens. ”

“Before the Holocaust, Jews were hated because they were poor, and because they were rich; because they were Communists and because they were capitalists; because they kept to themselves and because they infiltrated everywhere,” he stated.

So what is antisemitism?

Rabbi Sacks answered: “It’s a prejudice that, like a virus, has survived over time by mutating. So in the Middle Ages, Jews were persecuted because of their religion. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were reviled because of their race. Today, Jews are attacked because of the existence of their nation-state, Israel.”

And now, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is taking a fresh look at this ancient hate in a new four-session course titled “Outsmarting Antisemitism: How to Beat it with Purpose, Positivity and Jewish Pride.” It will be presented by Shluchim and Shluchos in over 500 Chabad centers around the world this October.

Narrating the promo trailer for the course is the eloquent and commanding voice of Rabbi Sacks.

Using history, Talmudic sources, Jewish mysticism, and contemporary expert analysis, the course addresses some of the niggling questions we grapple with as individuals and as a community. Why does antisemitism persist? How can we make hate go away? How can we counter Israel-focused antisemitism and prevent our own youth from unwittingly lending their voices to antisemitic agendas?

“Many Jews are anxious about rising antisemitism today and worry about how to respond to it,” officials at JLI said. “By exploring the mechanics of antisemitism and probing historical strategies for reducing it, this course offers a framework for confronting it head-on with purpose, positivity, and pride.”

Informative, interesting, and empowering, Outsmarting Antisemitism is well suited for community leaders and laypersons alike.

“All those who care about religious freedom, both Jews and others, confront a disturbing increase in antisemitism worldwide,” said Cary Nelson, past president of the American Association of University Professors. “It is no longer enough just to be opposed to antisemitism. We all have to be knowledgeable about its history and current manifestations if we are to be equipped to combat its spread. That is why this course matters.”

Natan Sharansky, former refusenik and chairman at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, commented:  “What distinguishes the present moment is the rise of antisemitism simultaneously on all fronts. To succeed in the struggle against these dangerous phenomena, we have to confront antisemitism on all fronts simultaneously. Therefore, this course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is very important.”

Like all JLI programs, it is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue.
Continuing Education Credits for attending this course are available for medical professionals (CME) and legal professionals (CLE) in many states.

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To learn more, visit: https://www.myjli.com/index.html?task=courses_detail&cid=1124