Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, author of our Lenten Book, Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence was awarded the 2016 Templeton Prize Laureate today.
Jennifer Templeton Simpson, Chair of the John Templeton Foundation Board of Trustees said the following of Rabbi Sacks:
“He has always been ahead of his time and, thanks to his leadership, the world can look to the future with hope, something we are very much in need of right now.”
There are some amazing videos for those you studying this book, of Rabbi Sacks, answering some introduction questions for the Templeton Prize. You can watch the answers (even though it says Jean Vanier, last year’s recipient, the answers are from Rabbi Sacks) to these questions by him by clicking here
At a press conference in London earlier today, Rabbi Sacks was announced as the 2016 Templeton Prize Laureate. The Templeton Prize, valued at £1.1 million (about $1.5 million or €1.4 million), is one of the world’s largest annual awards given to an individual and honours a living person who has made exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works. Rabbi Sacks will formally be awarded the Templeton Prize at a public ceremony in London on 26th May 2016.
I hope you will share your thoughts on the book so far by commenting on this post, sharing joys, concerns, continued questions as well. Blessed Lent.
+Greg
The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, 8th Bishop of Olympia 
Incredible speaker and prophet. I have introduced his work to the Army CPE program. What are the possibilities of bringing Rabbi Sacks to Olympia?
On a similar note, I wonder if folks have discovered the emerging Wisdom Commentary from Liturgical Press. Amazing times that we live in.
This may be one of the most powerful books I have read in the past decade, and I hope and pray that it receives an enormous readership. One reviewer thought that Rabbi Sacks may be “preaching to the choir” and not reaching those who perpetrate religious violence. I see the concern, especially given events of the past year, but I don’t share it. Rabbi Sacks’ work in this book is truly prophetic in the tradition of prophets of biblical times, who were not predictors of the future, but rather inspired voices calling people to repentance and justice. They reminded the people of God’s amazing and steadfast faithfulness, as Rabbi Sacks does here. They offered not despair, but hope and a reminder of right relationship with G*d, by whatever name we choose to use for the Divine. If religion is to live into its potential as the source of hope, love and justice, then especially the children of Abraham–teachers, leaders, clergy and lay people–would do well to get re-inspired by this masterwork from a brilliant soul. Pick up this book, read it, share it and remember or learn how to put love into action for justice, instead of retribution or despair! Thanks, Bp. Greg, for choosing this remarkable book for our Lenten reading.