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Leviticus:The Book of Holiness
Leviticus is misschien wel DE sleuteltekst van het jodendom. Hier horen we voor het eerst het gebod ‘Heb je naaste lief als jezelf’. En Leviticus is ook de bron van een nog hoger moreel principe: ‘Heb vreemdelingen lief als jezelf, want jullie zijn zelf vreemdelingen geweest in Egypte.’ Het is Leviticus dat opdraagt om anderen hun vrijheid te gunnen en respect te hebben voor de grenzen in de natuur.
Het opmerkelijkste van alle voorschriften in Leviticus is wel de opdracht om heilig te zijn, omdat God heilig is. Mensen zijn niet alleen geschapen naar Gods beeld. Ze zijn ook geroepen om te handelen zoals God handelt.
Rabbijn Jonathan Sacks neemt de lezer mee in de diepe gelaagdheid van Leviticus. Dan ontvouwen zich de eeuwige principes van een duurzaam en heilig leven. Bovendien laat Sacks de literair hoogstaande structuur van Leviticus zien, en waarom Leviticus midden in de Tora staat en het hart ervan vormt. In Leviticus maakt het volk een kantelpunt door: eerst werden ze door God bij de hand genomen, nu zijn ze voorbereid op zelf doen, op eigen verantwoordelijkheid.
Het opmerkelijkste van alle voorschriften in Leviticus is wel de opdracht om heilig te zijn, omdat God heilig is. Mensen zijn niet alleen geschapen naar Gods beeld. Ze zijn ook geroepen om te handelen zoals God handelt.
Rabbijn Jonathan Sacks neemt de lezer mee in de diepe gelaagdheid van Leviticus. Dan ontvouwen zich de eeuwige principes van een duurzaam en heilig leven. Bovendien laat Sacks de literair hoogstaande structuur van Leviticus zien, en waarom Leviticus midden in de Tora staat en het hart ervan vormt. In Leviticus maakt het volk een kantelpunt door: eerst werden ze door God bij de hand genomen, nu zijn ze voorbereid op zelf doen, op eigen verantwoordelijkheid.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2015
116 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Sacks
224 books442 followersRabbi Lord Jonathan Henry Sacks was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. His Hebrew name was Yaakov Zvi.
Serving as the chief rabbi in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2013, Sacks gained fame both in the secular world and in Jewish circles. He was a sought-after voice on issues of war and peace, religious fundamentalism, ethics, and the relationship between science and religion, among other topics. Sacks wrote more than 20 books.
Rabbi Sacks died November 2020 after a short bout with cancer. He was 72.
Serving as the chief rabbi in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2013, Sacks gained fame both in the secular world and in Jewish circles. He was a sought-after voice on issues of war and peace, religious fundamentalism, ethics, and the relationship between science and religion, among other topics. Sacks wrote more than 20 books.
Rabbi Sacks died November 2020 after a short bout with cancer. He was 72.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 14, 2024
Another great installment in the Sacks parashah companion series. And again, this work offered something fresh and unique.
The long introduction (something that wasn’t included in the first two companions for Genesis and Exodus) was a welcome treatment and summary of so many things that would be discussed in the essays to come. With Leviticus being such a unique and often confusing book, taking the extra time to lay some ground work was one of my favorite parts of this read.
And many of these themes were explored much more thoroughly throughout the book. Essays dove deeper into the ideas of how Leviticus serves as an interruption of the Exodus narrative, as well as constant examinations of the priestly voice as it compares to the voices of the prophet or of wisdom. It gave life to the place of law in the formation and development of God’s people.
My grasp of Leviticus became more robust and colorful after spending time in this read.
The long introduction (something that wasn’t included in the first two companions for Genesis and Exodus) was a welcome treatment and summary of so many things that would be discussed in the essays to come. With Leviticus being such a unique and often confusing book, taking the extra time to lay some ground work was one of my favorite parts of this read.
And many of these themes were explored much more thoroughly throughout the book. Essays dove deeper into the ideas of how Leviticus serves as an interruption of the Exodus narrative, as well as constant examinations of the priestly voice as it compares to the voices of the prophet or of wisdom. It gave life to the place of law in the formation and development of God’s people.
My grasp of Leviticus became more robust and colorful after spending time in this read.
October 26, 2022
Each week, synagogues around the world read a section from the Torah (the five books of Moses). The cycle begins with Genesis and ends with the last verses of Deuteronomy 12 months later. The Covenant & Conversation series has essays commenting on each of the weekly readings.
These essays are by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks who was the Chief Rabbi of the U.K. for some 20 years. I'd read his editorials occasionally in the Wall Street Journal and always found them insightful, inspirational, and down to earth. When I discovered he'd done this series I began at the beginning with Genesis. What I found was a work of genius.
These essays have the same easy style I remembered while giving in-depth, brilliant, compassionate commentary that often surprised me and sometimes changed my whole perspective on a Biblical person or their actions. Sacks is good at comparing ancient and modern world views. This not only clarifies Biblical context but often shows just how different our current ideas are. He looks at what Torah is showing us that is the same not only in those ancient times, but in our own lives. After all, the word of God is eternal, applying to all time and all people.
This is the third in Sacks' series, focusing on Leviticus, and I approached it with a bit of trepidation. As he notes, there are only two stories in the whole book and those are quite brief. Therefore, he spends a lot of time setting up the book itself. The introduction is 50 pages long but it is pure gold. First, we are told that:
If you ever wanted to see what's the deal with Leviticus, this is the spot to start.
These essays are by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks who was the Chief Rabbi of the U.K. for some 20 years. I'd read his editorials occasionally in the Wall Street Journal and always found them insightful, inspirational, and down to earth. When I discovered he'd done this series I began at the beginning with Genesis. What I found was a work of genius.
These essays have the same easy style I remembered while giving in-depth, brilliant, compassionate commentary that often surprised me and sometimes changed my whole perspective on a Biblical person or their actions. Sacks is good at comparing ancient and modern world views. This not only clarifies Biblical context but often shows just how different our current ideas are. He looks at what Torah is showing us that is the same not only in those ancient times, but in our own lives. After all, the word of God is eternal, applying to all time and all people.
This is the third in Sacks' series, focusing on Leviticus, and I approached it with a bit of trepidation. As he notes, there are only two stories in the whole book and those are quite brief. Therefore, he spends a lot of time setting up the book itself. The introduction is 50 pages long but it is pure gold. First, we are told that:
Leviticus is the central book of the Pentateuch, the Torah. This makes it the most important of the five. Biblical literature often works on the principle of mirror-image symmetry (chiasmus), structured in the form of ABCBA. In any work so patterned, the climax is not at the beginning or the end but in the middle. At the centre of the five Mosaic books. Leviticus is the axis on which they turn.He also points out that this book is the purest expression of the priestly voice. The rest of the introduction explores that voice and what the priest means to Judaism, especially in contrast to those of king and prophet. This sounds dry but is actually fascinating, which is the case with the essays which make up the body of the book.
If you ever wanted to see what's the deal with Leviticus, this is the spot to start.
June 20, 2017
This may be the best installment in this series of books by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks PRECISELY because Leviticus is such a difficult text for modern readers to parse. I suppose that's why Sacks was awarded the National Jewish Book Award for this.
R. Sacks's extended introduction to this volume serves, in my opinion, as one of finest, most mature, most sophisticated, and more inspiring definitions of observance centered Jewish living. He suggests that Leviticus is the most "Jewish" of the books of the Torah for this very reason: it explores the life of ritual, sacrifice, holy and unholy, and how these translate into modern Jewish observance. Sacks suggests that Genesis and Exodus for instance, stirring and magisterial, are the inheritance of all
of mankind. Exodus, for instance, as inspiring to Martin Luther King clearly serves as a polemic against power and the powerful. It's lessons are universal. R. Sacks suggests, however, that Leviticus is a book which speaks more particularly to particularism. That modern readers tend to be uncomfortable with particularism. That's why many have so much trouble with Leviticus and why, he believes, so many Jews find traditional Jewish rite and ritual so difficult within the confines are modernity and humanism. Without going into specifics here, Sacks offers what I believe to be an intellectually and spiritually compelling approach to these practices (as he always does). As usual, Sacks insists on intellectual integrity and no short cuts.
This is a wonderful read.
R. Sacks's extended introduction to this volume serves, in my opinion, as one of finest, most mature, most sophisticated, and more inspiring definitions of observance centered Jewish living. He suggests that Leviticus is the most "Jewish" of the books of the Torah for this very reason: it explores the life of ritual, sacrifice, holy and unholy, and how these translate into modern Jewish observance. Sacks suggests that Genesis and Exodus for instance, stirring and magisterial, are the inheritance of all
of mankind. Exodus, for instance, as inspiring to Martin Luther King clearly serves as a polemic against power and the powerful. It's lessons are universal. R. Sacks suggests, however, that Leviticus is a book which speaks more particularly to particularism. That modern readers tend to be uncomfortable with particularism. That's why many have so much trouble with Leviticus and why, he believes, so many Jews find traditional Jewish rite and ritual so difficult within the confines are modernity and humanism. Without going into specifics here, Sacks offers what I believe to be an intellectually and spiritually compelling approach to these practices (as he always does). As usual, Sacks insists on intellectual integrity and no short cuts.
This is a wonderful read.
January 14, 2025
This book touched my soul. It may be the fact that my beloved mentor recommended this and has also helped me to fall in love with Leviticus, but genuinely it’s beautiful the relationship God wants with His people. To create space so that a finite people can spend some time with an infinite God is adorable. We created this space that He can step into and we can come in holy. Even tho homie is everywhere. I live and recognize the importance of these disciplines and sacred times because they aren’t for Him but they are for us to step into this perfect, sweet place with Him. Vayikra, Leviticus, is truly God beckoning, calling His people who He dearly loves and He now invites us into this call as well. To be set apart, to set time apart, so we can meet Him in the here and now.
June 3, 2022
I really respect this book because it made me like Leviticus more just by virtue of making me ~~~think~~~. This is why I like Rabbi Sacks, even if I don't always agree with him. Trying to read the Torah, especially Leviticus, without commentary on the themes and contemporary understandings as well as biblical history is impossible. It's boring and you will not understand it. However.I came from previously reading like the Weekly Torah, which is very different. Since this book is a book for each of the 5 books of the Torah its way more intensive, but I doubt I would feel ready for conversion/affirmation without it.
June 10, 2024
Does the Torah matter to an atheist? Yes, because much of our ethics and cultural discourse is rooted in the Torah.Can the Torah teach us new lessons today? Yes, from a humanist perspective, the story of Jacob, Moses and the Israelites is the story of a family growing to become a nation . Moses sets them up with a belief in a power greater than themselves, laws, rituals and a homeland in which to grow. These stories of nation building have continued ever since.
When I watch my country breaking down I read these Torah stories and interpretations like Rabbi Sacks to help me understand the fundamentals for being a nation.
When I watch my country breaking down I read these Torah stories and interpretations like Rabbi Sacks to help me understand the fundamentals for being a nation.
December 23, 2023
Many treasures in all these books, but, from a Catholic perspective, finding that the RC church has finally recognised that 'God's covenant with the Jews has never been revoked' and in an encyclical, '
was a great joy.
Evangelii Gaudium’ 2013
https://www.vatican.va/content/france...
'Relations with Judaism
247. We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked, '
was a great joy.
Evangelii Gaudium’ 2013
https://www.vatican.va/content/france...
'Relations with Judaism
247. We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked, '
June 23, 2024
'Leviticus - boek van het heilige' is een prachtig boek. De heldere uitleg door Jonathan Sacks opent de diepere lagen van het bijbelboek Leviticus en laat de rijkdom ervan volledig aan het licht komen. Lezing van dit boek heeft mij ervan overtuigd dat het imago van dit bijbelboek als langdradig en niet meer relevant, volledig onterecht is. Sacks maakt duidelijk, mede aan de hand van de eeuwenoude wijsheid vanuit het Jodendom, hoe veelzeggend Leviticus is over het verbond tussen God en het volk Israël en over wat het onderhouden van dat verbond door het Joodse volk de eeuwen heen concreet praktisch heeft ingehouden. Een zeer aan te bevelen boek.
May 24, 2025
Probably the best book in the series so far in terms of making the weekly Torah portion relatable. The book of Leviticus contains many laws that are specific to the priesthood, but Rabbi Sacks' essays explore the ramifications of these laws on society then and now. The combination of Jewish and secular sources make the rabbi's argument clear and pertinent.
So satisfying to be enlightened and learn so much, and to find it so enjoyable.
So satisfying to be enlightened and learn so much, and to find it so enjoyable.
April 20, 2023
Rabbi Sacks feels like a cousin to my own Christian faith. When he’s right, his insights are fabulous, and not enough Christian works have been written analyzing the book of Leviticus. We differ in core beliefs, which is especially shown in his final essay, but I can heartily recommend this book for his thought provoking writings.
March 4, 2019
3.5 stars. This one of his series was not my favorite but still contained some wonderful hidden gems. I don’t agree with every interpretation but it gave me a chance to dig deeper into Leviticus. It’s wonderful to have a different perspective.
May 17, 2020
Another great commentary
This was very enlightening! Rabbi Sacks adds clarity to the thoughts and concepts presented in the weekly parshas. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to go deeper in your understanding of Leviticus.
This was very enlightening! Rabbi Sacks adds clarity to the thoughts and concepts presented in the weekly parshas. I highly recommend this book if you are looking to go deeper in your understanding of Leviticus.
January 26, 2021
Should be required reading for Christians. Im convinced that Leviticus is key to understanding Jesus’ mission, which is central to the Christian faith. Leviticus should be understood from a Jewish perspective. The whole Covenant and Conversation series is good, but this one is fantastic.
May 20, 2021
A Beautiful Companion to the Parashot of Leviticus/Vayikra
Again, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l collated his essays as accompaniment to the weekly parashot. For me they are full of wisdom and insight in similar fashion to the first two books in the series. Again, strongly recommended.
Again, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l collated his essays as accompaniment to the weekly parashot. For me they are full of wisdom and insight in similar fashion to the first two books in the series. Again, strongly recommended.
August 19, 2023
This is my third of Sacks' books and, like the others, it is wonderful.
Essays accompanying each Parasha throughout the book of Leviticus, all beautifully written and insightful. I highly, highly recommend these books to anyone and everyone.
Essays accompanying each Parasha throughout the book of Leviticus, all beautifully written and insightful. I highly, highly recommend these books to anyone and everyone.
May 23, 2017
Every Christian owes this to themselves
December 3, 2018
Challenged to the core
Many things about this book are challenging , interesting but not necessarily an easy read, but well worth it .
Many things about this book are challenging , interesting but not necessarily an easy read, but well worth it .
May 20, 2021
Nuevas visiones nunca antes consideradas. Análisis histórico de la economía y la política al mismo tiempo que comentario de Levítico
June 4, 2024
Moral clarity. Unbounded empathy. Humble wisdom. Immensely readable and endlessly rewarding.
August 15, 2024
As a Christian and a pastor, I’ve deeply valued Rabbi Sacks insights into the Torah. Like the previous two volumes, this set of essays around Leviticus was luminous and thought-provoking.
February 16, 2017
Rabbi Sacks' Covenant & Conversation book illumiates the Torah like no other. I'm sure it speaks volumes to Jewish readers, but as a Christian I am learning so much in a very readable form. Rabbi speaks truth into the troubling times in which we live.
This is the third in the series I have read and it is, for me, the most enlightening. Most Christian pastors and teachers avoid Leviticus, portraying it as dry and tedious. They need to read this book. One cannot read Leviticus with Rabbis Sack's guide in hand and not find great meaning and depth.
I can't wait to read another in the Covenant & Conversation series.
This is the third in the series I have read and it is, for me, the most enlightening. Most Christian pastors and teachers avoid Leviticus, portraying it as dry and tedious. They need to read this book. One cannot read Leviticus with Rabbis Sack's guide in hand and not find great meaning and depth.
I can't wait to read another in the Covenant & Conversation series.
June 12, 2017
Everything that Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes is infused with literary and allegorical brilliance and filled to the brim with powerfully positive perspectives on our sacred texts. This one is no different. But I have to admit, Rabbi Sacks seems to struggle more with his commentaries on Leviticus than others. Of course, when you delve into the details of Leviticus (priestly responsibilities, ritual sacrifice, etc.) it is miraculous that he finds modern meaning at all.
Sacks himself notes the challenge: "Of all the Mosaic books, Vayikra , Leviticus, is the one most out of step with contemporary culture." Yet he tells us that there are moments of great power and importance in the text. For example, he says "It is here that we read for the first time the command to 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' It is the source of the even greater moral principle, 'You shall love [the stranger] as yourself, for you were strangers in Egypt.'”
Perhaps more than any other concept, Sacks intimates, this ideal is at the hear of many essential parts of our moral and ethical code. At the heart of why in a badly divided society we can still find power and modern meaning in our ancient sacred texts.
In my opinion this is not the best of Sacks, but even when he isn't at his best, he is still a brilliant and insightful theologian and philosopher for our time.
Well worth a read if only to unpack this difficult text.
Sacks himself notes the challenge: "Of all the Mosaic books, Vayikra , Leviticus, is the one most out of step with contemporary culture." Yet he tells us that there are moments of great power and importance in the text. For example, he says "It is here that we read for the first time the command to 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' It is the source of the even greater moral principle, 'You shall love [the stranger] as yourself, for you were strangers in Egypt.'”
Perhaps more than any other concept, Sacks intimates, this ideal is at the hear of many essential parts of our moral and ethical code. At the heart of why in a badly divided society we can still find power and modern meaning in our ancient sacred texts.
In my opinion this is not the best of Sacks, but even when he isn't at his best, he is still a brilliant and insightful theologian and philosopher for our time.
Well worth a read if only to unpack this difficult text.
April 9, 2025
“Sacred order leads to social order”
Certainly one of my favorite books and the first I’ve read by Sacks. Brings to life and makes accessible correct understandings of the spirit of the law (that is, in so many ways, the law anyway) with the breadth of an essay series and the depth to be expected of anything addressing the Torah. Lends much, if incomplete and occasionally imperfect, nuance to a number of supposed ‘contradictions’. Draws on many secular and religious books on disparate topics to reinforce and/or simplify his points, which sometimes cheapens but usually contributes overall.
“The separation between heaven and earth is what makes the universe and human life possible. But their connection is what makes human life meaningful.”
Certainly one of my favorite books and the first I’ve read by Sacks. Brings to life and makes accessible correct understandings of the spirit of the law (that is, in so many ways, the law anyway) with the breadth of an essay series and the depth to be expected of anything addressing the Torah. Lends much, if incomplete and occasionally imperfect, nuance to a number of supposed ‘contradictions’. Draws on many secular and religious books on disparate topics to reinforce and/or simplify his points, which sometimes cheapens but usually contributes overall.
“The separation between heaven and earth is what makes the universe and human life possible. But their connection is what makes human life meaningful.”
September 5, 2016
Covenant on Conversation has been a valuable resource for helping me understand and value the challenging teachings of the Book of Leviticus. Recommended to me by a mentor, I have been reading it for the past 4-5 weeks.
Jonathan Sacks shares powerful insights on so many topics. His unique gift it to translate the archaic and dense writing of the Hebrew Bible into wonderful sermonettes that apply to daily life. It is divided into ten sections with 4-5 sub-chapters each. I have shared many of these chapters with friends and family.
If Bible Studies are your thing, this is a great addition to your library.
Jonathan Sacks shares powerful insights on so many topics. His unique gift it to translate the archaic and dense writing of the Hebrew Bible into wonderful sermonettes that apply to daily life. It is divided into ten sections with 4-5 sub-chapters each. I have shared many of these chapters with friends and family.
If Bible Studies are your thing, this is a great addition to your library.
September 29, 2016
Bringing Leviticus alive
I picked this book because in reading through the 'Old Testament' I was approaching Leviticus, a book that has always seemed boring and tedious. Wow. Jonathon Sacks brought Leviticus alive for me. I am not Jewish, but I found such wealth in these essays. I loved it so much that I am very sad that he hasn't written one for Deuteronomy! And I bought his book on Genesis for a birthday present for one of my daughter's. So, I highly recommend this book.
I picked this book because in reading through the 'Old Testament' I was approaching Leviticus, a book that has always seemed boring and tedious. Wow. Jonathon Sacks brought Leviticus alive for me. I am not Jewish, but I found such wealth in these essays. I loved it so much that I am very sad that he hasn't written one for Deuteronomy! And I bought his book on Genesis for a birthday present for one of my daughter's. So, I highly recommend this book.
June 26, 2024
Rabbi Sacks continues to astound with essays that prove HaShem's word is still relevant today!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews