From Optimism to Hope

by Jonathan Sacks

Overview

A newly designed edition of this collection of Jonathan Sacks' favourite "Thoughts for the Day".

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was a regular voice frequently heard on the UK's most popular morning BBC radio news show. He regularly presented a "Thought for the Day" in which he addressed a current issue with characteristic brevity and clarity. His clear, calm voice brought hope and encouragement to all of us struggling to come to terms with modern, turbulent times.

From Optimism to Hope is a carefully selected collection of his favourite pieces from between 1995 and 2004, ranging in topics as wide-ranging as parenting, forgiveness, staying young and the Turner Prize.

The result is a book that still resonates today, and appeals to everyone, from people with religious beliefs as well as those with little or none.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399420556
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	06/24/2025
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.08(w) x 7.79(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who died in late 2020, was Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Britain and the Commonwealth. He was the author of numerous books, including Celebrating Life, The Persistence of Faith and The Dignity of Difference, for which he won a Grawemeyer Award in Religion.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Wisdom To Decide: 31 January 2003

Community: 6 March 2000

Writing In The Book of Life: 13 September 1996

A Gateway Of Hope 12 June 2000

Indiscretions 15 May 2000

Society With A Human Face: 19 June 2000

The Journey To Freedom: 21 April 1997

The Tale Of Our Yesterdays: 3 April 1996

A Candle Of Hope: 10 December 2001

Rembrandt And The Turner Prize: 10 December 2003

Two Books Of Life: 11 June 2001

What We Teach Our Children: 11 April 2003

When Words Fail: 11 June 2003

Where Terror Is Defeated: 11 September 2003

To Choose To Have A Child: 12 April 1995

The Warsaw Ghetto: 13 April 1995

Parenthood As Privilege: 13 December 2002

Peace As A Paradox: 13 September 2002

Temporary Residents: 15 February 2002

The Capture Of Saddam Hussein: 17 December 2003

Why Terror Always Fails: 17 September 2001

The Blame Game: 18 December 2000

Thinking Global: 18 June 2001

Left Alone Or Kept Informed?: 18 June 2003

Profits And Prophets: 19 March 2001

The World Upside Down: 1 January 2004

Spike: 1 March 2002

The Courage To Live With Uncertainty: 1 October 2001

Forgiveness: 1 October 2003

Taking The Leap: 28 February 2000

The Age Of Insecurity: 20 September 2002

The World We Build Tomorrow: 21 March 2003

Staying Young: 22 February 2002

Public Or Private?: 22 November 2002

Making Peace: 24 September 2001

The View From Space: 24 September 2003

Between Justice And Revenge: 25 June 2001

Running To Stand Still: 25 September 2000

Dancing With The Past: 26 June 2000

Taking Thought For The Day: 26 March 2001

The Right To Be Different: 26 November 2001

The Victory That Lasts: 29 November 2002 [Not delivered]

Terror In Mombassa: 29 November 2002

Handing On Our Hopes: 2 April 2001

The Faith Called Marriage: 8 February 2002

Repentance: 2 September 2002

National Forgiveness Day: 30 September 2002

George: 3 December 2001

Plain Speaking: 3 December 2003

Abraham's Children: 3 December 2001 [Not delivered]

Eating And Meeting: 4 December 2000

Doing Our Share: 4 June 2003

Education And Human Dignity: 6 December 2002

Between Two Evils: 5 March 2003

The Cry Of A Child: 6 September 2002

Science As A Blessing: 8 October 2003

It Takes More Than War To Make Peace: 29 March 1999

Tell Your Children: 31 May 1999

Of Armies And Schools: 7 June 1999

Kindertransport: 14 June 1999

In Praise Of Teachers: 21 June 1999

The Courage To Forgive: 10 September 1999

The Light Of Home: 6 December 1999

Reverence, Responsibility, Restraint: 20 December 1999

Letting Go Of The Past: 6 October 2000

Letting Go Of Hate: 23 January 2004

The Hero Without A Grave: 4 March 2004

Fathers: 19 March 2004

Terror In Madrid: 12 March 2004

Editorial Reviews

The genius of this collection is to be found not least in the diversity of the subjects covered ... These meditations have justifiably earned Sacks an important place in our national consciousness.” —The Tablet

From the Publisher