Rabbi Sacks on The Politics of Hope | Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

During this year, I will be posting a series of six new whiteboard animation videos. Each video (produced by our partner White Animation) will seek to communicate some of the key ideas contained in much of my writings over the past 30 years, but present them in a dynamic and engaging way.
Among the ideas addressed will be (not necessarily in this order): the dignity of difference, integrated diversity, the relationship between religion and science, understanding and confronting religious violence, and the ethics of responsibility.
This first video looks at 'The Politics of Hope', an idea I first looked at in my book of this title first published in 1997.
It examines why societies in Europe and America have become far more divided in recent years, with a growing divide between left and right that has seen a rise in populist parties, extremes at both ends of the political spectrum and the centre ground being abandoned. This is what I call "the politics of anger". Why has it happened and can we create a different kind of politics: "the politics of hope"?
Please help to spread the message of this video by reposting it, liking it and - importantly - sharing it with your friends, organisations, communities and others. Thank you!
p.s. Please note that this video contains subtitles in: Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
To read a transcript of this video, please visit: www.rabbisacks.org/books/the-...
To subscribe to Rabbi Sacks' free mailing list, please visit: www.rabbisacks.org/subscribe/

[@carinamoses2704]

Thank you for sharing the beautiful wisdom and incredible moral and intellectual leadership of Rabbi Baron Sacks.

[@christopheranderson3064]

Wonderful Words of Wisdom coming from one of the wisest men of our age (Rabbi Sacks).

[@jondeeca]

Any voice willing to challenge polarization in politics and suggest that it is in our self interest to learn to cooperate intelligently, is a welcomed voice.

[@kevinparsley6806]

but i think each side sees their part as being available to "cooperate intelligently," if the other side only knew what intelligence was..

[@BorisGMusic]

Another excellent video, Rabbi Sacks. Thank you and thanks to your artists for a great rendering. You clearly delineate how to pursue the politics of hope, by acknowledging first, that we should focus on building a strong and balanced society.

[@mosheshpigel8795]

מדהים!!! כל פעם מחדש לקרוא להאזין ולצפות בתוכן המחכים ובתובנות המאלפות שמסתתרות מאחורי הדברים, כמו בסרטון כך בספרים הדעה הישרה והצלולה ללא משוא פנים נותנת את המבט הנכון אל החברה הדת והמדע ועוד. אין לי מילים אלא לומר תודה רבה.

[@lindaj5492]

2:45 In post-WW2 Britain there was a blooming interest in the Cooperative movement: my parents met through “The Young Co-operators’ and a friend of theirs helped set up farming cooperatives in The Gambia. That optimistic ethos enabled the creation of the NHS and other socially valuable systems - which we have been losing under competitive capitalism. Time for change.

[@bjornfinkelburgensteinski4629]

These videos are so inspiring. G-d bless you Rabbi!

[@kristine6996]

I try to live this way . . . You try to live from the inside out, you share, you give thanks, trust and hope. Judaism came into my life when I encountered literally "de man van mijn Leven". Thank you Rabbi, Thank you.

[@winnluke1976]

This is simply traditional anarchism. The phrase 'politics of covenant' could easily be replaced by 'traditional anarchistic politics' in this video. Well done guys!

[@rutbrea8796]

Again Wisdom speaks. If only everyone thought that way... The whole world would be different. I love you Rabbi Sacks. Hashem blessed is He, is within you. Love is the magic word for an amazing world to come, only if we all come to the understanding of that concept. Leaving behind jealousy, anger, envy and hatred. May the Almighty, Creator of the universe place this concept into everyone's heart and soul.

[@nayashams6845]

Thanks for your lecture, especially with drawing makes it better understood. Hope and family and community together with one value, we are one, help each other, makes it great nation. God bless you.

[@Mrm1985100]

Beautiful

[@rosalindtaylor8230]

I think community transcends the politics of left and right. We all have to do our part to create the society we want. Cooperation is only possible when we trust each other. Its sad that people who say "good morning" and smile at strangers are considered to be idiots or mad. It used to be commonplace. The thing that shortens life the most, according to studies, is a lack of social interaction. Celebrate life by smiling and reaching out to people that we meet.

[@almounasaddiyeh8685]

I liked very much the illustration of the market and the state and helped me understand. When I arrived in the US ten years ago I could not understand or rather refused to understand the logic of the markets on this side of the planet.

[@luisarashirovideo]

Hope is given by the creator. Not by the state not by the market. The state and the market have a Job. And they must do it accordingly to their responsibility. Hope is our job with the works of the creator on us, not by the state, not by a commercial, not by the market.

[@bluelabour6332]

Fantastic

[@kristine8338]

🕯

[@rachelklingerazulay665]

That's great!

[@wonderingalbatross2400]

Thank you for the interesting video : ) But what if people of different societies lived in a same state? I think there is a huge divide in USA about abortion now, and the same more radical and conservative southern religious vs LGBTQ communities? OR within even the same religion like Sunni vs Shia?

[@harrypearle9781]

This is wonderful. I like the animation. But I wonder if our over competition starts in school, as we compete for grades and attention. Can we encourage students to cooperate, more? Hillel: "If I am only for myself, what am I. If not now, when?"

[@almounasaddiyeh8685]

Harry Pearle I agree but is not the mentality here. When I went to Russia we tried to make school kids compete for the price and to go faster than the others. To our surprise, Russian kids helped each other, no one rushed but watched the other and helped. The prize which was a large bag of chocolates and sweets was opened by one of them and shared by all. It was a great lesson for all of us.

[@kevinparsley6806]

@@almounasaddiyeh8685 thats not surprising at all.

[@lindaj5492]

@@almounasaddiyeh8685 By ‘here’ I guess you mean somewhere in the West? I wonder if the Russian approach would still be evident today (December 2022: Putin’s Russia pounding Ukrainian cities to rubble).

[@lindaj5492]

@Harry Pearle But education is a reflection of predominant politics: in UK during Thatcher’s time, schools were derided for promoting ‘non-competitive’ sports.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

The market is voluntary. That is unless it is run by the state. The market by its very nature is cooperation. Government is a contract under threat of penalty.

[@kevinparsley6806]

you know, i consider myself left leaning, but i think i am so for all the reasons you mentioned about society... actually i think that is what causes the divide between left and right. from the point of view of those on the left, we see ourselves valuing society where the right values only themselves (or family).

[@layasaul28]

I believe this angry divide is making the assumption that "my side" is good and the "other" is not. If you look closely, you'll find that many people on the right are generous and and give much charity. The biggest danger is in the extremes of both the left and the right. Better if we don't label each other (damaging from the left and right) and are kind.

[@leonharpley7057]

Only the nation

[@LenHummelChannel]

Invoke the HIGHER POWER/ETERNAL BEING: YahOvah-Yahahvah over yourself & the world. HIS NAME IS above all others. AND HE WILL PREVAIL against sin,satan, & the sinfull-selfishness defilement of the world of men.

[@arikcarmi]

People have different interest and thus corporate only when it serves them. Ignoring the basic need of ME and focusing on the WE have seen the downfalls of many socialist movements and attempts for change. We are mostly egoistic in our behaviour and focus on our own narrow wishes and needs, open our heart only for a selected few.thats the ugly truth.

[@jeffmerriman-cohen8130]

I share your belief that we are egotistical in our behavior. However I also believe that we are pack animals, and thus, also have an innate desire to support the pack as well. I think there is a tension between these two feelings and at this time in history, in the western world, we have pulled far to the individual. In other parts of the world, others may be pulling far to the pack. And I long for a balance, a "golden path" between these two feelings and ideas; I think society would be much healthier where we to arrive there.

[@user-gn6wz9fe1c]

ah yes I trust jeff bezos to abide the covenant and have my best interest at heart, inequality is one of the most damaging factors for a sense of the society

[@chervineamouie3146]

As long as I'm living as long as I breathing I'll stand with Israel and Jewish People as I always have and always will for I'm a proud Zionist therefore and freedom lover therefore Israel and Jewish People will always have my support and love God Bless Jewish People God Bless Israel ❤️❤️❤️🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱❤️❤️❤️

[@vestibulate]

When he proposes that neither power nor wealth be shared, Rabbi Sacks reveals an agenda in which gross inequity is given free rein. His attempt to substitute undefined qualities such as "love" and "friendship" in place of real material goods and social rights, is simply an attempt to convince his audience to accept the present arrangements. He himself is a wealthy man, a member of the British House of Lords, to be addressed in exalted terms. Thus it should come as no surprise that he expects the rest of us to live on love. This is not the basis of his own position in life, but it's deemed suitable for those who have little but who hunger for a just distribution of power in a democratic society.

[@carinamoses2704]

Well, no. The social fabric is just as important to human well-being as material wealth. By the way, he isn't arguing for or against any particular political program here, he's arguing for a reminder as to why the non-political realms of civic life are so important. The separateness of which your comment ironically demonstrates. And he never said "love is all you need" - I think that's the Beatles.

[@carinamoses2704]

By the way, after a certain point of material goods, happiness actually plateaus and further material gain doesn't make people any happier. This suggests that there is more to human happiness than material prosperity.

[@jamessullivan6224]

The social covenant only applies among people with a shared 'identity' = language, traditions, history, ethnicity, race. A social covenant only functions within societies that are in-effect extended families. The idea that a social covenant can be formed between individuals or groups with more and more divergent ideology, beliefs, languages, traditions, histories, goals and visions for the future is Ridiculous! You're obviously an intelligent man, why are you talking such nonsense?