Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, has been diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement released on Thursday, his spokesperson said, “Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks has been recently diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment to aid his recovery.”

“He remains positive and upbeat, and will now spend a period of time focused on the treatment he is receiving from his excellent medical team. He is looking forward to returning to his work as soon as possible.”

The spokesperson continued, “For those who wish to include Rabbi Sacks in their prayers and thoughts, his Hebrew name is HaRav Ya’akov Zvi ben Liba.”

The statement did not specify the type of cancer or how severe it is.

Rabbi Lord Sacks was the chief rabbi for the UK from 1991 to 2013. He is considered one of the most influential Jewish leaders alive today and has been nominated for the 2021 Genesis Prize, which is said to be Israel’s version of a Nobel Prize.

We will be praying for his speedy and full recovery as we are sure many people in both the Christian and Jewish communities will be doing.

Below is a video from last year where Rabbi Lord Sacks gave a powerful speech in the House of Lords about anti-Semitism in our society and where it leads to if it remains unchallenged. A reminder of the importance of this man and his role on earth today.

Related Articles:

A Holy Land without Israel?

Archbishop Sarah Mullally's pilgrimage to the "Holy Land" appeared to overlook the Jewish people’s Biblical, historical and present-day connection to the Land. The Archbishop rightly showed concern...

America owes its existence to the land of Israel

A common phrase we have been hearing from President Donald Trump in the last few weeks is that Israel would not exist if it wasn't for him. "Without me, there would be no Israel - because no other...

Since when did it become acceptable to bully Jews outside a UK synagogue?

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside a London synagogue, using an event advertising property in Israel to target a Jewish place of worship with anti-Israel slurs.The...

Parliament’s Israel obsession fuels antisemitism – as does the UK’s funding of the PA

Did you know that the UK Parliament is obsessed with Israel? We had a feeling it might be, but it appears Israel is debated more than some key domestic topics. In this article: Parliament has been...

Two-tier policing fears: When a UK policing body calls Zionism “anti-Muslim hatred”, public trust is at stake

Can Jewish victims trust policing when a Muslim policing body brands Zionism as hate? Revelations concerning the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) are a serious wake-up call. The group...

Subscribe to start receiving FREE TORCH magazines from CUFI UK