Episode Twenty-Four: Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Radical or Reactionary?

Episode 24 examines Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's defense of dissent and his idea of what it means to be radical, rooted in Jewish covenantal thinking and the balance between individualism and collective life. The host — a non-Jew and atheist — explores how Sacks reconciles tradition, social justice, and his establishment roles, including his seat in the House of Lords. The episode also critiques the limits of Sacks's dissent, especially his outspoken defense of Israel and his attacks on critics like Jeremy Corbyn, raising questions about hypocrisy, power, and whose voices are heard in debates about radicalism and moral leadership.