Rabbi Sacks on Leonard Cohen & Parsha Vayera | You Want It Darker | Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- Sitting in his hotel room in New York on 16 November 2016, Rabbi Sacks suddenly had a thought about a connection between the late Leonard Cohen's song "You Want It Darker", the current state of the world, and the week's parsha of Vayera.
The lyrics to "You Want It Darker" can be found here: • Leonard Cohen - You Wa... .
Learn more about Rabbi Sacks' work at www.rabbisacks...
Rabbi Sacks expresses so wonderfully the meaning and depth of Leonard Cohen. For those who saw him merely as a singer, this may open your eyes to who Leonard really was and the recent loss of the Rabbi brings further to us how Rabbi Sacks was very special to the world.
Man, I wish I had had a Rabbi like that when I was young. I strayed so far from my faith. This Rabbi is amazingly inspiring,, Really brilliant.
You can "return" and it is never too late.
Fantastikrysia
Unfortunately Jonathan Sacks retired in 2014. Oxford educated and top class....
Ya what RMSAnalyst said
@@albanvic hes reaching more people now than any time in his career
What a fantastic man. He visited my grade 9 English class. What an honour🙏
This talk by Rabbi Sacks confirms my tentative interpretation of "Halleluyah" and other LC references. I am grateful for it. Earlier I listened carefully to Cohen's interviews. "Halleluyah" can be understood and heard in so many ways. I listened to L Cohen since the 60s. He had more meaning for my husband and me each time. But my husband died 10 years ago. I became a Brit decades ago.Thanks Rabbi and Leonard. Peace.
Leonard Cohen was a symbol of dignity in the world of music. You could trust him.
Wow. Genius mind. You've touched my life in a profound way. If only I could have met you. RIP, you beautiful soul.
Sometimes the cracks open up. During my flying experiences at the college of aeronautics, Cranfield, UK., our training flights started in heavily clouded skies but as the aircraft climbed it suddenly emerged into brilliant sunlight. The feeling this creates is of wonder and it was no surprise to discover the college motto "Post Nubes Lux" which is latin for: "after the clouds, light!". May we all feel the magnificence of the Creator through the light that his works have spread. Halleluyah!
Praise God for giving us The Music of Leonard Cohen 🙏🎶❤️
Wow....very nice. I was never a fan of Leonard Cohen, but now I will check him out. Rabbi Sacks can make the back of a cereal box sound intriguing.
You are in for a treat the more u listen to leonard the more u will love him enjoy
Cohen will long be remembered fir his brilliance as will Jonathan Sacks. I put both of them right up there with Maimonides
I very much appreciate your commentaries here. I have long recognised that Cohen drew on his Jewish roots and his knowledge thereof; his songs are infused with such references. As a person of Christian upbringing, now lapsed, I did not know many of the details of his inspiration, and this commentary helps fill some of those gaps in my understanding. Mr Cohen is someone I have listened to since I was a young man. I feel that despite his reputation as someone who reeks of gloom, even his darkest songs have a rich and life affirming resonance. His passing is something that causes me much sadness, but on the other hand, I know I should be very grateful for his having been here at all.
And to think that both Leonard and Rabbi Sacks died on the same date: November 7
wow , that I did not know
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, you were truely a fire that lit so many candles of faith. May your soul rest in peace.
Thank You Rabbi, You have defined the essence of what it means to be a believing Jew. To love HaShem with every molecule of my existence.
Your analysis, Rabbi, is life affirming. As Cohen references a crack, letting in the light, you have followed that path and enlightened us. You Want It Darker is a riveting song, musically and lyrically, and you have embraced Leonard's story, and added to his legacy.
Thank you rabbi ..the world is very dark...im waiting for a shed of light to come...
Rabi Sacks: Your video with your thoughts about the passing of Leonard Cohen was very insightful and thought provoking. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Brilliant! Missed so much, but your incredible legacy lives on in our hearts and minds. Todah Rabah.
Thank You.
May LOVE meet us , very soon. אמן .
Love to all creation.
This is first of all his creation.
I appreciate your passionate and clear explanation, I could see some of the dots in one dimension, but thanks to your video now I can realize the multi-dimension of the song in a far clearer manner. Todah
Thank you Rabbi. It is obvious that both Leonard and yourself have looked very deeply into the meaning of these scriptures. Personally I can't help but feel that sometimes we look too deeply and miss the real message that is right under our noses.
Four years later, after yet another "divisive and troubling" American presidential elections, on parashat Vayera, rabbi Sacks passed away.
Will anyone eulogize him as movingly and he did Leonard Cohen? May your memories be in blessing.
Thank You Motti.
Motti,I think the biggest tribute to Lord Rabbi Sacks must be the outpouring of comments on his life,his ach
ievements and the millions who have been touched by his humble and powerfully intelligent messages of tolerance,love and understanding of the human psyche.
Yes this was one of the most moving and evocative eulogies I have ever had the pleasure of seeing
thank you for making things a little bit clearer
Rabbi, I've heard many a literature lecture that wasn't as deep, thoughtful, and insightful as your words. Thank you.
Wow that's so amazing and uplifting!! ישר כח
So beautiful.
I listened to Leonard cohen for the last 40years and I listening to every night just listen to rabbi sacks talk about his last song explaining the words of that song . I have always tried to tell people how funny Leonard is I hear a track and literally laugh at his lyrics I love him and always will
Let Us all sing hallelujah very soon.
ALL together . The real us..
Together with Leonard Cohen you bring light into this world. Over alles heen... as always and forever : Jerusalem.
Beautiful! Thank you!
I'm not Jewish and resonate with every word so I don't think it's solely a Jewish message though it is biblical. Beautiful thoughts. Thank you.
Kelly J Thompson Did someone say the messages in Rabbi Sacks' interpretation or the song were solely Jewish?
I think what you meant to say was "Although I am not Jewish, I found meaning in this Jewish perspective" Thank you for opening my mind to another perspective
Thank you so much Rabbi
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
It's over now, the water and the wine
We were broken then but now we're borderline
And I wish there was a treaty, I wish there was a treaty between your love and mine
Thank you...Amein
Leonard Cohen's "the future" and "everyone knows", both written in the early 90s, are perfect analysis of our post modern dead end in the 2020s, imho. Best recordings wete at the London concerts, toward the end of Cohen's life.
To who will we turn to now? 😥
Beautiful and pertinent, corporate and personal.
RIGHT ON MAN..HALLELUIA BROTHER
Here is a Rabbi who true to his title is a teacher and interpreter for those like me who understand far less than we might. Those who have the opportunity to hear him would do well to listen.
Honest, real spirituality . Maybe the strength of Judaism is its honesty. Much respect to this faith tradition . Wow. I love Leonard Cohen.
Upon learning of the untimely passing of Rabbi Lord Sacks I have written this.
I’m not ready yet.
There was a lover in the story.
He magnified, sanctified, embraced the human frame.
There was a healer in the story.
He glorified the scriptures, paradox, and made no idle claim.
When everything was burning, he was the help. He came.
Then, without requesting permission.
You put out the flame.
It’s darker. And now
I’m out of the game.
Broken and lame.
Struggling with demons.
I’m not ready yet, my lord.
Thanks Rabbi, from a Christian
Nadi Ipp: no flirtation ! It's searching , it's the whistling of the kids when they enter the dark basement , the confirmation, if nobody is there, at least YOU ARE THERE
I landed here by coincidence for Leonard and couldn't stop the video !
Ciao from a non-jew , shalom
thank you
Amazing!
Amen.
I wish this had close captioning.
very educational for me
Rabbi Sacks also passed on Parashat Vayera, three years after Leonard Cohen
Four years
Thank you for the enlightenment, ,,do we really want it darker?
There is a deeper, metaphoric, alegorical psychological insight into the biblical narrative of "basic stories" - somewhat like the deep psychology interpretations of myth found in Joseph Cambells literature amongst others such as Jordan Peterson.
The narrative is as folows.
If life as a human is a journey to grow and overcome challenges, develop personality, achieve virtue - whether the classical virtues such as found in Aristotles literature in terms of develping the mind as a rational being or the Judaic virtues developing a close relationship to the Divine with gratitude, love, grace, humility etc.
The tricky bit, in order to properly develop and grow, this must be ACHIEVED, it requires the use of free willed CHOICES and ACTIONS and cannot be a free gift.
If born "perfect" no one is impressed, even God cannot reward someone who has done nothing at all. Having no challenges and overcoming none is simply boring.
The difference is between the work of a carpenters furniture after a life time of prefecting the art vs getting the furniture from IKEA ready made and pretending to be a carpenter.
(choose any example - a singer working on the art of poetry and song for a life time vs just given it all ready made and final at the beginning)
Adam (the paradigm for a human spirit), in the Garden of Eden (a "ready made gift" metaphor = a garden, laid out, planned, given for free) has a choice, accept the gift and just "BE" in the light of God, definatelly nice, but something was nagging, there was an itch ! Adam was bored.
The command given by the God was DO NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL in translation the command is DONT MAKE IT DARK !
Why ?
The "knowledge of good and evil" is meant to make this internalized as part of the human psychology (a life of choices between temptations)- that we become confused beings "expelled from the garden of Eden" with a dark side, temptation enters into ones being so now we dont see the world in black and white but many shades of gray, fallen into turmoil and requiring to find our way back to the light.
This may seem completelly pointless, because if one finds their way back, are they not just where they started ? "back in the garden" ?
The case however is no, the ability to overcome the turmoils and grow as a being, develop and build the relationships becomes an achievement that is EARNED - part of us, not a freeby gift that is ready made.
The analogy, who would you rather talk to about giving up addiction to drugs ??? - someone who never touched a drug and has no idea what addiiction feels like or an ex-addict who overcame the addictive past and now a therapist ?
Who would you rather talk to - someone who has never experienced poverty and has no idea what is is like to struggle or someone who started a career from scratch, from rags and is now mastered the art and science of wealth building ?
Who would you rather take advice from if training a be a pilot, someone who never had the slightest trouble on any flight and all systems always functioned well or "a hero" someone who has experience preventing a crash (the "Sully" and amazing landings saving flights from disaster or perhaps a pilot who suceeded in numerous dogfights)
The examples are endless = we all are drawn towards the Hero's, but the hero's are challenged, had to go through darkness and torment, addiction or massive trials.
So bottom line:
God says to Adam: "Dont make it darker"
Adam's response:
Hey, but I want to be closer to you God, the only way to do that is making it darker, so I can find my way back to the light and become a hero, basically I want to do the Hero's Journey and the world has to become shitty.
God: I warned you ! Dont make it darker !
Adam: (already falling for the trap, in darkness) Well, its not me, I blame the woman. She will make it darker.
EVE: (already seduced) Was not me SIr, was the snake. It made things darker(a representation of poison)
The key sentance later in the bible is extremely deep - both are hiding from God, something that sounds riddiculously silly.
They now act like they are drunk with poison, its already dark, they made it darker and the world is a cracked psychology.
However, on the bright side, they are all on a Hero's Journey, we can all become Hero's, face the trials, find the light in the dark and come closer to God.
On the Dark side, God knew this all along, set a trap, and they fell for it as expected, its a God of Darkness, God has a dark side metaphorically - He creates darkness and forms the light (a quote from Isiah) - God creates the evil in the first place.
On a light side, the creating evil is necessary, otherwise there can be no choices and any concept of evil or good is completelly meaningless if we are robots and cannot make meaningful choices.
On the dark side, making it darker, allows more light to mean something more meaningful than if there was less dark or no dark in the first place i.e power of contrast.
Its a duality.
The best TV's on the market create better differentiation between the blackness such as QLED, looks better if you can make dark contrast with light even more, so MAKE IT DARKER, we get a better picture.
On the light side: The analogy is Plato's cave, those inside the cave will appreciate the light more when they get out and see the world.
On the dark side, those who have it too dark, wont see any light and die in darkness, crumble and fall apart inside the cave of delusion.
The analogy with Plato's cave - those seeking to explore a cave get easily bored near the enterance, MAKE IT DARKER, we want to explore more deeply, go deep into the caverns, more adventure, more thrill, more achievement, more Hero making.
On the dark side, that might be the last cave entered when dead in the dark and no one looks for you or worse, those following you all die in the dark.
On the light side, if you make it out of the cave alive, you can be a hero.
On the dark side, if the only reason you entered the cave was to become a hero, you might be classified as a dangerous arrogant idiot who is selfish for own achievements putting everyone at risk and creating unecessary darkness, wasting money on a rescue.
God's warning of "DONT MAKE IT DARK" - basically, dont eat the tree of Knowledge of good and evil" is paradoxical. On the one hand, Adam's future generations do become Hero's - parts of his soul are redeemed into genuine Hero's.
On the other hand, massive damage is caused to create the Hero and numerous false Hero's are just risky, dangerous cave explorers destined to die and look like arrogant idiots, even inspire herds or raving loonatics and genocidal murderers.
God's kind of saying, dont become an arrogant idiot in one sentance and in another God is saying, of course your going to fall for the trap, otherwise my world will be boring and I cannot write a piece of literature. I need to wright this story, so you better disobey me. Adam, its reverse psychology, if I say DONT MAKE IT DARKER, you will make it darker, so I can blame you for disobeying, but I will still love you as my creation, because I do know, its all my fault and my plan anyway, so MAKE IT DARKER, I FORM THE LIGHT anyway - and if its dark, you can better see the light when it does show up.
sometimes.
A lot of people comment very positively about how beautiful Rabbi Sacks' interpretation is. I'm going to be a contrarian.
As an (amateur) songwriter, I am very touchy about people reading their own interpretations into my lyrics. You're free to take whatever you want from them, relate them however you want to your own experiences, but it's offensive to me if you project interpretations on me that I didn't intend.
It sounds to me like the Rabbi is projecting a lot of his own views, and extrapolating too far from what Cohen actually wrote. Cohen's words are thought provoking and evocative, but in the end, they expose contradictions, express an inner conflict, and leave us wondering. So be it. That's what the man wrote. If he wanted to convey something else, he would have done so.
Insofar as Rabbi Sacks puts some of the Jewish references in context, I find his commentary illuminating. But he extrapolates so far, that it really sounds as much the Rabbi speaking as Cohen. I think he comes dangerously close to the sorts of things second rate literary critics do, extrapolating wildly from a written text, and interpreting it through literary theories that reflect the education and inclinations of the critic, and often have nothing to do with the author.
Starting from the opening of the video, where the Rabbi cites some examples of political developments that in his view are "making the world darker". I happen to disagree that the world is currently overall getting darker, Rabbi Saks' personal political views are certainly far from universal, and nothing like this is in Cohen's lyrics.
In what follows, I find much of the Rabbi's commentary illuminating, but much of it strained.
How condescending can you be?
Chutzpah Gall to call how he lived his life a flirtation
Please reflect on your words from a place of giyvah Haughtiness
Also this was his most Jewish song?
More than Who By Fire
More than Story of Isaac
Why Darshan an Apikores?
I am a Karaite Noahide. I follow the Rainbow Torah (Genesis 1:1 - 11:9).
When god asks a father to offer up his own son he is alluding to his own lamb that is to come.
as Leonard stated "Vilified, Crucified, in the Human Frame...
when the review/interpretation of the song surpasses the song itself....which i feel would've fared better as a spoken-poem rather than with it's accompanying funkiness beat rhythm mod-day grooviness factor etc....the rabbi i've little problem listening to.
Its love. And you jumped over in the human frame? obviously hes bringing Yahshua (Jesus) in the story
Looking forward to your hesped on Robert Alan Zimmerman.
Indeed! ♡
G-d forbid!
Unfortunately he didn't even have the manners to turn up to collect his prize. That is a sad reflection on HIM. I read it was worth US$900,000
I agree. I don't understand why Zimmerman gets the prize but Leonard doesn't. It says to me that the committee half-understood what they were doing.
I am only up to LC flirted w different religions. I humbly, or not, disagree. LC investigated other religions. I'll listen on Rabbi.
Impressive. Thank you.
Baruch Dayan HaEmes.
God of the underworld
Life and death
Personification
interesting interpretation but an interpretation never the less.......Artists are closest to god .....and BTW religions divide humanity, love connects!
Leonard Cohen was definitely the best of the 60s counter culture figures: his early work at that time :- novels, poetry, songs were inspirational and motivating to me to realise the truth of what was happening at that time. I met him once at the ICA where he had come to give a poetry recital. Even then he seemed troubled and insecure. Though this could be because he didn’t get paid for his Isle of White performance ( no one did)
Sadly his earthly desires got the better of him and he allowed himself to fall into the hands of women and the fame game merchants.
“I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch
He said to me, "you must not ask for so much"
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door
She cried to me, "hey, why not ask for more?"
Oh, like a bird on the wire
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free”
I’m pretty certain he understood that his later problems and pain were the consequence of this.
The Maharishi came in the 50s and with Timothy Leary inspired the idea of dropping out, which of course the authorities strangled at birth via sex booze and money - Satan’s traditional weapons! I’m glad I stuck it out. I dropped out in ‘72 and have never regretted it.
The story of Abraham and Isaac is a good one to pick in this context. No-one with even a smidgeon of metaphysical education thinks it’s a story about God asking a man to kill his own son then changing his mind, obviously.
So what is it about?
It’s a warning to pilgrims of the danger of false prophets. Wolves dressed as sheep.
It evokes the idea of following the will of God regardless of the personal consequences - Abandoning family life, material aspirations etc - which is what genuine believers have to do. It is the beginning of the end of this fictional device of dialogue between “God” and individuals.
It’s a misunderstanding of the Vedic idea of yagya which is central to pilgrim’s progress.
For genuine students of metaphysics it’s a reminder that Holy Scripture comes to us through many hands most if not all of which are not themselves true believers, many of whom work for the imperialists who have hijacked the prophet for their own evil reasons. Even the best motivated of these scribes were not sufficiently well informed to write prophecy, so the actual essence of metaphysics, the spiritual truth has to be searched for. Like finding the will of God in a pop song
Today, although everyone knows the history of institutional religions’ corruption, everyone clings to the false image of God that Rome and the Jews and Moslems have promulgated via their puppets the priests: the notion of expressing “love” for God is the correct pose for any “believer”: the idea that God is a personal entity who communicates with any and every individual and commands obedience on pain of retribution: the idea that “God” sanctions any form of violence or killing: the ludicrous idea that human form is the image of God in which we were created!!!
it’s well established that this is all the product of material government - mammon - but it’s still adhered to ineluctably - and when a true guru like the Maharishi comes along with the truth, he is surrounded by false servants who turn his truth into propaganda and market that aspect of his teaching which has commercial potential and doesn’t rock the boat. This is exactly what happened to the ministry of Christ!
Mark ch 10 v 25
Like Leonard Cohen’s songs will speak to us long after his death, now Lord Rabbi Sacks words of wisdom will inspire us long after his passing.
May, His Memory,be for a Blessing! He , has Penetrated, the Depths of My Soul!! Bask, IN the Light of Hashem! Surely, He has Encompassed, You, Within His Embrace!!
So true! Thank you. 🙏❤❤✡
Thank you, Rabbi Sacks, from a Catholic nun. My soul continues to resonate deeply with what you say of Leonard Cohen and his song "You Want it Darker". As you say, "Thank you, Leonard! Yes, the world has grown darker, but we can still see light coming through the cracks and let that light lead us... to find love and redemption in this broken world." Shabbat sholom to you and all who visit here!
Oh my God!!How beautiful your video was!! I'm a Moslem,but I was so profoundly impressed I couldn't help crying.
tooran oroojnia I'm not sure you mean 'but' , perhaps you meant 'and'. :). Shabbat shalom from Montreal.
You've made my day :))
Saalam and shalom.
Thank you.
peace and love brother
Thank you Rabbi Sacks. I am not a Jew but as I grow older and learn new things and ponder on my relation with The Almighty, I am realizing that I want to know more and more about Judaism. I had not known who Leonard Cohen was until eight years ago when a friend played a video of one of his concerts for me. Actually, his intent was to play only "Bird on a Wire". However I was so struck by Mr. Cohens performance that I ended up watching the complete show. Twice. The next day I did some research and began to learn more about Leonard Cohen, an ongoing process as there is much to know about this complex person. What you've done here has allowed me to understand his spirituality more clearly. Thank you so very much for helping me to appreciate yet another facet of Leonard Cohen, and perhaps even my own spirituality. Bless you and bless Mr. Cohen.
You can become a Noahide easily and begin your study of Torah. All the best Mr. McBride.
Thank you Shaul, for reminding me of this beautiful lecture of Rabbi Sacks; may he rest in peace! May they both!
UA-cam is fantastic. All these wonderful talks by Rabbi Sacks that can be listened to after his death. What a gift.
How beautifully insightful. Thank you Rabbi Sacks
Thank you Rabbi Sacks for an eloquent and moving tribute to the great Leonard Cohen. Like Leonard, I am a Jew who has also found a resonance in the teachings of the Buddha. The Kabbalah describes God as "Ain Soph Aur" - The Limitless Light. The Buddha taught that reality is Sunyata - often translated as 'Nothingness', but perhaps better described as "The Clear Light of the Void". The link is that the nature of this light is Unconditional Love in both traditions. We live in a world full of dukkha (suffering), but, underlying all is this Love. Shalom. Shankti. Peace.
There are certainly a number of parallels, though Hellenism goes quite a different route.
An interesting commentary, but really, but it is not necessarily fact, it is only speculation and one man's opinion based on his personal perspective/reflections. In all things we tend to see what we want to see. Only Leonard knew what Leonard really meant by this song and perhaps it inadvertently dishonors him by assigning intent to his work and "highjacking" it for any personal cause. It seems reasonable that the use of a Hebrew word and the inference/reference to the Jewish paradigm could imply that this song was meant as a Jewish "testimony" as the speaker surmises. However, there is also a very "Christian" reference in the song (that the Rabbi overlooked, perhaps willfully ) and the lyrics leave "a lot of room" for interpretation other than the Jewish mind-set. Leonard obviously had a "gift" for writing meaningful songs, but he was also witty and humorous which indicates a high degree of at least one kind of intelligence. It would probably not be difficult for such a person to design/create a song that would "speak" to a wide range of people from various religious paradigms as this song does (e.g. the reference to Christ). Although it is interesting to hear "a" Jewish perspective on the work, it would be nice to hear other views on this page, but don't respond to my comment, make a new one so that other will benefit as well. :) thanks! Jon
Wonderful Rabbi Sacks, Shalom always. You made me cry, God Bless you always. Derek
Thank you, Rabbi Sacks. The first time I heard Darker I knew it was special. Now I know why. Cohen will live on with this masterpiece.
Rabbi Sacks is one of the few theists I can stand to listen to. He's a very wise man.
Rabbi Sacks, thank you for your deeply moving and insightful song interpretation and tribute to Leonard Cohen. Absolutely stunning.
Rabbi, you made me cry today. So beautiful and wonderful . Thank you so much and may Hashem bless you.
Rabbi Lord Sacks, i came to your channel from the Leonard Cohen song and am thankful I have heard your words.
Dear Rabbi Sacks.(of blessed memory) ... You now will meet Leonard Cohen. Your brilliance lives on and has helped me to be a believer.....in good.
Unbelievable analysis. I can’t work out who is the greater loss - both men are irreplaceable.
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I somehow lost my login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me.
@Kaden Javier instablaster ;)
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Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Steven Roger It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much, you really help me out !
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I feel like this was Rabbi Lord Sack’s z”l goodbye or lheetraot “until we meet again” song to us, spoken via Leonard Ohen z”l
thank you for this. i have heard the scripture singing to us through leonard for so long, and i am so glad that i am not the only one.
Very nice interpretation. Thank you very much. I have sung Hallelujah when leading services and have loved his works in a Jewish context. So much richness can be found there. One additional point is that Leonard Cohen's "Story of Isaac" is a great anti-war song emphasizing your points.
Beautiful. Thank you for the brilliant lecture.
- A stubborn old not Jewish agnostic -
You might like to stop sitting on the fence, but take on both sides of it as an illogical but devout believer, like me.
Moved to tears... so sorry and mourning YOUR passing now, DEAREST COUSIN Rabbi Sacks
I would love to listen to this Rabbi on an ongoing basis. Well done.
Krista Tippet on ON Being podcast has recently played an old interview with late R. Sacks, a wonderful interview
May their memories be blessings
I love Rabbi Sacks ..and his analysis of Leonid Cohen's song
I was totally mesmerised by this song when I first heard it. The song was the opening theme for the movie series ‘Dark earth rising’.
I play it all the time, it is so inspirational. I delved into trying to fully understand the song. Researched so many articles but your analysis is amazing. Thank you for finally giving me a great insight to this song
Brilliant
Hi
Thanks for this Rabbi. Very enlightening
Re all religions, "I cant run, with this lawless crowd, while the killers in high places say they prayers out loud"
Yes, those are more of Cohens exquisite lines
To see this video just after the tragic passing of Rabbi Sacks, let’s pray for the day the world supplies his replacement. We really need one, as this video demonstrates how greatly he’ll be missed.
H no. I just saw your comment. How sad, I just discovered hom
So beautiful...I've listened to Leonard Cohen for years, but never possessed the insight to interpret his lyrics as I have just experienced through you, Rabbi. Thank you.
What a great speaker, teacher and role model. RIP Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Rabbi Sacks how very beautiful is this video and your talk on Leonard Cohen! FOUR YEARS LATER AND YOU HAVE BOTH LEFT. YOUR MEMORY WILL BE A BLESSING
Thank you! That's what I needed to hear!
thank you for an incisive commentary.always pertinent and instructive
Thank you Rabbi Sacks for these insights and your connective work in interpreting this song. I really am happy to discover your work.
Rabbi Sacks will be greatly missed.
Shalom aleichem!
Just think, Lenny is now a thousand floors above us in the Tower of Song, and if you listen real close you can him singing by his window.
Hallelujah!