Yonason Sacks
![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (August 2009) |
Yonason Sacks is an Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University, as well as the spiritual leader of the Agudas Yisroel of Passaic Park in Passaic, New Jersey.
On May 15th 2012 it was announced that Rabbi Sacks has been appointed Rosh HaYeshiva of Beis Medresh L'Talmud, at the Lander College for Men.
Family history
Rabbi Sacks' father was one of the leaders of Jewish education in Chicago, Illinois, and his great-grandfather was the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank. Rabbi Sacks dedicated his first book, Chemdas Yomim (focusing on the laws of the Sabbath) in memory of his father.
Bildung
Rabbi Sacks attended the high school headed by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Rabbi Pinchas Bak in Riverdale, New York in the mid 1970's.
Rabbi Sacks graduated from Yeshiva University in 1981 and was ordained by the University’s affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary in 1984. Two years later, he was awarded Semikha Yadin Yadin, an advanced rabbinic ordination enabling him to serve as a posek - decisor of Jewish law.
Educational method
When giving a shiur Rabbi Sacks uses a two step approach to topic analysis. First, in an effort to understand the topic in a wider context than the case at hand, Rabbi Sacks will branch out into other areas of halacha (Jewish Law) examining the topic as it appears throughout the Talmud. The information gleaned from the broad analysis is applied to the case at hand. Secondly, Rabbi Sacks will elaborate on parenthetical points made by the Gemara, giving his students a background in these important issues.
Works
Sacks is the author of multiple books on Jewish law:
- Hagadas Chazon L'Yomim
- Chazon L'Yomim 1, 2 & 3, which focuses on Tractate Pesachim, Beitzah
- Chemdas Yomim, which focuses on the laws of Shabbos
- Orchos Yomim, which focuses on kriyas shema and shmoneh esrei
- Yimei Temimim, which focuses on Pirkei Avos
- Yimei HaPurim, which focuses on the holiday of Purim
- Yimei HaSefira, which focuses on the days of Sefirat Ha'omer
References and external links