Yonason Sacks

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. He commands a diverse knowledge of Talmud and its commentaries.

General information

Rabbi Sacks hails from a long line of rabbinic scholars. His 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. Sacks is fond of quoting the latter's works in his shiurim, and he dedicated his first book, "Chemdos Yomim" (focusing on the laws of the Sabbath) in memory of his father.

Derech halimud (methodological approach)

Sacks uses his breadth of knowledge in two distinct ways. First, when giving a shiur, in order to understand a "local" topic, Sacks will branch out into other areas of halacha (Jewish Law) examining the nature of that topic as it appears throughout the Talmud. After a thorough examination of the topic at hand, Sacks will apply the information gleaned from other areas with the aim of shedding light on the local issue. Secondly, Sacks will elaborate on paranthetical points made by the Gemara, giving his students a background in these important issues.

Education

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.

Works

Sacks is the author of three books on Jewish law:
*"Chazon L'Yomim 1 & 2", which focuses on Tractate Pesachim
*"Chemdas Yomim", which focuses on the laws of Shabbos
*"Orchos Yomim", which focuses on kriyas shema and shmoneh esrei

References and external links

* [http://www.torahweb.org/sacks.html TorahWeb articles and audio]
* [http://www.yutorah.org/bio.cfm/80151/Rabbi_Yonason_Sacks/ Biography of Rabbi Yonason Sacks]