Covenantal theology in the work of Rabbi Sacks

This paper explores R. Sacks’ covenantal theology and illustrates how it evolvesthroughout his writings. It begins by tracing covenantal theology’s developmentin America during the 1960s, primarily focusing on Rabbis Soloveitchik, Hartman,and Greenberg, noting their influence on R. Sacks. While R. Sacks’ work is informedby covenantal theology’s zeitgeist, his novelty lies in expanding the concept beyond traditional Divine-human relations. Instead, he uses covenant to pioneer acomprehensive method for addressing contemporary moral and societal dilemmas, helping him navigate antithetical positions such as modernity and tradition,universalism and particularism, science and religion, and the individual and state.This paper demonstrates how R. Sacks’ covenantal framework provides a novel yetrelevant approach to contemporary issues, extending beyond religious discourse.