Sacks is reported to have shied away from media appearances for the past two years so as not to overshadow his successor as chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis. However, his head is firmly back above the parapet as he challenges many who say that religion is intrinsically a cause for violence. It is another challenge altogether from that of being the head of mainstream Orthodox Judaism \u201d\u201d during which he became probably the best-known British chief rabbi in Anglo-Jewish history. An Archbishop of Canterbury during his period in office is the principal leader of the Church of England, even though the synod can resemble the House of Commons at prime minister\u2019s questions. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster cannot argue with the Pope. A chief rabbi has to cope not only with the deviating views of other clerics but also with members of his flock who enjoy sniping from the wings.<\/p>\n
The resulting magnum opus has been a labour of love. \u201cI wrote with passion and it took 12 years,\u201d\u009d he says, adding that he has a profound belief in detail: \u201cYou can\u2019t do microsurgery with a pneumatic drill.\u201d\u009d He has also rewritten the book four times.<\/p>\n
Is it a book that could have been written while he was chief rabbi? After all, The Dignity of Difference, a previous book, was severely criticised by other rabbis because it appeared to give equality to other faiths. \u201cThe Dignity of Difference was a statement of global ethics. This is a statement of what I take to be the bedrock of Abrahamic monotheism,\u201d\u009d says Sacks, adding that his latest book is more hard hitting. \u201cI can probably speak more forcefully now than I could, because I am putting myself on the line, not the community on the line.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n