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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: Joy

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05/06/2016

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, Joy

Lord Sacks, the former chief rabbi, reflects on the powerful human emotion of joy.

Lord Sacks, the former chief rabbi, uses his debut presenting Something Understood to reflect on joy, through music, prose and poetry and some profound insights from his own life.

Lord Sacks, the former Chief Rabbi, uses his debut presenting Something Understood to reflect on joy through music, prose and poetry and some profound insights from his own life. 

In a deep and moving programme Rabbi Sacks reflects on the difference between joy and happiness. The programme begins with a blast from Beethoven's great Choral Symphony and the final movement which uses the words of Schiller's Ode to Joy , Freude, schöner Götterfunken, "Joy, O wondrous spark divine." He goes on to point out the fact that Jewish history has not been obviously full of joy, but he uses two Psalms to illustrate the fact that despite suffering the Jewish faith is full of joy and the praise of God.

He ponders the uncertain world we live in and the anxiety it causes. Nevertheless he says "we are in a world filled with beauty. Every breath we breathe is the spirit of God within us. Around us is the love that moves the sun and all the stars. We are here because someone wanted us to be." 

Another aspect of the modern world, the 'selfie', prompts an insight inspired by Wordsworth's poem Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey. "The self is too narrow a place to find meaning and satisfaction...the power of joy is that it momentarily silences the self so that we can see into "the life of things" and hear the music of the universe."

Presenter: Lord Sacks
Producer: Michael Wakelin
A TBI Media production for BBC Radio 4.

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