VIDEO –

Members of the UK Jewish community gathered recently to honor Lord Jonathan Sacks , the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth. Lord Sacks has held office since 1991 and will step down later this year.

Approximately three thousand people convened at the Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue, to attend the event entitled “Our Journey with the Chief."

Video courtesy of jn1.tv

"We felt that we wanted a major event to give the community an opportunity in their numbers to be able to pay tribute to him," explained Russell Kett, vice president of the United Synagogue, Shabbaton Choir.

Green Prayer UK chief rabbi calls for environmental Shabbat Associated Press Jonathan Sacks asks Jews across Britain to pray for sustainable habits of consumption, energy use UK chief rabbi calls for environmental Shabbat

"We've involved some music, but more importantly, we've brought in Sir David Frost, who's going to conduct an interview with the chief rabbi, and that will be the centerpiece of the event."

The interview gave Lord Sacks the opportunity to reflect on the last 22 years in which he has held office.

"The great privilege of these 22 years has been being part, a little part, a tiny little part, of a Jewish community that really has transformed itself," Lord Sacks told Frost. "Our synagogues, which tended to be three days a year or one day a week, have now become seven days a week community centers."

Daniel Feinstein, who attended the event, believes that Lord Sacks "has become, not just in the Jewish community, but in the wider community, probably one of the most, if not the most respected religious figures in the country."

There were also musical tributes from the Shabbaton Choir and a variety of Jewish schools, including Wolfson Hillel and The Jewish Free School.

Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who also attended the event, will become the 11th chief rabbi in September.