I've never known a room.

I've never known a room go so quiet so quickly with such little fuss.

Members of the Sachs family and distinguished guests all, I want to welcome you to the inaugural

Sachs Conversation.

When Rabbi Lord Sachs of Blessed Memory stepped down as Chief Rabbi in 2013, the Covenant and Conversation Trust was set up to support and promote his teachings.

And he did me the signal honor of asking me to be its chair.

For seven years, the trust performed merely a supporting role,

for such was the power and influence of Rabbi Sachs' thoughts, writings and teachings

that frankly the trustees had little to do. That all changed with his all too early death

last year. And so the trust reinvented itself. renamed itself the Rabbi Sachs Legacy Trust,

and most importantly brought family members on board,

and has set about its task to ensure that future generations continue to engage

and learn from Rabbi Sachs' teachings and ideas,

which so successfully spanned the religious and secular worlds.

Tonight's conversation is the first public step

in fulfilling the trust responsibility,

and we're very fortunate to host this inaugural Sachs conversation in this magnificent building.

As many of you know, the meticulous renovation of Spencer House was inspired and led by

Lord Rothschild. The building is owned on a long leased by RIT Capital Parton's PIC, and I'm pleased

to acknowledge here this evening, Hannah Rothschild,

Director of RIT and Jonathan Kestenbaum, one of our trustees, who is RIT's chief operating

officer.

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