Former British Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks has died at the age of 72, his family said Saturday.
Sacks died Saturday morning after a battle with cancer that was diagnosed last month. The rabbi had previously undergone treatment for the disease.
His passing was mourned by British leaders from across the political spectrum.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his sorrow at the rabbi's death, saying "His leadership had a profound impact on our whole country and across the world."
The prime minister also extended "sincere condolences to his family, friends and the Jewish community," the Jewish Chronicle reported.
London Mayor Said Khan paid tribute to Sacks as someone "I benefitted hugely and learnt a lot from," while Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed the rabbi as a "towering intellect whose eloquence, insights and kindness reached well beyond the Jewish community."
Current British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis mourned the loss of "a Torah luminary and intellectual giant who had a transformative global impact."
President Reuven Rivlin also paid tribute to "a man of thought and a man of words, an original teacher and of creativity, a man of truth, whose generosity and compassion built bridges between people."
Born in London in 1948, Sacks obtained degrees from Cambridge and London universities and was ordained at Etz Chaim Yeshiva in London.
He became the Orthodox chief rabbi of Britain in 1991 and held the post until 2013, and was later granted the title of emeritus chief rabbi.
Rabbi Sacks was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2005 and made a lord in 2009.