The former chief rabbi, Lord Jonathan Sacks, has died aged 72 about a month after being diagnosed with cancer, a spokesman for his office has confirmed. He died in the early hours of Saturday morning, the spokesman said. Lord Sacks was a prolific writer and regularly contributed to radio and TV programmes such as BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Elaine Taylor, their three children and several grandchildren.