The credit crunch will be the focus of the Chief Rabbi’s Rosh Hashanah broadcast this year.

In his annual New Year message, to be aired on Monday, September 14, Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks speaks to financial experts on whether faith can help us out of the recession.

Entitled A More Gracious Life, the programme will feature an interview with the BBC’s economics editor, Robert Peston, to discuss why the markets failed and what we have learned since the downturn.

Sir Jonathan also speaks to John Micklethwait, the editor-in-chief of The Economist, to discuss whether religious belief creates a healthier, wealthier society.

He begins to feel that his message — to value a moral code and give something back by caring for others — is getting through when he visits a fundraising event held by City traders for children.

He argues that Rosh Hashanah should be the time for Jews and non-Jews to admit their sins and renew their commitment to do what is right — rather than just what is comfortable.

The 20-minute programme will be broadcast on BBC1 at 11.05pm.