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"To me, that ark is: engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. We have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person, and lead a worthy life . . . What we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different." Sarah Hurwitz—former White House speechwriter and New York Times bestselling author of Here All Along—returns to People of the Pod to discuss her new book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. Hurwitz reflects on why antisemitism remains, in her words, "the least mysterious phenomenon," and how Jews can reclaim pride, wisdom, and purpose through Jewish text, practice, and community. Drawing from her work as a hospital chaplain and her conversations with Jewish students on campus, she makes a powerful case for reconnecting with the depth and resilience of Jewish tradition. Key Resources: AJC's Translate Hate Glossary AJC's Efforts to Support the Hostages Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman:     During the Obama administration, Sarah Hurwitz served as senior speech writer for President Barack Obama and chief speech writer for First Lady Michelle Obama. But after she left the White House, she did a little bit of soul searching, and in her mid 30s, reconnected with her Judaism. She wrote about it in a book titled Here All Along, and joined us at the time to talk about it. Sarah has returned with us this week to talk about the book that followed, titled As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.  Sarah, welcome back to People of the Pod. Sarah Hurwitz:  Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be here. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So your title has a very powerful accusation. So tell us who is blaming, shaming and trying to erase us? Sarah Hurwitz:   Yeah. So, you know, it's funny. My first book, as you know, was this love letter toJudaism. This, this journey of discovery of Jewish tradition, and I loved it so much, and I wanted to share it. You know, as I was writing it, I was thinking, Oh, where has this been all my life. Kind of a lovely, almost rhetorical question. But after it came out, a few things kind of happened that made me actually ask that question more seriously. Like, Wait, why did I not see any of the 4000 years of Jewish wisdom growing up?  The first thing was, I trained to be a volunteer hospital chaplain, and you know, chaplaincy is multifaith, open to chaplains of all backgrounds. But you know, the training was kind of weirdly Christian. You know, we would talk about our ministry and our theology. And I was told that prayer is God, please heal so and so who's right here in front of me, and I'm just making this prayer up spontaneously, and they can hear me, and that's prayer. And everyone prays that way, I was told. I said, You know that that's not really a common form of Jewish prayer. But I was told, No, no, as long as you don't say Jesus, it is universal. That's interesting.  And then something else that happened is I visited a college campus probably a year before October 7, and I was talking to students there at the Hillel, talking to a bunch of Jewish students. And one of them asked me, What did you do to respond to antisemitism when you were in college? And I was so stunned, I didn't even understand the question at first. And then I said, I didn't, not once, never. Not a single time did I deal with antisemitism.  And the kids just looked kind of shocked, like they didn't believe me. And they started sharing stories of the antisemitism they were facing on campus. And I thought, uh oh, something's going on here. And then I really began kind of taking a deep dive into my identity.  Of like, wait, so why did I spend my whole life being like, oh, I'm just a cultural Jew. I knew nothing about Jewish culture. Which is a beautiful way to be Jewish, being a cultural Jew, but I knew nothing about history, language, anything like that. When I said I'm an ethnic Jew, but Jews are of every ethnicity, so that's nonsense.  Or I'd say social justice is my Judaism, but I didn't know anything about what Judaism said about social justice. Unlike these wonderful Jews who do know about social justice and spend their lives acting out Jewish social justice.  And so I took a deep dive into history, and what I discovered was 2000 years of antisemitism and anti-Judaism and 200 years of Jews in Western Europe in a very understandable attempt to escape that persecution, kind of erasing many of our traditions. And I think that was kind of my answer to, where has this been all my life? And also my answer to, why did I have such an apologetic Jewish identity for so much of my life? Manya Brachear Pashman:     In my introduction, I left off half the title of your first book because it was very long, but I am curious, kind of, when did you realize . . . well, let me give the full title of your book, it's Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).  So I guess, how was that delayed connection to Judaism, can you elaborate a little bit more about how it was tied to these forces that you just talked about? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, so, you know, something that I didn't really fully understand, I had intimations of this, but didn't really understand this, is that, you know, 2000 years ago, early Christianity very much defined itself against Judaism. There was actually a name for this, the Aversos Judeos tradition, which means against the Jews in Latin.  And you know, early Church Fathers very much were defining Christianity against Judaism, because back then, both of these traditions had originated from Judaism. And you know they parted ways at some point, and the Church Fathers were really trying to distinguish Christianity from Judaism, and to get people to stop kind of practicing both traditions. This tradition really continues with Judaism defined as unspiritual, legalistic, depraved, dead, spiritually superseded. A lot of very, very ugly tropes that kind of have common themes that say that Jews are diabolically powerful, so supernaturally powerful, you can't even believe it. They are also profoundly depraved, evil, bloodthirsty, perverse, and they're in a conspiracy to hurt you. So there may be very few of them, but man, they are working together to really do harm.  And you see these three themes kind of making their way through history, unfortunately, all the way basically, until the Holocaust. And I based a lot of my writing on the work of a number of really distinguished Christian scholars who make this argument. It's actually a pretty common argument among Christian scholars.  And, you know, in recent decades, the church has very much disavowed its historic anti-Judaism and has worked very hard to, you know, fight antisemitism in the church. But, you know, these things really did kind of continue on through the 20th century. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you do describe in your book moments when you got oddly defensive about your Judaism, or perhaps a bit revisionist about Jewish history and the origin of Jewish traditions, or the reason why they exist now in modern day. Can you elaborate on some of those moments for our listeners and explain how you've self-corrected thatdefense? Sarah Hurwitz:  You know, I think a lot of it took the form of, oh, I'm Jewish, but not that Jewish. It was just sort of this immediate, but I'm not one of those Jews. You know, those really Jewish Jews. Well, I'm sorry, would it be a problem if I were? What if social justice wasn't my Judaism, but Judaism was my Judaism? Would that be okay? You know, just beginning to notice, like, Why am I always kind of pushing it away, claiming that I'm not too Jewish? That's a very strange way to announce someone's identity. I think, you know, Dara Horn has actually a really, quite an amazing essay called The Cool Kids, and she talks about these two different types of antisemitism. And one is this kind of eliminationist antisemitism which says the Jews are bad, there's nothing they can do to be good. We must kill them. And you know, that is the Holocaust, pogroms. We learn about that kind of antisemitism in school. But there's another kind of antisemitism, which is conversionist, which says, yes, the Jews are bad, but there is something they can do to be okay and saved. And that is, they can disavow whatever we, the majority, find disgusting about Jewish civilization.  So you know, back in the day, it was, reject Jewish religion and convert to Christianity, and you'll be saved, maybe. For some amount of time, possibly. In my parents and grandparents generation, it was, you know, reject your last name, get a nose job. Stop being so "Jewy", be a little bit more "waspy," and then maybe we'll let you into our club. Then maybe we'll accept you.  And today, what you see is you have to reject your ancestral homeland, you know, reject Israel, and then you'll be okay. And, you know, I visited 27 college campuses, and I kind of saw how this sometimes takes on the format of almost like a Christian conversion narrative, where it goes something like, you know, growing up, my rabbi and my parents told me Israel was perfect and amazing and a utopia. And then I got to college, and I realized that actually it's a colonialist, Nazi, racist society, and I had an epiphany. I saw the light, and I took anti-Zionism and anti-colonialism into my heart, and now I'm saved. Now I'm a good Jew. And their classmates are like, now you're a good Jew.  And as Dara Horn puts it, this kind of antisemitism involves the weaponization of shame. It involves really trying to convince Jews that there is something fundamentally shameful about some aspect of themselves, their identity, their tradition. And today, that thing is Israel. This idea that there's something fundamentally . . . it's like the original sin of the world. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And you also talk about the tradition of circumcision, and how that came up, and you found yourself explaining this to someone. Can you elaborate on that for our listeners? Which I thought was really interesting.  Sarah Hurwitz:  This was during an encounter with a patient. I was doing a chaplaincy shift, and  usually I don't tell my patients my religious background, I'm very neutral, unless they're Jewish, in which case, I do tell them I'm Jewish. But, you know, I was finishing up a conversation with this very lovely lady. And she was very curious about my background. And so I told her, you know, I'm Jewish. And her eyes kind of lit up, and she said, Oh, you know, many of my neighbors are Jewish. I've actually been to two brisses in the past month.  And she just, you know, and she was so lovely, like, she actually seemed to be just really happy to be included in this tradition of her neighbors. And I got weirdly defensive, and was like, Oh, well, you know, just so, you know, medical professionals, they say whether you circumcise or don't circumcise, it's really, it's equally safe either way. And you know, we often, you know, when we do brisses, they're often done by a medical provider.  And I'm going on and on and like, this woman did not say the slightest negative thing about this tradition, but suddenly I am defensive. Suddenly it's like, Huh, interesting. You know, I think that it was an illustration to me of the way that we can sometimes really imbibe all of the kind of negative views about Jews and Jewish traditions that are around us, and become defensive, and sometimes we don't even realize that they're there. It's almost like they're the air that we breathe. Manya Brachear Pashman:     But let me challenge that and push back a little bit. I mean, is it okay to not agree with some of the traditions of the Jewish faith and be open about your disagreement with that? I certainly know a lot of Christians who don't like things that emerge from their tradition or from their community. Is that okay? Or is it not when Judaism is threatened? Sarah Hurwitz:  So I actually do think that's okay. You know, I have no problem with that, but I think the problem in this situation was that I have no problem with circumcision, but I'm suddenly getting defensive and trying to convince this woman that it's not weird. And I'm thinking, why am I doing this? It was very interesting to me that I felt so suddenly defensive and anxious. You know, it was very surprising to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     And similarly, it's okay to criticize Israeli policy too, right? I mean, it's totally acceptable.  Sarah Hurwitz:  Absolutely. This is the thing that I'm so confused about. Where people are saying, well, you know, you're saying that it's not okay to criticize Israel. And I'm like, I'm sorry. Have you been to Israel? It's like the national pastime there to criticize the government. I criticize the Israeli government all the time, as do millions of American Jews.  This idea that this is somehow… that we're somehow reacting to criticism of Israel, that's ridiculous. I think what we're reacting to is not criticism of Israel, but it's something else. You know, when you have students on a college campus saying from water to water, Palestine should be Arab, or Israelis are Nazis. I just, with all due respect, I don't see that as criticism. Nor would I see it as criticism if, God forbid, a Jewish student ever said from water to water, Israel should be Jewish, or, Palestinians are terrorists. That is hateful, disgusting, racist, eliminationist language. And if I ever heard a Jewish student say that, I mean, let me tell you, I would have quite a talking to with that kid.  So that's not criticism. Criticism is, I am vehemently opposed and abhor, this policy, this ideology, this action, for these reasons. That's criticism. And I think you can use real strong language to do that kind of criticism. But there's a difference between a criticism and slurs and baseless accusations. And I think we need to be just clear about that. Manya Brachear Pashman:     All right, so you just use the term from water to water instead of from river to sea. Was that on purpose? Sarah Hurwitz:  Not necessarily. It's just a clearer illustration of what I think from the river to the sea really means, you know, I think  that is the Arabic that is used. Infrom the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free. It's like, you can kind of make an argument that this is about Palestinian Liberation. And okay, fair enough. But I think when you get the from water to water, it shall be Arab, that's when I think there's less of an argument that it's about freedom, and it seems a little bit more eliminationist to me. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Interesting. I've not heard that before. But I like that. So you call antisemitism the least mysterious phenomenon. Can you please explain what you mean by that? Sarah Hurwitz:  Yeah, you know, I think, like a lot of young people, my antisemitism education was mainly just Holocaust education. And I kind of walked away thinking like, huh, how wild that the civilized world just lost its mind in the mid-20th century and started killing Jews. That's so shocking and disturbing, you know, why is that? And the answer was kind of like, well, you know, the Germans lost World War I. They blamed the Jews. There was a depression. They blamed the Jews.  And when you ask why the Jews, it's like, well, because of prejudice and scapegoating. I'm like, Okay, right. But again, why the Jews? Prejudice and scapegoating, that's the answer. It's like, well, actually, the answer really is because of 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism that preceded that. It wasn't mysterious why the Jews were targeted.  This was a 2000-year neural groove that had been worn into the Western world psyche. And this is not my argument. This is the argument of countless Christian scholars whose brilliant work I cite. And so I think that the unfortunate thing about some forms of Holocaust education is that it leaves you with the impression that, oh, this is so mysterious, it's just kind of eternal and kind of comes out of nowhere. Or even worse, you might even think maybe we did something to deserve this. But it's not mysterious. I can show you its path through history.  And I think it's very important that Jews understand this history. And look, I think this is very hard to teach in an average American public school. Because, you know, we live in a country where, you know, saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is very upsetting for some people. They feel very threatened and triggered by that.  So for a teacher to say, like, Okay, kids today we're going to learn about how 2000 years of Christian anti-Judaism paved the way for the Holocaust . . . I don't think that's going to go well. Even if many mainstream Christian scholars would agree that that's true, this is a challenge that we face. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So you have continued, as you said, to visit college campuses where antisemitism has been an issue since October 7, more of an issue than it even was beforehand. And yet, when you were at Harvard and Harvard Law, you've said you could have walked through Harvard Yard wrapped in an Israeli flag and no one would have said a word or reacted negatively. So what has changed, and does it signal a more general shift on campuses of kind of uncensored, unbridled speech?  In other words, if black students support black lives matter, or gay students are marching for pride, do you feel like there's a sense that students who disagree with that from either the right or the left, have kind of claimed a license to criticize that too? Sarah Hurwitz:  No. I try to explain to college students when they say, Well, okay, my campus isn't that bad, you know, I can wear my Jewish star, and I won't get, you know, harassed or ostracized. And I say, like, okay, great, if it's not that bad, I'll just wear my Israel t-shirt and we'll see how it goes. They're like, No.  And then I have to go through this long litany of like, okay, if your black classmate said to you, well, this campus isn't so bad for black students, but I can't wear my Black Lives Matter t-shirt or else I'll be harassed and ostracized. I hope you would say that's not okay, that's racism, pretty clear. Or if your queer classmate said, Well, this campus is pretty good for queer people, but I can't wear my pride t-shirt, I hope you would say, That's not pretty good. That's homophobia.  You know, when the majority feels entitled to decide how the minority can embody and express their identity, I think we have a really serious problem. And  sometimes the kids will push back on me. Well, no, no, but the problem isn't being Jewish. It's Israel. I'm like, okay, but if your Chinese American classmate wore a t-shirt that said China, even if all your classmates knew that the Chinese government had been interning a million Muslim Uighurs in camps and subjecting them to horrific human rights violations, would they harass and ostracize her?  And they're like, Well, probably not. Right, because they would assume that she has a relationship to China that maybe involves having heritage there, or maybe she studied abroad there, or maybe she's studying Chinese, maybe she has family there. I think they would assume that she has some connection to the country that doesn't involve agreeing with the policies of the Chinese government, and Jewish students on campus really aren't afforded that courtesy.  And I'll tell you, most of the Jewish students I spoke with on campus, they, like me, are extremely critical of this current Israeli government. Extremely, extremely critical. They have all sorts of criticisms about what's happening in Gaza, of the occupation.  You know, their views are quite nuanced and complex, but there is no room given for that. You know, I think on some college campuses, Israel has been put into the same bucket as the KKK and the Nazi party. So I can't say to you, look, you know, I'm a Nazi, but I'm a liberal Nazi. Or, oh, you know, I'm in the KKK, but I'm not racist. It's like, come on, right?  These are vile entities with which no connection is acceptable, period. And I think once Israel ceases to be a country and instead becomes the representation of all evil in the world, there's really no relationship that you can have with it that's acceptable. And I think that is a pretty devastating place for it to be today.  And I'll tell you, I think it's a really challenging moment right now where I, like a lot of American Jews, I'm a Zionist. I believe that Jews have a right to a safe and secure home state in their ancestral homeland. I believe we have the right to national independence and self determination, like Japanese people have in Japan and Latvians have in Latvia, and on and on. And you know, we've run that experiment of Jewish powerlessness for 2000 years, and it didn't go well. Even as late as the 20th century. It wasn't just that two thirds of Jews in Europe got wiped out because of the Holocaust.  It's that nearly a million Jews who lived in Arab lands had to flee persecution, most of them to Israel. It's that 2 million Russian Jews had to flee persecution, half of them to Israel. It's that 10s of 1000s of Ethiopian Jews, I can go on and on. So we know, we've run that experiment of Jewish statelessness, and it doesn't go well.  And at the same time, we are looking at this current Israeli government, and we are appalled. We're appalled by the ideology, we're appalled by many of the policies. And you know, for me as an American, this feels very familiar, because I love this country. I'm a proud, patriotic American, and I happen to very much disagree with the current president. I happen to be very much appalled by the current president's policies and ideology. And so, I think many people are able to hold that, but somehow it's harder with Israel, because of what is in the air right now. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So, really you're saying that antisemitism has distorted history. Distorted people's understanding of Israel's history, their understanding of modern Israel's rebirth and existence. It spawned anti-Zionism. Correct?  Sarah Hurwitz:   Yes. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Did you encounter that during your time in the Obama administration? Do you see it now, in hindsight or or is it a more recent emergence? Sarah Hurwitz:   I think this is more recent. I mean, you know, probably in some spaces it was, you know, I was in the administration from 2009 to 2017. I never once saw any kind of anti-Zionism or antisemitism. I mean, it was one of the best places to be a proud, passionate Jew. I knew my colleagues could not have been more supportive of my Jewish exploration. They were so proud when I wrote my first book.  So I never saw any of this ever, once. And I think, you know, I think what is so confusing about this is that we often think about antisemitism as a kind of personal prejudice, like, oh, you know, Jews are fill in the blank, nasty thing. They are dirty, cheap, crass. I don't want my daughter to marry one. I don't want one in my country club.  You don't really see that kind of antisemitism in the circles where I travel anymore. What you see instead is more of political antisemitism, which is antisemitism as a kind of conspiracy theory that says that we, the majority, are engaged in a grand moral project, and the only thing stopping us are these Jews. We the majority are Christianizing the Roman Empire.  The only thing stopping us, these Jews who won't convert. We the majority are bringing about the brotherhood of man, the great communist revolution. The only thing stopping us, these capitalist Jews. We the Germans, are bringing about the great, racially pure Aryan fatherland. The only thing stopping us – these race-polluting Jews.  And today in America, you see it on the right and the left. On the right, it's, you know, we white Christian Americans are bringing back white Christian civilization to America. And the only thing stopping us are these Jews who are importing black and brown immigrants to replace white people. That is the extremely racist and antisemitic theory known as the Great Replacement theory. It is an ugly, disgusting lie.  On the left you have, you know, we this very moral group of people. we are bringing about the revolution of anti-colonialism, anti-Zionism. And the only thing stopping us are these colonialist Zionists, which is a polite way of saying Jews. And so, you know, I think it's very important to understand, as Yossi Klein Halevi, the journalist, puts it, you know, what you see again and again is whatever is the worst thing in a society, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. Whatever is the worst thing among a particular population, that is what the Jews are deemed to be. And I think we're kind of seeing that on both the right and the left today. Manya Brachear Pashman:     If antisemitism defines so much, or has defined so much of Jewish identity, how do we reclaim that? How have you reclaimed that? And how have you found joy in your Jewish identity, especially after doing this book and immersing yourself and all of this extremely depressing perspective? Sarah Hurwitz:   I hear this kind of line among many Jews that breaks my heart. It's this sort of self-flagellation, of like, if we just had the right PR campaign, if we just had the right tweet, then we would fight antisemitism. It's our fault, we're doing such a bad job fighting antisemitism. And, you know, I love the ambition there. I think that is so sweet.  But there are 16 million of us in the whole world. That's with an M, million, like the size of like, the fifth largest city in China. We are a Chinese city. There are billions of people who don't really love us out there. And the idea that we, this tiny group of people, is going to somehow change the minds of billions of people. I really respect the ambition, but I think that's a tough one.  I think it's sort of like trying to bail out a tsunami with buckets. You know, if enough of us do it, I'm sure we can make a difference. And I have such respect for the people who are doing that work. I think it's very important. But I also would just suggest that maybe we should put a little more of our energy into building an ark to weather the storm.  And you know, to me, that ark is, engaging deeply with our traditions. It's reclaiming, I think, some of what we lost when we were assimilating and trying to fit in. You know, we have thousands of years of text that have such wisdom about the human condition, about how to be a good person and lead a worthy life and find profound spiritual connection. We have just so many beautiful traditions. And so I think that what we can really do is, we can be Jews. And to be a Jew has always been to be different.  That was kind of our value proposition thousands of years ago when we came along and said, hey guys, monotheism. Totally different way of thinking. We said, hey, every human being is created in the image of God, which is an idea that every human being is infinitely worthy. Which, again, this is the idea that underlies things like liberalism, democracy, human rights. These are really Earth-shatteringly different counter cultural ideas, and we have so many more of those that I still think the world needs today.  So I think that rather than just being anti-anti-semites, that we can be proud Jews instead, and we can really focus on becoming more learned, more vibrant members of our communities, you know, engaging in more of our traditions and our rituals.  I also think, you know, Dara Horn has been doing a lot of great work about educating kids about Jewish civilization. Rather than having young people only know about the Jews via the Holocaust, she really wants to teach young people about Jewish civilization, ideas, and people. I think that is a very, very powerful and very helpful idea. Manya Brachear Pashman:     So how are you doing this? How do you spend each week? How do you reclaim some of these traditions and joy? Sarah Hurwitz:    For me, it's studying. That's really how I engage, you know, I have various chavrutas or I study Jewish texts. I love reading Jewish books, and I love participating in the Jewish community. You know, I love engaging with various Jewish organizations, you know, serving on various committees, and just trying to be part of this project of reclaiming Judaism, of making it more accessible to more Jews. This is what I love doing, and I'll be starting in January. I'm actually going to be starting a rabbinic program at the Hartman Institute. It's a part time program.  And I'm not not planning to be a congregational rabbi, but I do want to keep writing books, and I am really grateful for this opportunity to get a much deeper, more thorough Jewish education than the one I've kind of given to myself, and, you know, kind of cobbled together. I think this is going to be a really extraordinary opportunity. So I'm very excited about that.  Manya Brachear Pashman:     Oh, wow. Well, congratulations. I look forward to welcoming you back to the podcast and calling you Rabbi.  Sarah Hurwitz: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:     Thank you so much for joining us, Sarah. Sarah Hurwitz:  Such a pleasure. Thank you for having me.   

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with writer Sarah Hurwitz—author of the new book As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us—about what it means to be a “knowing Jew.”In a time when we often feel compelled to justify our Judaism to the world, being Jewishly educated is no longer a luxury but a necessity. In this episode we discuss:What does a proud Jew professionally associated with the Democratic Party make of the state of contemporary politics? Where should one begin in trying to be an educated and involved Jew with a strong Jewish home?How can the mussar literature be a great starting point to people looking to deepen their practice? Tune in to hear a conversation about claiming for ourselves the tradition that so many try to take from us. Interview begins at 11:14.Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) and As A Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try To Erase Us. References:As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us by Sarah HurwitzHere All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah HurwitzThe Mighty DucksEveryday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan MorinisMesillat Yesharim by Moses Chaim LuzzattoFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Text Our Show HostsPreppers… Survivalists… Off-Gridders… Homesteaders… and the like… Welcome… to TOPS Bunker…A Podcast for PreppersSpeakpipe.com/TOPSFacebook Group… TOPS BunkerSHTF@Topsbunker.comTonight, Jeremy and I are doing a bit of Bunker Talk… that is… we're going to shoot the shit, so to speak, and see where the conversation takes us. Kind of a… shop talk style episode, bringing in some current events, current opinions, and current interests and happenings around the world. Yes, we're taking a break from talking about prepping and survival for this one episode, cuz let's face it… y'all have other interests right…? Besides rice and beans and bugging out… dam, I hope so.Alright then… here we go…Visit HoneyComb Holler on YouTubeTOPSBunker.comPlease Visit Our Affiliate Links to Find Great Preparedness Products:No Man is an Island by John Donne Hard CoverThe Amish Survival Bible PaperbackThe First-Timers Urban Survival Guide PaperbackPrepper Community - A Group-Based Methodology PaperbackPrepper Survival Retreats PaperbackThe Survival Group Handbook PaperbackMAGS: The People Part of Prepping PaperbackBroke, Busted, and Still Surviving PaperbackBuilding a Mutual Assistance Group PaperbackPrepper Mutual Assistance Groups PaperbackPrepared Together MAGS PaperbackBAOFENG UV-5R 8w HAM Radio KitBAOFENG UV-5RM 10w HAM Radio KitThe BAOFENG Radio Bible PaperbackMy Prepper Brothers and Sisters…Take a break from Prepping every now and again. It'll be good for ya. Trust me, too much of any one thing is never a good idea.I wan't to encourage you all… to let us know, what topics you'd like us to talk about on the show… and also, to extend an invitation to all of you to join us on this show, as co-host for the night, to talk about your Prepping and Survival interests. We'd love to have you on… Look… There's nothing scary about it. You'll be nervous for the first few minutes, just like all of us we're our first time. But then you'll quickly realize that it's just a conversation between friends… That's it. Super easy.Which reminds me… next week, we have Joe from Florida coming on as a guest host to talk with us about his strategic relocation from NY to Florida as well as current events sprinkled with a touch of politics.Guys… please reach out to us on the TOPS Bunker Facebook Group Page so we can talk about it.Stay Prepped… Stay Happy…Thanks for listening… and… Goodnight...Support the show

Send me a Text Message here.SPOTLIGHT! LOOK THERE!This Spotlight episode highlights the special work that Scottish sign language interpreter, Bruce Cameron has recently experienced. In 2024 he started serving the communities through a new medium, the BBC media.He shares his stories and experience in this specific setting. He details the daily commute, the operations that the interpreters must learn, the teaming skills, the new interpreting skills, and much more. Enjoy this 3-part Spotlight on Bruce and his experience.IW CommunityA great place to meet regularly to laugh, learn, and lean on each other.You get:10 or 50% OFF of workshops, seminars. A great way to earn professional development hours.Online meetings to expand on the IW podcast episodes. Meet online with interviewees.Practice groups, Dilemma discussions.And more.Support the showDon't forget to tell a friend or colleague! Click below! IW Community Buy Me a Coffee Get extras with a subscription! Share the PODCAST Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter Listen & follow on many other platforms. Send me a voicemail! [TRANSCRIPTS ARE HERE] Thanks for listening. I'll see you next week.Take care now.

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This series is sponsored by an anonymous lover of books. This episode is sponsored by Twillory. Use the coupon code 18Forty to get $18 off of all orders more than $139. In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to returning guest comedian Alex Edelman, whose show has made it to Broadway, and his chavrusa, Sarah Hurwitz, former White House speechwriter and the author of Here All Along, about how to introduce people to a Judaism that is both inclusive and rigorous. In this episode we discuss: How does Alex Edelman write a one-man show “chavrusa-style”?What, according to Sarah Hurwitz, is the difference between “writing to be read” and “writing to be heard”?How does a writer bring a rich and relevant body of Jewish knowledge to the masses?Tune in to hear a conversation about the “neon entrance signs” of Jewish life and how every Jew can find a way into appreciating their inheritance.Alex Edelman interview begins at 13:32.Sarah Hurtwitz interview begins at 54:09. Alex Edelman is a product of Massachusetts's Maimonides School and has been featured on Conan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2020, he was the head writer and executive producer of the “Saturday Night Seder” YouTube extravaganza, which raised over $3.5 million for the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. His show Just For Us is running on Broadway! While nights tend to sell out quickly, tickets are available here.Sarah Hurwitz is an American speechwriter. Sarah was a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama from 2010 to 2017, and was appointed to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by Barack Obama shortly before he left the White House. Sarah is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).References:“Failure Goes to Yeshivah: What I've Learned From the Failure Narratives of My Students” by David BashevkinThis Is My God by Herman WoukPeople Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present by Dara HornFor the Relief of Unbearable Urges: Stories by Nathan Englander White nights: The story of a prisoner in Russia by Menachem BeginThe Lonely Man of Faith by Joseph B. SoloveitchikGod in Search of Man : A Philosophy of Judaism by Abraham Joshua HeschelSuddenly, a Knock on the Door: Stories by Etgar Keret From Text to Tradition, a History of Judaism in Second Temple and Rabbinic Times: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism by Lawrence H. Schiffman To the End of the Land by David GrossmanMy Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim PotokHere All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) by Sarah HurwitzAs a Driven Leaf by Milton Steinberg

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Sarah Hurwitz, presidential speechwriter and author of the new book "Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)"

In this episode we feature Sarah Hurwitz. Hear about her journey to becoming a practitioner and teacher of Jewish mindfulness. Read her book "Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)" or connect with her on https://sarahhurwitz.net/ Struggling with anxiety? We made you a free video to help. Just click the link now and get instant access. https://bit.ly/3t4DPxy

Sarah Hurwitz, former senior speechwriter for President Obama, head writer for First Lady Michele Obama, head speech writer for Hilary Clinton's 2008 campaign and acclaimed author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) joins Raviv and Rabbi Jess to discuss structure in speechwriting, the kind of Judaism they hope to practice, and how to transform study into action.

Sarah Hurwitz is a former speechwriter for some of the most prominent politicians in the United States—from Barack and Michelle Obama to Hillary Clinton to John Kerry. Over the past few years, however, her path has shifted, and her work has expanded to the Jewish community. Now, as a modern Jewish thinker and author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There), Sarah Hurwitz shows a journey through Judaism that deeply moving and far from linear. Learn about Sarah Hurwitz's work here: https://sarahhurwitz.net/ ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media  

Sarah Hurwitz worked 24/7 at Harvard, and barely took time off as she built a career in DC writing speeches for first Hillary Clinton and then Michelle Obama. Sarah would even take her cell phone into the shower. But as she explored the teachings of Judaism, she began to appreciate the vital importance of the commandment to observe a day of rest, and found that sometimes doing less made her happier. Sarah is author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Sarah Hurwitz grew up thinking there was little the great texts of Judaism could teach her - she even hatched a plot to get out of Hebrew school. But in adulthood she discovered that The Torah contains instructions to act with gratitude, kindness and solidarity that all chime with the latest happiness research.   Sarah is author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Writer Sarah Hurwitz, formerly head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, is here to talk all things self-care- How do they unwind on Capitol Hill, what does Michelle Obama smell like, and how to write a dynamic speech! Plus, Sarah's Book, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life -- in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) and how Judaism plays a part in the daily rituals of life. Make sure you listen until the very end for a stunning reveal! For links to everything mentioned in this episode, go to www.natchbeaut.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode Rabbi Wildes speaks with Sarah Hurwitz. She's the author of "Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)." After a decade as a political speechwriter—serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign—Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book . . . about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is.

What has been the thing that was “always there” for you? Signing? Dancing? Taking pictures on your grandpa’s old camera? Have you ever considered taking a more creative or unconventional path but didn’t know if it was something you could TRULY do with your life? Today we connected with actor Kevin L. Johnson, most known for his role as “Sam” on the Netflix hit Ozark, about his creative journey and what it really takes to make a life doing what you love. We hear about his decision to leave the beaten path to pursue the unknown, how to deal with rejection as a creative, and how he has been able to stay the course through the ups and downs of acting. Make sure you connect with Kevin on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thekevinljohnson/   WHO IS KEVIN? Kevin L. Johnson is an actor currently recurring on the Netflix hit Ozark. Johnson began his acting career at Clemson through a winding road of computer science and as an English major which led to what grew to be his passion, Performing Arts. Kevin graduated with a degree in English and a minor in Advertising. He has since gone on to book roles in the feature films American Made with Tom Cruise, the independent heist film American Animals, and upcoming thrillers Jacob’s Ladder and Don’t Look There.  On the TV front in addition to his recurring role on Ozark Kevin can be seen in The Resident and classics like One Tree Hill and the reruns of Finding Carter and Reckless.     TOPICS: Staying course through rejection and disappointment  Discovering what you love and signs you are on the right path Embodiment of a character and taking advantage of every opportunity you are given  Presence and finding the truth in the moment   RESOURCES: Text us! +1 (501) 214-4307 Join our Private Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/2lPut5A Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/heatherparady

Michelle Obama’s speechwriter takes us on her journey back to Judaism's deepest lessons. Sarah Hurwitz was a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Sarah worked with Mrs. Obama to craft widely-acclaimed addresses and traveled with her across America and to five continents. Before working at the White House, Sarah was a senior speechwriter for President Obama’s 2008 campaign; chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential primary campaign; deputy chief speechwriter for Senator John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign; deputy chief speechwriter for General Wesley Clark’s primary campaign; and a speechwriter for Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. Sarah was also a lawyer at the Washington, DC office of WilmerHale. Sarah is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and she was a spring 2017 Fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University. She is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).

Today’s episode is the continuation of that conversation where we dive deeper into her book Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).   We also talk about:  How a break-up lead her to discover Judaism  How the principles of Judaism are applicable to all of our lives Why words are so powerful even the casual things you say How empathy can make you better equipped for your job Why the ethics of modern american law sets a low bar for morality What it was like working for the Obamas (amazing obviously)  Our shared love for the Cooked Media guys  And, my favorite, if we can stop fighting ourselves we can find real meaning and joy...   If you’ve already listened to the mini series, you’ll know that Sarah is a really special not to mention incredibly smart and talented person with a gift for meaningful thoughts, ideas, and words. I could have chatted with her for hours about life.    From 2009 to 2017, Sarah Hurwitz worked in the White House, serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama. Prior to working in government, Hurwitz was the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 campaign for president and a speechwriter for Senator John Kerry and General Wesley Clark during the 2004 presidential election. Hurwitz is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.   These are really impressive credentials, but without any of these Sarah would still be impressive and praise worthy. She reminds me what it means to be good, and no matter what religion or belief system you identify with, I think you’ll find heartwarming inspiration in her words and the lessons she learned from these ancient traditions and practices.

Joining Mark on today’s episode is Sarah Hurwitz, a Harvard and Harvard Law School graduate who served as Michelle Obama’s Head Speechwriter from 2010-17, and who has been an advisor and writer for a number of other leading Democrat political leaders including Hilary Clinton, John Kerry, and Wesley Clark as well. Sarah is also the author of the magnificent book about Jewish life, ‘Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)’, and has been named to The Forward’s ‘50 Most Influential Jewish Americans’ in 2016. The passage that Sarah has chosen to discuss with Mark on today’s episode is Exodus 3:2-3. During their discussion, Sarah shares her reasons for writing her book, and engages with Mark in a detailed analysis of the selected passage. She also shares the many reasons behind her love for this passage, and together she and Mark explore the numerous ways that it is so very relevant for all of us today. Finally, Sarah offers two things that she has learned about mankind throughout her storied career. Today’s episode is a fascinating interview between two learned and highly articulate seekers of biblical truth whose words convey their shared appreciation of the Torah’s wisdom, instruction, revelation, and relevance in all of our lives. Episode Highlights: Sarah’s reasons for writing her book Her analysis of Exodus 3:2-3, why she loves it so much, and the ways in which it is relevant for us today Two things that Sarah has learned about mankind Quotes: “There was so much wisdom here for how to be a good person, how to lead a truly worthy and meaningful life, and how to find spiritual connection.” “The corpus of Jewish learning is so interesting, so instructive, and so relevant.” “That’s a thing that I love about Judaism is the human empowerment.” “The entire project and process of Judaism is for us to continue hearing revelation in our own time.” “When secular people say ‘special’ and religious people say ‘sacred’ they’re saying exactly the same thing.” “God is everywhere you let Him in.” Exodus 3:2-3 An angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire out of a bush. He gazed, and there was a bush all aflame, yet the bush was not consumed. Moses said, “I must turn aside to look at this marvelous sight; why doesn’t the bush burn up?” https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.32.6?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Links: The Rabbi’s Husband homepage: http://therabbishusband.com/ Mark’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/markgerson?lang=en Sarah’s homepage: https://sarahhurwitz.net/

Support the show: Patreon l Glow l Episode Transcript It was my joy to speak with Sarah, actually that's an understatement. Guest Bio: From 2009 to 2017, Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Prior to serving in the Obama Administration, Sarah was chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Sarah is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). Guest Music by Salt of the Sound You can also find all the musical selections from all our episodes on our Spotify Playlist.  Check out all the things over at the store...it's a great way to support the show www.canisaythisatchurch.com/store What are you waiting for; consider becoming a Patreon supporter of the show. You'll have access to many perks as well as guaranteeing the future of these conversations; even $1/Month goes so far as this show is 100% listener supported.  Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/CanISayThisAtChurch/ https://twitter.com/cistacpodcast https://www.canisaythisatchurch.com/

From 2009 to 2017, Sarah Hurwitz served as a White House speechwriter, first as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Prior to serving in the Obama Administration, Sarah was chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Sarah is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).   We talk about:    Her angry and and heartbreak around how this pandemic was handled Why truth, transparency and honesty are critical to gaining trust and why that’s so important right now How the best leaders express empathy  Reconciling our emotions Helping each other get out of our own prisons And our shared sensation of forgetting where we are and waking up to reality     Buy Sarah’s Book Here All Along: https://www.amazon.com/Here-All-Along-Spirituality-Life/dp/0525510710 Support Foster America: www.foster-america.org Hailey Instagram: www.instagram.com/thehaileydaily Hailey Twitter: www.twitter.com/thehaileydaily_ Hailey Website: www.hailey-miller.com  Hailey Email: hailey@hailey-miller.com

If modern Judaism had an opening for a speechwriter, The Vibe of the Tribe would enthusiastically recommend Sarah Hurwitz. A senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, her recently published book, “Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There),” is arguably the best work on Judaism in recent memory. In 300 highly engaging pages, Hurwitz gives us a thorough look at Jewish tradition, prayer, ritual and even notions of the Divine, all while revealing what reconnecting with Judaism has meant to her. In our timely conversation, Hurwitz discusses how Judaism can help provide guidance and connection—virtually, as necessary—through the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more at sarahhurwitz.net. For more coronavirus community resources, visit JewishBoston.com/coronavirus.

Sarah Hurwitz is the former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama. She was also the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign. Sarah’s book, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) is her account of exploring Judaism as an adult and sharing what it offers for our modern lives. Sarah and I chatted about the role of meditation and mindfulness in Jewish culture and Sarah’s unique writing and editing tricks. I loved getting the inside scoop of her life as a speechwriter! Sarah is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School and has been featured on The Today Show, NPR, and in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and People.com. She was named one of the Forward's fifty Jews who impacted American life in 2016 and 2019. 

Sarah Hurwitz, former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, joins David to discuss her early career in politics, the art of speechwriting, and the spiritual journey that culminated in her new book: Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life-- in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).

This week on Unorthodox, we’re very literally all over the place. First, we bring you News of the Jews from our live show earlier this week at the Valley of the Sun JCC in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona. Then we call Wall Street Journal reporter Louise Radnofsky to figure out why so many figure skaters perform to the Schindler’s List theme song. Stephanie sits down with Sarah Hurwitz, a former speechwriter for Michelle Obama and the author of the new book Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There). She tells us about rediscovering and embracing Judaism while working in the White House, how she’s using the skills she honed as a speechwriter to make Judaism more accessible, and the advice she has for people who want to make Jewish practice a bigger part of their life but aren’t sure how to do so. Our Gentile of the Week is Jackson Crawford, a professor of Old Norse mythology, who chatted with Mark while we were in Denver last month. He tells us about translating Norse poetry, bringing an ancient world to life through his YouTube channel, and the strange conspiracy theories circulating about him on the internet. Let us know what you think of the show! Email us at Unorthodox@tabletmag.com or leave a message at 914-570-4869. Come see us on tour! December 15 – New Haven, Connecticut: Brunch and book talk with all three hosts December 19 – St. Louis: Book talk with Stephanie and Liel January 8, 2020 – Westport, Connecticut: Book talk with Mark and Liel February 6, 2020 – Scotch Plains, NJ: Book talk with Stephanie & Liel February 9, 2020 – Wyomissing, PA: Book talk with Mark and Liel February 26, 2020 – Naples, FL: Book talk with Stephanie and Mark March 12, 2020 – Boca Raton, FL: Book talk with Stephanie and Liel Copies of The Newish Jewish Encyclopedia will be sold and signed at each event. Like the book? Leave us a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get new episodes, photos, and more. Follow Unorthodox on Twitter and Instagram and join our Facebook group. Get your Unorthodox T-shirts, sweatshirts, and baby onesies here. Sponsors: Soom Foods makes delicious tahini products that are dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, and certified kosher. Try the pantry sampler, which includes their tahini, chocolate sweet tahini halva spread, and silan date syrup. Head to soomfoods.com and use code UNORTHODOX to get 15 percent off your order.Adeena Sussman’s cookbook Sababa shares the vibrant flavors of Israeli home cooking, and makes a great Hanukkah gift for the foodie in your life. Get a copy of Sababa online or at your favorite bookstoreHarry’s limited-edition holiday sets are the perfect gift this season. Get $5 off any shave set when you go to Harrys.com/UNORTHODOX. (Free shipping through Dec. 16.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest is Sarah Hurwitz. Her new book is Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There) (https://www.amazon.com/Here-All-Along-Spirituality-Life/dp/0525510710). After a decade as a political speechwriter—serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign—Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book . . . about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is. Hurwitz was the quintessential lapsed Jew—until, at age thirty-six, after a tough breakup, she happened upon an advertisement for an introductory class on Judaism. She attended on a whim, but was blown away by what she found: beautiful rituals, helpful guidance on living an ethical life, conceptions of God beyond the judgy bearded man in the sky—none of which she had learned in Hebrew school or during the two synagogue services she grudgingly attended each year. That class led to a years-long journey during which Hurwitz visited the offices of rabbis, attended Jewish meditation retreats, sat at the Shabbat tables of Orthodox families, and read hundreds of books about Judaism—all in dogged pursuit of answers to her biggest questions. What she found transformed her life, and she wondered: How could there be such a gap between the richness of what Judaism offers and the way so many Jews like her understand and experience it? Sarah Hurwitz is on a mission to close this gap by sharing the profound insights she discovered on everything from Jewish holidays, ethics, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. In this entertaining and accessible book, she shows us why Judaism matters and how its message is more relevant than ever, and she inspires Jews to do the learning, questioning, and debating required to make this religion their own. Special Guest: Sarah Hurwitz.

Gayle and Nicole discuss new October releases they are looking forward to reading, and – surprise! – a lot of them are nonfiction! (And not all of the nonfiction ones are Nicole's picks.) We also discuss where the expression “the old college try” came from, announce a fun giveaway for our podcast listeners (calling all Jojo Moyes fans!) and check in on our (non)progress on our 2019 reading challenges. Books mentioned in this episode: https://amzn.to/2nVO34t (Patsy) by Nicole Dennis-Benn https://amzn.to/2oEsWDW (The Nickel Boys) by Colson Whitehead https://amzn.to/2nZHC0j (Talking To Strangers) by Malcolm Gladwell https://amzn.to/2oExSss (The New Me) by Halle Butler https://amzn.to/2nWaCGb (My Year Of Rest And Relaxation) by Ottessa Moshfegh https://amzn.to/2nWaCGbhttps://amzn.to/2nMmg6F (Three Women) by Lisa Taddeo https://podcastone.com/episode/Lisa-Taddeo-on-the-effects-of-past-relationships (Lisa Taddeo on the effects of past relationships) – Lit Up Podcast https://amzn.to/2oJmCux (Bad Blood) by John Carreyrou Atomic Habits by James Clear https://amzn.to/2nMmg6F (The Dearly Beloved) by Cara Wall https://amzn.to/2owZ785 (Before Everything) by Victoria Redel https://amzn.to/2nKmnQ5 (The Other's Gold) by Elizabeth Ames https://amzn.to/2przUMJ (The Falconer) by Dana Czapnik https://amzn.to/2n0F0yE (Stillness Is The Key) by Ryan Holiday https://amzn.to/2nNlk1Q (If Only I Could Tell You) by Hannah Beckerman https://amzn.to/2pp5lXX (Marley) by Jon Clinch https://amzn.to/2nMS1MT (Motherhood So White) by Nefertiti Austin https://amzn.to/2nWsrF5 (The Eight Master Lessons Of Nature) by Gary Ferguson https://amzn.to/2oGbrCR (The Giver of Stars) by Jojo Moyes https://amzn.to/2nMJJEN (The Peacock Emporium) by Jojo Moyes https://amzn.to/2oyAtnJ (One Day) by Gene Weingarten https://amzn.to/2n6nhpI (Here All Along:)https://www.amazon.com/Here-All-Along-Spirituality-Life/dp/0525510710/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IJHOVXXPYLSH&keywords=here+all+along&qid=1570077215&s=gateway&sprefix=here+all%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-1 ( Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life–in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)) by Sarah Hurwitz Links mentioned in this episode: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/09/oprahs-book-club-starts-a-new-chapter-with-apple/ (Oprah's Book Club starts a new chapter with Apple) http://www.everydayiwritethebookblog.com/2019/01/the-2019-ediwtb-reading-challenge/ (2019 Everyday I Write The Book Reading Challenge) https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Reading-Challenge-2019-45450968 (2019 PopSugar Reading Challenge) https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/what-if-we-stopped-pretending (Jonathan Franzen article about climate change, “What If We Stopped Pretending?)” in The New Yorker https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/09/03/conversation-michelle-obama-speechwriter-religious-voyager/ (A Conversation With Sarah Hurwitz), The Washington Post *Books linked above are our affiliate links. There's no additional expense you, but if you make a purchase through us a small portion of that contributes to the costs associated with making our podcast. Thanks so much for listening and for your support! Please help support the podcast and take a few minutes to leave a review an Support this podcast

Sarah Hurwitz was senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama in 2009 and 2010, and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama from 2010 to 2017. She was appointed to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council by Barack Obama after leaving the White House. Sarah's new book "Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)" is out now. Get the book on Amazon or Sarahhurwitz.net @hereallalong

Earlier this week, Israel held its second national election in five months after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to form a governing coalition in April. On this week’s episode, Times of Israel political correspondent Raoul Wootliff joins us to recap the complicated election results and help us understand what they mean for Israel’s future. Then we speak to Sarah Hurwitz, former head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, to discuss how she rediscovered a connection to Judaism, the focus of her new book, "Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)." Finally, Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, Life/Features Editor at The Forward, joins us to discuss the recent spate of attacks against Orthodox Jews in New York.

Sarah Hurwitz, former speechwriter for Michelle and Barack Obama, and author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There), joins Dan Libenson and Lex Rofeberg to discuss a sometimes-overlooked question: Why bother with Judaism? If you're enjoying Judaism Unbound, please help us keep things going with a one-time or monthly tax-deductible donation. Support Judaism Unbound by clicking here! To access full shownotes for this episode, click here.