Sarah Hurwitz recounts her journey reclaiming Jewish identity, confronting antisemitism, and rediscovering the depth and wisdom of her tradition with honesty, urgency, and pride.

SYNOPSIS

As a Jew is Sarah Hurwitz’s powerful exploration of identity, rediscovery, and resilience. At thirty-six, Hurwitz considered herself a lapsed Jew—until a single class opened her eyes to the depth, wisdom, and humanity within Jewish tradition. That experience launched a transformative journey as she grappled with what it means to be Jewish in a time of rising antisemitism. Confronting difficult questions about her upbringing and the absence of meaningful connection in her early Jewish experiences, Hurwitz delves into the historical forces that have shaped Jewish identity for centuries. She uncovers how internalized narratives and external hostility have influenced not only how Jews are seen, but how they see themselves. Blending personal memoir with cultural and historical insight, Hurwitz ultimately reclaims her heritage with clarity and conviction, offering a timely and inspiring call to embrace Jewish identity without apology.

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WHY WE LOVE THIS BOOK

"Sarah Hurwitz is an easy-to-read, compelling author, with a relatable background of relearning much of Judaism as an adult. She does a great job of pulling together some history of Israel and discussions of antisemitism in an accessible way for someone who doesn’t love a history book."

Courtney Freundlich
Great Jewish Bookshelf committee member

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For nearly 15 years, Sarah Hurwitz built a career finding just the right words. She 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. Sarah worked with Mrs. Obama to craft widely-acclaimed addresses and traveled with her across America and to five continents.

Prior to working in the White House, Sarah was in the thick of political campaigns – serving as the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign and deputy chief speechwriter for Senator John Kerry in 2004 and General Wesley Clark in 2003. 

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