Author Sarah Hurwitz New Book: “As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story”

An urgent exploration of how antisemitism has shaped Jewish identity and how Jews can reclaim their tradition, by the celebrated White House head speechwriter and author of the widely acclaimed “Here All Along.” In conversation with SJCC CEO Amy Lavin.

In March 2023, Hurwitz discussed “Here All Along” with SJCC CEO Amy Lavin. We’re thrilled to have her back at the J as part of our “Chew on This!” Speaker Series “Roots + Resilience” theme, addressing this fraught and urgent subject.

At 36, Sarah Hurwitz was a typical lapsed Jew. On a whim, she attended an introduction to Judaism class and was astonished by what she discovered: thousands of years of wisdom from her ancestors about what it means to be human. That class sparked a journey of discovery that transformed her life.

​Years later, as Hurwitz wrestled with what it means to be Jewish at a time of rising antisemitism, she wondered: Where had the Judaism she discovered as an adult been all her life? Why hadn’t she seen the beauty and depth of her tradition in those dull synagogue services and Hebrew school classes? And why had her Jewish identity consisted of a series of caveats and apologies?

Seeking answers, she went back through time to discover how hateful myths about Jewish power, depravity, and conspiracy have worn a neural groove deep into the world’s psyche, shaping not just how others think about Jews, but how Jews think about themselves.

In “As a Jew,” Hurwitz documents her quest to take back her Jewish identity: how she stripped away the layers of antisemitic lies and unearthed the treasures of Jewish tradition. With antisemitism raging worldwide, Hurwitz’s defiant account of reclaiming the Jewish story and learning to live as a Jew, without apology, has never been timelier or more necessary.

Part of Chew on This! Speaker Series theme: Roots + Resilience

Traffic Alert – I-90 Ramp Closures
I-90 Eastbound On-Ramp at East Mercer Way to Close Sept. 18
Heads up! Beginning Thursday, Sept. 18, WSDOT will close the I-90 Eastbound on-ramp at East Mercer Way (next to the J) for 6–8 days. The HOV on-ramp at 80th Ave SE will remain closed through Oct. 5, and one eastbound lane on I-90 will also be shut down—expect major delays. Please allow extra time getting to and from the J and use detour routes via Island Crest Way.
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ABOUT: 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. In her mid-thirties at the time, Hurwitz reconnected with her Judaism and made it her mission to share the riches she discovered. Her first book about this, “Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life–in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There),” was a finalist for two 2019 National Jewish Book Awards.

Author reception, book sales + signing after the program.

TICKETS

• Presale Price! Book + Ticket Bundle: $32 ($36 day-of-show)
• Companion Ticket*: $18 (can only be purchased w/book bundle)
• Student/Youth Ticket: $15
• Add’l Books: $32 + tax

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