Episode 22: The Normalization of Jew Hatred & Presidential Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz

Watch this episode on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast 

Like many American Jews, formal religious education for Sarah Hurwitz ended with her Bat Mitzvah at age 13. But after an unbelievable career as a Speechwriter for some of the nation’s most influential Democratic leaders (including Hilary Clinton, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama), she found herself searching for a deeper meaning in life, only to discover that Judaism held all the wisdom for which she was looking– It was Here All Along, which is what Hurwitz named her brilliant book about her Jewish journey, the focus of her deep and thought provoking conversation with Jonah in this week's episode. They tackle the problems with modern Jewish education, the disappointing internalized self-hate of some American Jews, and the miraculous power of Jewish textual study. Hurwitz also opens up about her current college speaking tour, launched just days after the October 7th Hamas attacks, and shares invaluable advice for Jewish students and parents navigating the horrific anti-Jew climate on American campuses today. Rich with valuable insight, humor, and introspection, Sarah and Jonah bring their passion for the beauty of all things Jewish to this very special episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt.

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Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Mike O Brien); Consulting Producer: Bethany Mandel; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald; Executive Assistant: Josie Rothschild; Creative Associate: Rachel Stern; Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell, and 

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Mentioned in Episode

• “Here All Along” -  Sarah Hurwitz
• Pre-order “As A Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame and Try to Erase Us” by Sarah Hurwitz
• “Nazi Germany & The Jews: Volume 1: The Years of Persecution” by Saul Friedlander
• “Nazi Germany & The Jews: Volume 2: The Years of Extermination” by Saul Friedlander
• “A Letter in the Scroll: Understanding Our Jewish Identity and Exploring the Legacy of the World’s Oldest Religion” by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
• The British White Paper of 1939  & How it Halted Jewish Migration to Israel
• FDR & The Evian Conference Regarding Jews
• Jewish Enrollment At Harvard at Historic Low
• A Jewish Value: Argument For The Sake of Heaven
• Hillel International 
• Al Gore’s “Lockbox” Speech
• Hadar Institute (For Torah Study)
• “The Heart of Torah: Volume 1” by Rabbi Shai Held 
• Mijal Bitton
• Hashkiveinu Prayer
• Svara Yeshiva
• Rabbi Isaiah Rothstein 
• Sefaria (Free Online Jewish Texts & Teachings)