An interview with Sarah Hurwitz

First Lady Michelle Obama's former speechwriter talks with us about her new book and her faith.

Hello again friends,

We are absolutely jazzed to have Sarah Hurwitz, First Lady Michelle Obama’s former speechwriter (and Michael’s former colleague) join us for a short interview. She recently found her Jewish faith again, and as a result, penned a lovely booked called, Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—In Judaism. A perfect way to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) today.

1. There are many paths that were available to you after your time in The White House. Why did you choose this one? Why did you want to write this book?

For most of my life, I was fairly disengaged from Judaism. I was proud of being Jewish, but I couldn’t have told you what that meant beyond being committed to social justice and having a penchant for questioning and debating. And I showed up at a synagogue twice a year for the major Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, though I didn’t really understand what was happening during those services and found them a bit boring. Then, about five years ago, I randomly wound up taking an introduction to Judaism class (long story involving a painful breakup), and I was blown away by what I found. This ancient tradition that I had thought was so dull and irrelevant actually had profound wisdom to offer on how to be good person, live a meaningful life, and find spiritual connection. That class led to another class and to countless hours spent learning about Judaism on my own and from various rabbis. And I have to tell you, it wasn’t easy. Judaism is a vast, complex 4,000 year-old tradition, and everything is hyperlinked to everything else – there’s no natural beginning or ending. Eventually, I decided to write the book I wish I’d had when I first started learning, one that would teach the basics while also delving into some of Judaism’s deepest insights.

2. It seems to some that religion is kind of on its way out. America is still profoundly religious, but atheism is on the rise as is religious disaffiliation. You’ve made here something of a counter-cultural move and turned toward faith. What resources do you think religion, Judaism, in particular, has to offer in this cultural moment?

I think Judaism has so much to offer at this particular moment. I’ll give two examples. First, Judaism has tremendous ethical wisdom. Before I started studying Jewish ethics, I thought I was a good person. I knew not to lie, cheat, or steal. I followed American laws. But that’s actually a pretty low bar. Even if you don’t lie/cheat/steal, you can be an awful person within the letter of American law – there’s nothing to stop you from being cruel, hateful, ungenerous, etc. But Jewish law sets a much higher standard. It contains detailed guidance for how to use your speech (there’s a lot of thinking around gossip, for example), how to best to help those who are struggling (in a way that empowers them and doesn’t humiliate them), and so much more. As I studied, I realized that while I don’t necessarily need Judaism to teach me how to be a good, or at least good enough person, I do need it to learn how to be a great person.

Second, I think Judaism offers many teachings on how to find spiritual connection. When I attended services at a synagogue as a child, I didn’t have the education or maturity to understand the Jewish prayerbook, and I got the mistaken impression that the Jewish God is a man in the sky who controls everything, rewarding us when we’re good and punishing us when we’re bad. But Jewish theology and spirituality are far more complicated than that. There are a variety of Jewish conceptions of the Divine, many of which resonate with me: God is everything, we’re all interconnected; God is what arises between two people in moments of profound human connection; God is the process by which we become our highest, truest selves. Once I understood that the choices are not just man-in-the-sky or atheism, I was able to open up to something so much bigger – something that I can’t quite define, but that has helped me cultivate feelings of gratitude, wonder, and awe and led me to feel more present in my life.

3. I was always inspired by Jack Lew’s commitment to keeping Sabbath, even as White House Chief of Staff. Did that stick out to you? In your professional life, how else have you seen religious commitments ground and drive people doing amazing work?

I deeply admire Jack’s commitment to Judaism and the way he balanced that commitment with service to the American people at the highest level of the federal government. But it didn’t necessarily stick out to me because I felt like many people in the Obama White House viewed their public service as an expression of their religious faith. And that’s something I see every day all around the country. I see congregations rushing to assist refugees and asylum seekers. I see people of faith organizing and protesting around issues ranging from gun violence to climate change to mass incarceration. And I see people of faith devoting countless hours to help those struggling with poverty, homelessness, addiction, and more. I find it tremendously frustrating that the loudest religious voices in our national conversation are often the most hateful and divisive. I wish we would give a lot more airtime to all those who are out there every day doing the work that embodies their faiths’ teachings about justice, compassion, lovingkindness, and care for those who are vulnerable.

4. What do you hope non-Jewish readers might get out of reading your book?

I believe that each of the world’s religious traditions has tremendous moral wisdom to offer about what it means to be human. I’ve learned a great deal from my friends of other faiths, and I’m eager to learn more. And I’m excited to share what I’ve learned about Judaism with readers of all faiths and none.

5. Are you hopeful about the future of faith in America?

I don’t know enough about other religions to speak to their future in America, but I can speak to the future of Judaism. Right now, we’re seeing a Jewish renaissance of sorts as Jews are exploring all kinds of new ways to understand and practice Judaism. There are Torah wilderness programs, feminist and queer approaches to Jewish sacred texts, Jewish meditation retreats, and countless other inspiring efforts going on right now. And if we keep innovating and reinterpreting our traditions to breathe life into them in each new era, as Judaism demands of us, I think Judaism will have a bright future in America.