Here All Along

July 22, 2019
Hurwitz, a former speechwriter for Michelle Obama, debuts with an entertaining account of how she reengaged with Judaism during her adult life. Raised Jewish, Hurwitz lost her interest in faith during high school. But, at age 36, after dealing with a bad breakup and the stress of work, she began to rediscover Judaism’s allure, diving into the Torah and exploring different traditional practices. Hurwitz portrays Judaism as open to questioning and she recounts her own challenges with believing in God or an afterlife, as well as her struggle to make time for practices such as Sabbath observance. She also explains the traditions of Jewish sects through profiles of well-known rabbis (including an excellent reading of the poetry of Rabbi Menache Mendel of Kotzk). Though her primary audience is “lapsed Jews” like herself who are seeking to reestablish a connection to Jewish traditions, non-Jewish readers will also benefit from the wealth of wisdom Hurwitz provides: “I prefer to appreciate the transcendent and elevate it by calling it God rather than degrade it by defining it by its component parts or scientific basis.” Part memoir, part spiritual meditation, Hurwitz’s look into her Jewish roots will please any reader interested in the overlap of secular life and spiritual calling.

August 15, 2019
One woman's rediscovery of her Jewish roots. Hurwitz, the former head speechwriter for Michelle Obama, describes her journey into Judaism and offers advice for those looking at exploring the faith. Having basically abandoned the practice of Judaism after her bat mitzvah, the author became curious about the faith again later in her adulthood, and her initial inquiries turned into a full-blown quest to understand the religion of her heritage. Though still an infrequent worshiper, Hurwitz has immersed herself in the study of Judaism and the practice of its ethics. In this debut book, she is "essentially trying to write the book I wish I'd had five years ago," a basic guide to what Judaism stands for, how believers live out their faith, and what sets the Jewish religion apart. She concentrates primarily on how Jews live moral lives, as opposed to what Jews believe, which she feels is secondary. Her approach is thoroughly modern and questioning, and the author, though recognizing that some Jews take their faith literally, assumes that readers will not believe in every aspect of Jewish tradition or theology. In fact, she admits that in exploring her faith, she often feared being labeled a "religious fanatic." In her recollection of a prayer exercise at a retreat, Hurwitz writes, "you can take the girl out of Washington, D.C., but Washington, D.C., is still in there, reminding the girl of how weird she's going to look and asking her what the people around her will think." These worries about the opinions of her peers seem to stymie the author's own spiritual journey, a fact apparent in her text if not evident to her personally. Still, Hurwitz provides a good introduction to basic tenets of Judaism, and her book will resonate with other secular Jews looking to regain a sense of their Jewish heritage. A solid guide to Judaism for reluctant believers.

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September 1, 2019

As a child, former White House speechwriter Hurwitz perceived Judaism as something one did, not something one lived. The performative Judaism of her youth felt irrelevant, and she eventually distanced herself from its religious aspects, preferring to think of herself as an ethnic or cultural Jew. However, as an adult, Hurwitz rediscovered the faith and found it to be inclusive, dynamic, complex, flexible, and relevant in a way that was different from the religion of her youth. Here Hurwitz shares her spiritual journey, as well as those of religious thinkers, and investigates the traditions and histories that shaped her renewed relationship with Judaism. She relates some details about the history and customs of the religion but primarily focuses on what she believes it means to be Jewish in the 21st century and the ways in which her beliefs have made her life better and full of meaning. VERDICT Hurwitz identifies her audience as Jews who are seeking a reconnection with Judaism or people looking to convert, though readers who enjoy exploring spiritual memoirs and perspectives on religion from nonclergy will also find this to be an intriguing account.--Amanda Folk, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2019
Hurwitz, formerly the primary speechwriter for Michelle Obama (she's also written for President Obama and Hillary Clinton), is now writing a more personal story: her spiritual journey back to Judaism. Not that she ever left, exactly, but many American Jews will nod and sigh as she recalls enduring boring Hebrew school classes, attending High Holy Days services she can't follow or care much about, and trying to ignore the growing spiritual hole in a heart that is waiting to be filled with?something. Feeling their own religion doesn't have much to offer, many Jews turn to other spiritual practices, which they often incorporate into their culturally Jewish lives. In language that is fresh, down to earth, and meaningful, Hurwitz shows readers what they've been missing. In the process, she discusses how she came back to Judaism, beginning at an unplanned Jewish retreat that led her to learn more, study more, and practice more, with one result being this book. Never shying away from the difficult parts of Judaism (What's with that vengeful God? Why should a day of rest be such hard work?), and her own struggles, she walks readers through the Bible and other holy books, as well as the various services, prayer, the idea of mitzvot (doing good), and the Jewish holidays. Even though she writes with a light touch, there is incredible depth here, and seekers will find something to think about on every page. Hurwitz herself has done a mitzvah by offering this rich discourse in such a useful and inspiring way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)