As a Jew

Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us

De: Sarah Hurwitz

Narrado por: Sarah Hurwitz

New York Times Bestseller Natan Notable Book Award Winner Rabbi Sacks Book Prize Finalist

An urgent exploration of how antisemitism has shaped Jewish identity and how Jews can reclaim their tradition, by the celebrated White House speechwriter and author of the critically acclaimed Here All Along.

At thirty-six, 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 she’d endured as a kid? And why had her Jewish identity consisted of a series of caveats and apologies: I’m Jewish, but not that Jewish . . . I’m just a cultural Jew . . . I’m just like everyone else but with a fun ethnic twist—a dash of neurosis, a touch of gallows humor—a little different, but not in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable.

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. She soon realized that the Jewish identity she’d thought was freely chosen was actually the result of thousands of years of antisemitism and two centuries of Jews erasing parts of themselves and their tradition in the hope of being accepted and safe.

In As a Jew, Hurwitz documents her quest to take back her Jewish identity, how she stripped away the layers of antisemitic lies that made her recoil from her own birthright 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.

INCLUDED IN PUBLISHERS WEEKLY HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE. CHOSEN AS PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOKS OF 2025, RELIGION.

Another excellent title by Sarah Hurwitz

I feel that I learned a lot about Jews and their relationship with Zion and Israel in this book. I don’t think I was expecting it to be so much about Israel, but post October 7. I totally understand the need for a book like this. The way Sarah writes is engaging and easy to understand.

A Proud Reclamation of Jewish Identity in a Post October 7th World

I had long been looking for a book that focuses on antisemitism in a post October 7th world and am so grateful to Sarah Hurwitz for baring and sharing her journey of Jewish rediscovery through the lens of history, scholarship, tradition and practice. Her thoughts on countering antisemitism are concrete, realistic and leave me a shred of hope for the next generation of Jews.

Every Word.

This is a must read several times. So grateful for this book. Thank you Sarah.

Entertaining and important. Excellent book!

Of the many books I’ve read both before and after October 7 about Jewish history, culture, and religious practice, this book stands out as a must read. It is a very poignant reflection of Jewish life in America today, and an inspirational reminder (or primer) of Jewish history and the beauty of Jewish text and ritual. I will be recommending this to all my friends. Do yourself a favor and read it.

A beautifully crafted story of the author’s reconnecting to her Jewish heritage

Sarah Hurwitz is a very talented author - no
real surprise considering she is Harvard educated and former speech writer for VP Hillary Clinton and both the Obamas.
She reconnects to her Judaism in her mid 30s and this book tells of her journey, with understanding, scholarship and great empathy.
It is a very important work.
Personally, I never disconnected with my Jewish heritage and scholarship like she did, so that factually I didn’t learn much that was new but her insights and the story of her personal journey are extremely inspiring.