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Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life-in Judaism
A renowned political speechwriter rediscovers Judaism, finding timeless wisdom and spiritual connection in its age-old practices and traditions.
After a decade as a political speechwriter—serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign—Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book . . . about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is.
Hurwitz was the quintessential lapsed Jew—until, at age thirty-six, after a tough breakup, she happened upon an advertisement for an introductory class on Judaism. She attended on a whim, but was blown away by what she found: beautiful rituals, helpful guidance on living an ethical life, conceptions of God beyond the judgy bearded man in the sky—none of which she had learned in Hebrew school or during the two synagogue services she grudgingly attended each year. That class led to a years-long journey during which Hurwitz visited the offices of rabbis, attended Jewish meditation retreats, sat at the Shabbat tables of Orthodox families, and read hundreds of books about Judaism—all in dogged pursuit of answers to her biggest questions. What she found transformed her life, and she wondered: How could there be such a gap between the richness of what Judaism offers and the way so many Jews like her understand and experience it?
Sarah Hurwitz is on a mission to close this gap by sharing the profound insights she discovered on everything from Jewish holidays, ethics, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. In this entertaining and accessible book, she shows us why Judaism matters and how its message is more relevant than ever, and she inspires Jews to do the learning, questioning, and debating required to make this religion their own.
After a decade as a political speechwriter—serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign—Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book . . . about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is.
Hurwitz was the quintessential lapsed Jew—until, at age thirty-six, after a tough breakup, she happened upon an advertisement for an introductory class on Judaism. She attended on a whim, but was blown away by what she found: beautiful rituals, helpful guidance on living an ethical life, conceptions of God beyond the judgy bearded man in the sky—none of which she had learned in Hebrew school or during the two synagogue services she grudgingly attended each year. That class led to a years-long journey during which Hurwitz visited the offices of rabbis, attended Jewish meditation retreats, sat at the Shabbat tables of Orthodox families, and read hundreds of books about Judaism—all in dogged pursuit of answers to her biggest questions. What she found transformed her life, and she wondered: How could there be such a gap between the richness of what Judaism offers and the way so many Jews like her understand and experience it?
Sarah Hurwitz is on a mission to close this gap by sharing the profound insights she discovered on everything from Jewish holidays, ethics, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. In this entertaining and accessible book, she shows us why Judaism matters and how its message is more relevant than ever, and she inspires Jews to do the learning, questioning, and debating required to make this religion their own.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
1095 people are currently reading
4490 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
September 15, 2019
While my approach to Judaism differs quite a bit from that of Hurwitz, I very much enjoyed this book. Readers should know that the book embraces a vision of Judaism that probably best fits into the "liberal Jewish" world-view (i.e., Reform/Reconstructionist/Conservative), though Hurwitz does try to present Orthodox positions in a number of places.
That being said, the book does a very nice job explaining to readers why Judaism is worthy of a modern, educated person's attention. As Hurwitz says in the introduction, if you are looking for peace of mind or spiritual connection; looking to understand yourself more deeply; looking to become a better person; or looking to lead a more meaningful, impactful life, then Judaism might be the answer. Of course, Judaism is a 4,000 year old civilization that can be intimidating to the uninitiated. Finding the right approach is key when dealing an intellectual tradition that often assumes a certain base of background knowledge. As someone once said about the Talmud, which Jewish tradition compares to the sea in that it has no beginning or end, the trick for the newcomer is to find a place where the shore slopes gently down into the water. Hurwitz helps you do just that.
A number of people have asked me over the years for advice on where to start learning more about Judaism. This book probably comes closest to what they are looking for. While not a "how to" book, Hurwitz helps you see why Jewish practices are worth pursuing and gives you some direction for how to pursue your own Jewish journey. Whether it is the inspirational practice of prayer and meditation; the soothing calm of weekly Shabbat observance; the communal experience of the major holiday seasons; or the intellectual challenge of grappling with centuries-old texts, there is something in the Jewish tradition for everyone--but only if you know where to look. Hurwitz guides you through each of these topics, and more, giving you a taste of each. Finally, she includes a list of resources for those looking to learn more.
That being said, the book does a very nice job explaining to readers why Judaism is worthy of a modern, educated person's attention. As Hurwitz says in the introduction, if you are looking for peace of mind or spiritual connection; looking to understand yourself more deeply; looking to become a better person; or looking to lead a more meaningful, impactful life, then Judaism might be the answer. Of course, Judaism is a 4,000 year old civilization that can be intimidating to the uninitiated. Finding the right approach is key when dealing an intellectual tradition that often assumes a certain base of background knowledge. As someone once said about the Talmud, which Jewish tradition compares to the sea in that it has no beginning or end, the trick for the newcomer is to find a place where the shore slopes gently down into the water. Hurwitz helps you do just that.
A number of people have asked me over the years for advice on where to start learning more about Judaism. This book probably comes closest to what they are looking for. While not a "how to" book, Hurwitz helps you see why Jewish practices are worth pursuing and gives you some direction for how to pursue your own Jewish journey. Whether it is the inspirational practice of prayer and meditation; the soothing calm of weekly Shabbat observance; the communal experience of the major holiday seasons; or the intellectual challenge of grappling with centuries-old texts, there is something in the Jewish tradition for everyone--but only if you know where to look. Hurwitz guides you through each of these topics, and more, giving you a taste of each. Finally, she includes a list of resources for those looking to learn more.
October 16, 2020
I appreciate this book.
Sarah Hurwitz makes reference to the fact that Jews don't proselytize. But, she says, she's sharing, and sharing is okay. I appreciate that. I was out and about in the world from 1961 to 2005 without any other Jews ever reaching out to me, which I've wondered about. ...Although the fact is that if they had, I expect I would have blown them off. When you're not ready, you're not ready.
But the reason Jews don't proselytize is that they wouldn't let us, and then we made lemonade out of lemons and adopted the position ourselves. Also, being a Jew is not without its dangers -- as we can see of late even in that supposed mecca, America. So, inviting someone to be a Jew, or to own their Jewishness, carries with it the possibility of somehow bringing them into harm's way. All these motivational possibilities on the unconscious level, of course; I'm not implying intentionality.
So what Sarah Hurwitz has done is excellent. She has written about Judaism for those born into it but detached from it (or others who are curious), nor has she been deterred from telling what it is or why one might wish to consider it. In each section, starting with bible stories and eventually incorporating topics such as God, mitzvot (commandments), self-improvement, prayer, Shabbat (the Sabbath), and the holidays, she begins where people are likely to be and carries them along to somewhere new.
For example, the bible stories: she begins with the stories in their childhood versions and that to a modern sensibility sound "shocking, appalling and quite bizarre." She contrasts those stories in their near-telegraphic form with Homer, where everything is spelled out in full and nothing left to the imagination, explaining the bible as a launchpad to interpretation. In fact, any given reading is interpretation, and it's often the culture in which we're embedded that dictates what we hear and see in the stories.
An even earlier hurdle is that we may be conditioned to run as fast as we can from anything calling itself religion. In fact, in the circles I move in, those bragging they don't have a racist bone in their bodies are few while those claiming they don't have a religious bone are many, so her point is well taken. Since people now and over the eons have gotten something from religion, there will be those who have reached a point of exploration. Ms. Hurwitz is addressing those people.
The book is remarkably positive. It's not an apology. Here, her political savvy as former speechwriter for Michelle Obama no doubt comes into play. Also her tone is psychologically astute: not being defensive, she avoids strengthening erroneous associations.
The book is informative, reflecting her own journey of learning and growth.
Yet I do think her aim is more self-help then memoir, not to take away one little bit from her effort. The book fills a need.
Bravo, Sarah Hurwitz!
Sarah Hurwitz makes reference to the fact that Jews don't proselytize. But, she says, she's sharing, and sharing is okay. I appreciate that. I was out and about in the world from 1961 to 2005 without any other Jews ever reaching out to me, which I've wondered about. ...Although the fact is that if they had, I expect I would have blown them off. When you're not ready, you're not ready.
But the reason Jews don't proselytize is that they wouldn't let us, and then we made lemonade out of lemons and adopted the position ourselves. Also, being a Jew is not without its dangers -- as we can see of late even in that supposed mecca, America. So, inviting someone to be a Jew, or to own their Jewishness, carries with it the possibility of somehow bringing them into harm's way. All these motivational possibilities on the unconscious level, of course; I'm not implying intentionality.
So what Sarah Hurwitz has done is excellent. She has written about Judaism for those born into it but detached from it (or others who are curious), nor has she been deterred from telling what it is or why one might wish to consider it. In each section, starting with bible stories and eventually incorporating topics such as God, mitzvot (commandments), self-improvement, prayer, Shabbat (the Sabbath), and the holidays, she begins where people are likely to be and carries them along to somewhere new.
For example, the bible stories: she begins with the stories in their childhood versions and that to a modern sensibility sound "shocking, appalling and quite bizarre." She contrasts those stories in their near-telegraphic form with Homer, where everything is spelled out in full and nothing left to the imagination, explaining the bible as a launchpad to interpretation. In fact, any given reading is interpretation, and it's often the culture in which we're embedded that dictates what we hear and see in the stories.
An even earlier hurdle is that we may be conditioned to run as fast as we can from anything calling itself religion. In fact, in the circles I move in, those bragging they don't have a racist bone in their bodies are few while those claiming they don't have a religious bone are many, so her point is well taken. Since people now and over the eons have gotten something from religion, there will be those who have reached a point of exploration. Ms. Hurwitz is addressing those people.
The book is remarkably positive. It's not an apology. Here, her political savvy as former speechwriter for Michelle Obama no doubt comes into play. Also her tone is psychologically astute: not being defensive, she avoids strengthening erroneous associations.
The book is informative, reflecting her own journey of learning and growth.
Yet I do think her aim is more self-help then memoir, not to take away one little bit from her effort. The book fills a need.
Bravo, Sarah Hurwitz!
March 31, 2021
I think I was the perfect Jew for this book: I consider myself Jewish, I like being Jewish, I’m involved in certain aspects of my culture (though perhaps not my Religion with a capital R), but it’s not a majorly defining part of my identity and a lot of religion in general makes me cringe. This book was a thought-provoking, nuanced, relatable approach to understanding the complexities of Judaism, how it has evolved and continues to evolve, and why it’s actually pretty awesome to be part of this. I felt proud and interested while learning more about my background and religion and what it could potentially mean to me.
November 3, 2019
This was a very messy book, in the best of ways. Rather than your run-of-the-mill Judaism 101 books that present matter-of-fact descriptions of Jewish holidays, rituals, and ideas, Hurwitz chronicles her honest attempts to learn about Judaism and integrate it into her life. She has plenty of concerns, questions, disagreements, amazements... like anyone would when (re)learning about a religion from scratch! What results is not a cookie-cutter list of expectations for anyone trying to live Jewishly, but an honest and thus realistic attempt to adopt Jewish rituals and ways of thinking into her life.
I also appreciated the unexpected topics Hurwitz chose to cover in her book. There are the expected chapters, like on holidays and the Torah. But there are also explorations of the different theological conceptions of G?d (anthropomorphic, pantheist, humanist...) and the different formats of prayer (the siddur of course, but also hitbodedut, meditation...). One might expect these topics to be too advanced for this basic introduction, but Hurwitz handles them deftly and concisely, with plenty of reading recommendations at the end for a deeper dive into each topic.
My favorite parts were when these attempts bumped up against Hurwitz's former role as head speechwriter for Michelle Obama. How could she truly keep shabbat during a political campaign or with the 24 hour news cycle? How often were Jewish ideas about mitzvot and ethics reflected in the speeches she had written years earlier?
I also appreciated the unexpected topics Hurwitz chose to cover in her book. There are the expected chapters, like on holidays and the Torah. But there are also explorations of the different theological conceptions of G?d (anthropomorphic, pantheist, humanist...) and the different formats of prayer (the siddur of course, but also hitbodedut, meditation...). One might expect these topics to be too advanced for this basic introduction, but Hurwitz handles them deftly and concisely, with plenty of reading recommendations at the end for a deeper dive into each topic.
My favorite parts were when these attempts bumped up against Hurwitz's former role as head speechwriter for Michelle Obama. How could she truly keep shabbat during a political campaign or with the 24 hour news cycle? How often were Jewish ideas about mitzvot and ethics reflected in the speeches she had written years earlier?
September 20, 2020
Como bom indivíduo arrogante & metido a inteligente, sinto-me envergonhado de dar quatro estrelas para um livro com esse título + essa capa, isso é, que remete àquela seção dúbia onde autoajuda se confunde/mescla com """espiritualidade"""
mas vamos falar do que esse livro fala, i.e.
uma mulher etnicamente judia cuja religião judaica era algo tão (ou mais distante) que o xintoísmo e que decide mergulhar sem preconceitos na versão liberal moderna do que o judaísmo tem a oferecer e a descoberta que ela faz é que caramba judaísmo é daora d+ e todas aquelas partes idiotas que imaginamos com preconceito na verdade não representam o judaísmo
o estilo (de uma autora que é redatora de discurso da michelle obama) às vezes parece um discurso de michelle obama, mas de resto é imensamente bem pesquisado, com muitas entrevistas, e resume questões ultra complexas de maneira inteligente e nada simplista. destaco, em especial, o capítulo sobre as diversas abordagens teológicas do judaísmo, o que inclui, é claro, o ateísmo; afinal, judaísmo é uma religião que permite a crença em "um ou menos deuses". outro bom capítulo é sobre morte. excelente referência para explorar bibliografia mais específica e uma descrição emocionante que me levou às lágrimas de um ritual de Hitbodedut.
mas vamos falar do que esse livro fala, i.e.
uma mulher etnicamente judia cuja religião judaica era algo tão (ou mais distante) que o xintoísmo e que decide mergulhar sem preconceitos na versão liberal moderna do que o judaísmo tem a oferecer e a descoberta que ela faz é que caramba judaísmo é daora d+ e todas aquelas partes idiotas que imaginamos com preconceito na verdade não representam o judaísmo
o estilo (de uma autora que é redatora de discurso da michelle obama) às vezes parece um discurso de michelle obama, mas de resto é imensamente bem pesquisado, com muitas entrevistas, e resume questões ultra complexas de maneira inteligente e nada simplista. destaco, em especial, o capítulo sobre as diversas abordagens teológicas do judaísmo, o que inclui, é claro, o ateísmo; afinal, judaísmo é uma religião que permite a crença em "um ou menos deuses". outro bom capítulo é sobre morte. excelente referência para explorar bibliografia mais específica e uma descrição emocionante que me levou às lágrimas de um ritual de Hitbodedut.
November 21, 2020
**Thank you Random House for his gifted book!** I was raised in the evangelical Baptist church and cannot even begin to describe how meaningful this book is to me. To see the same "Old Testament" (as Christians say) historical events and figures through the lens of Judaism was so moving and powerful. The "meaning" of these Biblical stories is not set in stone as I was led to believe. The Christianity I was raised with is very black and white and the mere existence of the Talmud and Midrashim was a revelation to me. You mean, scholars can have different opinions? How life-giving! I loved learning about the Jewish way of thinking about giving and charity, Jewish views on animal rights and suffering, Jewish grieving practices, Jewish views on life after death (or lack there of). I could go on and on, but the point I'm making is: this book is not just for Jews. Christians or those raised Christian will learn so much that will put your own experiences and traditions into context. Clearly, Hurwitz is not the first or only Jew to write a book on any of the aforementioned topics, but I found it to be a personal and accessible introduction.
September 10, 2020
This book was disappointing to me. While it’s an excellent introduction to basic Judaism, I did not find the spiritual journey the title promised. If you are new to Judaism, this would be a good text; if you are familiar with Jewish ritual, the liturgy, the holiday cycle, Torah and commentaries, you will find this book lacking.
My three star rating reflects the excellent quality of writing and the introduction to the fundamentals of Judaism. However, I found the book to be more reportage than personal journey, and that is not what I expected from the title.
My three star rating reflects the excellent quality of writing and the introduction to the fundamentals of Judaism. However, I found the book to be more reportage than personal journey, and that is not what I expected from the title.
September 18, 2019
This wasn't quite what I was expecting--I was expecting (and would have preferred) more of a personal narrative and not just a summary of Jewish beliefs (which I already knew). But it was nice to read a book that articulated reasons for Judaism, and why traditional, albeit modified, practice is still relevant and meaningful in an age of "pick what appeals to you."
February 10, 2020
Things I liked:
-The author is a liberal ba'al tshuva, which I thought was interesting and a story worth telling. Most stories about folks who return to Judaism or to great observance are about folks who turn to Orthodoxy. I like that Hurwitz finds a meaningful life in liberal Judaism, and she talks about how she has integrated Judaism into a very modern life.
-I learned some stuff about Jewish meditation/mindfulness/spirituality that I didn't know before.
Things I didn't like:
-There was a lot of Judaism 101 in this book, which I didn't need and didn't want. Really, the book could have been a New Yorker feature in length, talking about the author's personal experience of finding meaning in a liberal, Jewish life and it would have had a lot more impact. The last half of the book was weighed down by this.
-I don't know how much I can trust the information in the book - the author is obviously well-researched, but she is very much a lay person.
-A lot of the content was literally summarizing other writers - felt like a book review at times.
-The author talks an awful lot about her important job as an Obama administration speechwriter. That's a cool job, and some personal background is obviously very important, but it was too much.
-Please never use the word "seminal" to modify the word "feminist."
-The author is a liberal ba'al tshuva, which I thought was interesting and a story worth telling. Most stories about folks who return to Judaism or to great observance are about folks who turn to Orthodoxy. I like that Hurwitz finds a meaningful life in liberal Judaism, and she talks about how she has integrated Judaism into a very modern life.
-I learned some stuff about Jewish meditation/mindfulness/spirituality that I didn't know before.
Things I didn't like:
-There was a lot of Judaism 101 in this book, which I didn't need and didn't want. Really, the book could have been a New Yorker feature in length, talking about the author's personal experience of finding meaning in a liberal, Jewish life and it would have had a lot more impact. The last half of the book was weighed down by this.
-I don't know how much I can trust the information in the book - the author is obviously well-researched, but she is very much a lay person.
-A lot of the content was literally summarizing other writers - felt like a book review at times.
-The author talks an awful lot about her important job as an Obama administration speechwriter. That's a cool job, and some personal background is obviously very important, but it was too much.
-Please never use the word "seminal" to modify the word "feminist."
November 30, 2021
I wish Goodreads had an option for a sixth star, something you could use like only once a decade or so, for a book that was the most meaningful thing you've read in a while. That's what this book was to me. I love being Jewish, like love love love being a Jew. But I didn't love Judaism for a long time. I saw it as an archaic religion that was antithetical to what I love most about being a Jew - caring about justice and learning and inquiring. This book helped me see why Judaism is inherent in the things I love most about my identity, not in opposition to them.
I learned about so many Jewish practices that I never even knew existed. When reading Hurwitz describe her struggles with various ideas about G-d, I identified so strongly that I was like "wait did I write this book?" I couldn't find myself fully buying any of the concepts she laid out, but neither did I fully reject most of them. I love the idea that Judaism doesn't really say what G-d is, rather it is explicit about what G-d is not (and that G-d is not corporeal and all-powerful) because that's where I'm at right now. I loved her discussions of the Jewish calendar and the deeper meanings of holidays I had never even considered. I loved how she wrote so beautifully and respectfully about Jewish traditions around death.
Basically, I just loved this book. It made me so proud to be Jewish and so eager to learn more. I don't think I'm exactly the same kind of Jew as Sarah Hurwitz is - she explicitly says she does not belong to any denomination, while I identify fairly strongly as reform - and she does follow some practices that are more traditional than what I do. But I felt so connected to her and her writing the entire way through. I've made more highlights in this book than any book I've ever written. I think I'll revisit this in the future, and I never really re-read books. I would recommend it to any Jew.
I learned about so many Jewish practices that I never even knew existed. When reading Hurwitz describe her struggles with various ideas about G-d, I identified so strongly that I was like "wait did I write this book?" I couldn't find myself fully buying any of the concepts she laid out, but neither did I fully reject most of them. I love the idea that Judaism doesn't really say what G-d is, rather it is explicit about what G-d is not (and that G-d is not corporeal and all-powerful) because that's where I'm at right now. I loved her discussions of the Jewish calendar and the deeper meanings of holidays I had never even considered. I loved how she wrote so beautifully and respectfully about Jewish traditions around death.
Basically, I just loved this book. It made me so proud to be Jewish and so eager to learn more. I don't think I'm exactly the same kind of Jew as Sarah Hurwitz is - she explicitly says she does not belong to any denomination, while I identify fairly strongly as reform - and she does follow some practices that are more traditional than what I do. But I felt so connected to her and her writing the entire way through. I've made more highlights in this book than any book I've ever written. I think I'll revisit this in the future, and I never really re-read books. I would recommend it to any Jew.
September 6, 2019
*Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life--in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)* by Sarah Hurwitz is a beautiful book about Judaism. If will stirr your soul and touch your heart. If you are Jewish it will remind you of the beauty of your religion. If you aren't it will teach you about a wonderful centuries old religion. This is a beautiful book. I highly recommend it.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
September 13, 2019
A beautiful and honest glimpse into a very personal journey. A must read!
March 3, 2022
Since I visited the Jewish Museum in Berlin, I became more and more intrigued with Judaism and the many facets it has to offer for living one’s life. Apart from not being Jewish, this religion has much in common with the integration of structure, meditation, spirituality and history in my own life (and I believe in any individual’s life who is seeking for the development of one or more of these aspects). This view is also very well described by the author of this book. She explains modern Judaism from multiple perspectives while describing the struggles every jew would encounter on the path of Judaism, but at the same time also emphasises the perks it brings individuals and communities around the world. Very much a recommendation for anyone looking to attain a better understanding of Judaism in accessible language and beautiful storytelling.
December 19, 2023
Great book, I’d highly recommend to anyone wanting to connect more with their Judaism. It was especially good for me to hear about Hurwitz’s journey as someone who connecting with her Jewishness as a way of dealing with working in a high stress government job, since I also want to work in politics. Some parts were occasionally repetitive but not too bad. I also enjoyed her thoughts and analysis more than the info dumping-ish portions but I also totally get the info dumping is important for people who know less about Judaism than me.
I listened to this all on audio and Hurwitz does her own narration which is super cool of her. Definitely makes the parts where she’s talking about her own experiences feel more personal and I wish there had been more of it.
I listened to this all on audio and Hurwitz does her own narration which is super cool of her. Definitely makes the parts where she’s talking about her own experiences feel more personal and I wish there had been more of it.
January 4, 2021
This book gets at least one thing right: Judaism is a rich, complex and evergreen tradition.
But that's about it.
The book argues one should not create a collage from different systems of belief since this amounts to self-validation: one simply building a worldview to justify whatever one wants. But then the book presents a particular melange of Judaism itself and supports it.
All systems of belief will be particular selections as perfect orthodoxy is not logically tenable. Also, for all systems of belief, it can be argued they are self-serving. And otherwise. After all questions of intention are well-known to be hard, if not impossible to settle.
Therefore, the claim is false, and it leaves the reader with not much on why to accept the author's assemblage of Judaism apart from a common sensical morality - but hey, Judaism made it common sense.
And which version of Judaism the book promotes? Mainly Reform with sprinkles of self-help.
Reform sees Judaism as an ever evolving body of knowledge embodied by a people. That is, a culture. As this body of knowledge evolves, it is progressive and it serves Judaism's main contentions: equality among men (and women), social justice (תיקון עולם) and care for the other (as Jews were strangers in Egypt).
In the self help area, the book notes Judaism includes meditation and mindfulness. The book describes the Breslov practice of Leitbodedut but without much development and the Jewish daily prayers as evidence of mindfulness (no mentions of the idea of "success in time").
The author argues the Bible (the Tanach) contains important and interesting stories, but doesn't elaborate much. The reader will have to turn to reading elsewhere to see sense in the binding of Isaac of the tribulations of Job. There is an ackwardness in the way the author tries to spin the weirdest parts of the Good Book, like many religious and newly religious people do.
But that's about it.
The book argues one should not create a collage from different systems of belief since this amounts to self-validation: one simply building a worldview to justify whatever one wants. But then the book presents a particular melange of Judaism itself and supports it.
All systems of belief will be particular selections as perfect orthodoxy is not logically tenable. Also, for all systems of belief, it can be argued they are self-serving. And otherwise. After all questions of intention are well-known to be hard, if not impossible to settle.
Therefore, the claim is false, and it leaves the reader with not much on why to accept the author's assemblage of Judaism apart from a common sensical morality - but hey, Judaism made it common sense.
And which version of Judaism the book promotes? Mainly Reform with sprinkles of self-help.
Reform sees Judaism as an ever evolving body of knowledge embodied by a people. That is, a culture. As this body of knowledge evolves, it is progressive and it serves Judaism's main contentions: equality among men (and women), social justice (תיקון עולם) and care for the other (as Jews were strangers in Egypt).
In the self help area, the book notes Judaism includes meditation and mindfulness. The book describes the Breslov practice of Leitbodedut but without much development and the Jewish daily prayers as evidence of mindfulness (no mentions of the idea of "success in time").
The author argues the Bible (the Tanach) contains important and interesting stories, but doesn't elaborate much. The reader will have to turn to reading elsewhere to see sense in the binding of Isaac of the tribulations of Job. There is an ackwardness in the way the author tries to spin the weirdest parts of the Good Book, like many religious and newly religious people do.
Read
April 4, 2020This book took me a long time to get through. It's not a bad book, but I wasn't motivated to pick it up and got easily distracted when reading it. I was very excited about it when I first started it, and eventually ended up mildly annoyed at it. I don't regret reading it and I do feel I gained something from it, I just didn't quite get out of it what I was hoping to. For me, there was a little too much of the author's opinion and information on the author's own journey of discovering Judaism, and discussion of how difficult it was to write the book. I wanted more substance, more of why Judaism is fascinating, little known facts about the religion, inspiration. I didn't learn a whole lot that was new to me, for all the time the author spent discussing how often she learned new things on her journey. I did enjoy the statistics she shared about modern Jewish practices in the US which made me feel less alone in how I think and how I practice. Importantly, I learned that there are lots of Jews who have differing opinions on God or may not believe in God at all but are still very much Jewish and that these beliefs can still have a place in the Jewish community. Reading about all the different beliefs and practices that can still be part of a Jewish identity really made me feel more connected to Judaism as I realized my own beliefs can harmonize with my Jewish identity. I'm not giving this book a star rating because I don't know where to put it. I don't want to disrespect the author by giving it a low rating just because it wasn't what I was expecting. I'm sure it will be a helpful read for others.
September 8, 2020
Going to wait a day to get my thoughts in order before writing my review.
July 11, 2021
I read Here All Along as part of a young adult book club at my synagogue. The group cycles through book themes, often dealing with social issues, American identity and Jewish identity.
In this cycle, we ended up wanting a book focused on Jewish identity and values. Multiple suggestions were provided by members of the group. The rabbi that oversees our book club recommended Here All Along mentioning that it was written by Michelle Obama’s former speech writer. It’s incredible how much sway the name “Obama” still has in groups of young people, since when the book came up, the selection was essentially finalized; a majority, including myself, voted for the book.
But then, as more time passed and I had a chance to reflect, I started worrying about our selection, especially with that subtitle: “Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life -- In Judaism”. Had I just voted for an Eat Pray Love book? Also, coming off some fictional narrative novels, I was not too keen to jump back into non-fiction, especially with a book dealing with Judaism.
However, I slogged through the introduction and found myself reflected in much of Hurwitz's personal history with Judaism. She, like me, was raised Jewish but never really felt connected to the religion. She describes going to services and not being able to connect to the liturgy. Or being asked about certain Jewish customs by friends and feeling inadequate in responding to these questions. I think both she and I come from a line of cultural Jews who take pride in our religion and our history, but don’t really care for the text and the rituals.
With our kinship formed, I became more optimistic about the book and chose to dive further. In the first section of the book, Hurwitz establishes some of the common elements of Jewish belief, covering the Torah, the Talmud, the concept of God, and the notion of Mitzvot. In these parts, Hurwitz’s writing can feel a bit stilted and textbook-esque, especially in the digression about the multiple forms of God.
Nevertheless, in the portions where Hurwitz shares vulnerable details of how she dealt with these topics or how she came closer to understanding them is where she truly shines. The sharing of her experience with hitbodedut as a method of communicating with God felt especially raw. And her confession at the start of the section about God that “I felt like I was too smart to believe in God” also felt like a reflection of myself and a confession that’s usually not uttered in public.
However, it’s in the second portion of the book, when Hurwitz starts discussing the ways in which she practices Judaism, that the book really comes into its own. In this second part, Hurwitz covers the animating forces of Jewish practice (self-restraint and self-transcendence), prayer, Shabbat, holidays, and life rituals. Granted, with only around 150 pages devoted to this section, not every minor detail can be addressed, but what she does cover she covers with thoughtful insight.
Some of my favorite portions included…
* The detailed breakdown of the Amidah prayer.
* Her reflections on the value of Shabbat (which in part echoed arguments I had heard before, but also provided some additional food for thought).
* The reviews of different Passover traditions and how our holidays’ ceremonies and meanings can change to accommodate the progression of modern life.
* Her framing of Passover as the recounting of a traumatic life experience (chaos) and Shavuot as the codifying of the lessons from that experience (order).
* Her review of the evolution of Jewish thought on the afterlife, and in particular her brief discussion of how memory, in its ever-changing manner, can truly be an equivalent for an afterlife.
The success of this book lies in Hurwitz’s ability to not only share her personal journey with Judaism but to also convince other Jews to come along for the journey. Therefore, her conclusion attempts to do just that, aiming to convince the book’s readers to take a more active role in their Jewish lives. She presents this as a “chicken and the egg” problem: Judaism ultimately becomes what its participants want it to be, but in order for it to become what you want it to be you need to participate.
For me, the book was a reflection of the beauty of Judaism. In her introduction, Hurwitz mentions that Judaism is a religion best explored as an adult, once our minds have fully formed and we can think of abstract concepts in a broader sense. That insight may also explain why participation in Judaism is not as high in other religions. Our religion is not one with ready-made answers; it demands us to figure out for ourselves the meaning of our lives and of our universe. Judaism can provide the outline and the framework for these discussions, but it does not ultimately provide the answers. But to head down this road of questioning and exploration requires humility, an admission that you don’t know the answers (and that probably nobody knows the answers) but that you are curious to learn, discuss these topics, and be vulnerable in your expression.
Hurwitz’s book is a reminder to do just that and also a reminder of the rewards of doing so: a greater connection to community, a better understanding of one’s self, and a broader enjoyment of life.
In this cycle, we ended up wanting a book focused on Jewish identity and values. Multiple suggestions were provided by members of the group. The rabbi that oversees our book club recommended Here All Along mentioning that it was written by Michelle Obama’s former speech writer. It’s incredible how much sway the name “Obama” still has in groups of young people, since when the book came up, the selection was essentially finalized; a majority, including myself, voted for the book.
But then, as more time passed and I had a chance to reflect, I started worrying about our selection, especially with that subtitle: “Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life -- In Judaism”. Had I just voted for an Eat Pray Love book? Also, coming off some fictional narrative novels, I was not too keen to jump back into non-fiction, especially with a book dealing with Judaism.
However, I slogged through the introduction and found myself reflected in much of Hurwitz's personal history with Judaism. She, like me, was raised Jewish but never really felt connected to the religion. She describes going to services and not being able to connect to the liturgy. Or being asked about certain Jewish customs by friends and feeling inadequate in responding to these questions. I think both she and I come from a line of cultural Jews who take pride in our religion and our history, but don’t really care for the text and the rituals.
With our kinship formed, I became more optimistic about the book and chose to dive further. In the first section of the book, Hurwitz establishes some of the common elements of Jewish belief, covering the Torah, the Talmud, the concept of God, and the notion of Mitzvot. In these parts, Hurwitz’s writing can feel a bit stilted and textbook-esque, especially in the digression about the multiple forms of God.
Nevertheless, in the portions where Hurwitz shares vulnerable details of how she dealt with these topics or how she came closer to understanding them is where she truly shines. The sharing of her experience with hitbodedut as a method of communicating with God felt especially raw. And her confession at the start of the section about God that “I felt like I was too smart to believe in God” also felt like a reflection of myself and a confession that’s usually not uttered in public.
However, it’s in the second portion of the book, when Hurwitz starts discussing the ways in which she practices Judaism, that the book really comes into its own. In this second part, Hurwitz covers the animating forces of Jewish practice (self-restraint and self-transcendence), prayer, Shabbat, holidays, and life rituals. Granted, with only around 150 pages devoted to this section, not every minor detail can be addressed, but what she does cover she covers with thoughtful insight.
Some of my favorite portions included…
* The detailed breakdown of the Amidah prayer.
* Her reflections on the value of Shabbat (which in part echoed arguments I had heard before, but also provided some additional food for thought).
* The reviews of different Passover traditions and how our holidays’ ceremonies and meanings can change to accommodate the progression of modern life.
* Her framing of Passover as the recounting of a traumatic life experience (chaos) and Shavuot as the codifying of the lessons from that experience (order).
* Her review of the evolution of Jewish thought on the afterlife, and in particular her brief discussion of how memory, in its ever-changing manner, can truly be an equivalent for an afterlife.
The success of this book lies in Hurwitz’s ability to not only share her personal journey with Judaism but to also convince other Jews to come along for the journey. Therefore, her conclusion attempts to do just that, aiming to convince the book’s readers to take a more active role in their Jewish lives. She presents this as a “chicken and the egg” problem: Judaism ultimately becomes what its participants want it to be, but in order for it to become what you want it to be you need to participate.
For me, the book was a reflection of the beauty of Judaism. In her introduction, Hurwitz mentions that Judaism is a religion best explored as an adult, once our minds have fully formed and we can think of abstract concepts in a broader sense. That insight may also explain why participation in Judaism is not as high in other religions. Our religion is not one with ready-made answers; it demands us to figure out for ourselves the meaning of our lives and of our universe. Judaism can provide the outline and the framework for these discussions, but it does not ultimately provide the answers. But to head down this road of questioning and exploration requires humility, an admission that you don’t know the answers (and that probably nobody knows the answers) but that you are curious to learn, discuss these topics, and be vulnerable in your expression.
Hurwitz’s book is a reminder to do just that and also a reminder of the rewards of doing so: a greater connection to community, a better understanding of one’s self, and a broader enjoyment of life.
August 23, 2020
This book is ideal for you if you're a Jew who's been wondering why it matters to be Jewish, what all these rituals and beliefs are all about, and how your liberal ethics are so tied into a 4,00-year-old tradition with so many elements that could repulse you. Sarah Hurwitz has been and to some extent still is that Jew, and she will speak to you in a language of rebelliousness, curiosity, and the search for justice and meaning. It will truly be a conversation, not a lecture. Whether or not you agree with her, you will recognize a kindred spirit, and you will understand yourself better at the end.
You would think this book wouldn't appeal to someone like me: 62 years old, male, with a lifelong commitment to making a meaningful Jewish life. On the contrary! I found Hurwitz' personal story of connecting to Judaism inspired me, and the more personal and quirky it was, the more real it seemed to me. Beyond that, she reviewed things I knew, making them fresh for me with her perspective, and she taught me some stories and ways of looking at things that I had never heard or seen before. I love learning from younger people, especially from women!
For instance:
I am not Moses. Even Moses wasn't Moses all the time. But I like to think that when I die, God will notice the Dennis-size hole b'alma di v'ra kiruteih, in the world God created according to God's will. And let us say, Amen.
You would think this book wouldn't appeal to someone like me: 62 years old, male, with a lifelong commitment to making a meaningful Jewish life. On the contrary! I found Hurwitz' personal story of connecting to Judaism inspired me, and the more personal and quirky it was, the more real it seemed to me. Beyond that, she reviewed things I knew, making them fresh for me with her perspective, and she taught me some stories and ways of looking at things that I had never heard or seen before. I love learning from younger people, especially from women!
For instance:
Or perhaps the Kaddish isn't a prayer about praising God at all, but rather a prayer to console God. This seems to be the point of a moving midrash about Moses' final days in which Moses begs God to let him keep living. Moses' soul also pleads with God, asking not to have to leave his body. But God refuses to relent, and the story concludes, "God kissed Moses on the mouth and drew his soul from him with the kiss. And He [God] wept and said, 'Who will now rise up me against the evil-doers? Who will now stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?'"
I am not Moses. Even Moses wasn't Moses all the time. But I like to think that when I die, God will notice the Dennis-size hole b'alma di v'ra kiruteih, in the world God created according to God's will. And let us say, Amen.
August 24, 2023
Absolutely sobbed my way through this book for some reason. excellent, and it's so refreshing to read a serious Jewish book that uses G-d/G-d's pronouns. The He/Him G-d thing truly does drive me nuts. but really, it's so valuable to have a book that that reminds us that Orthodox practice is not the only way to take Judaism seriously, to find value in it, or to lead an intentional and meaningful Jewish life. I so appreciated that. There was a fair amount, as other reviews have mentioned, of "Judaism 101"content, but I appreciated having the stories and ideas that I recognized in there, and I think including that content widens the target audience quite a bit. If you already know all that, great, but if you don't, this book is also, maybe mainly, for you, and I think that's a really valuable addition to the canon.
I will say that it probably was not necessary to mention the Obamas or the White House on every single page. On the other hand, if I had been Michelle Obama's speechwriter, I would work that in every chance I got and so can't really fault her.
I will say that it probably was not necessary to mention the Obamas or the White House on every single page. On the other hand, if I had been Michelle Obama's speechwriter, I would work that in every chance I got and so can't really fault her.
January 19, 2020
Really liked this one! Only reason not five stars is that sometimes I feel like this book doesn't lend itself to the audio format, not because of Hurwitz's narration, which was great, but it's not exactly narrative. I have found in other non narrative non fiction books (like Rebecca Traister's) that I absolutely love them, but sometimes have trouble concentrating. So maybe take a star off of me, not the book.
A little 101ische, but I think that's actually good! This book could be for the Jew curious, new Jews, Jews who are ancestrally Jewish, but not that connected, any Jew who wants to learn more about different parts of Jewishness and Judaism. I feel like we all have gaps and Hurwitz does an incredible job of breaking down ideas and histories and holidays and practices. I hope more Jews read this book!
A little 101ische, but I think that's actually good! This book could be for the Jew curious, new Jews, Jews who are ancestrally Jewish, but not that connected, any Jew who wants to learn more about different parts of Jewishness and Judaism. I feel like we all have gaps and Hurwitz does an incredible job of breaking down ideas and histories and holidays and practices. I hope more Jews read this book!
July 2, 2020
I was profoundly moved by Sarah Hurwitz's book, "Here All Along:..."and I have been recommending it enthusiastically to friends and family members. It is well written and inspiring. I have added it to my Favorites list.
September 13, 2020
I often read a book to prepare for the High Holidays, and this one I suggested for the September read for the Jewish Book Club on Goodreads. Although I doubt they will thank me for it. Plenty of people in that group were rather critical and unenthused. I admit myself, that while there were things I greatly enjoyed about it, mostly the premise, I found myself rather whipping through whole pages, and not necessarily getting "the feeling." But here's what I deeply appreciated about it.
For one, its a labor of love and hard work to write a book. Especially a vulnerable and personal one. And when you are an established name, known for writing. That's a big deal. Congratulations Sarah, on both the journey and the book. There was a lot to appreciate about it.
For one, there are hundreds of books about people turning into the wonders of Judaism in a life changing kind of way. I myself have read about 25 of them. But this one is different, because the author was an non-affiliated kind of cultural Jew, and her journey took her into becoming involved with new experiences and learning, but into the world of the Reform Folk Elite. Those of us for whom religion and its rites are important, but that we do not become "Balteshuva", where our lives and communities become defined entirely by it, by dress, interaction, and way of life. As the head speechwriter for Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and General Wesley Clark, our author Sarah Hurwitz is very much in the world and its consciousness, and in fact that was a great part about the book. Relating how Jewish values show up in democratic values. How reform Jews wrestle with the idea of chosen-ness, about what it means to be LGBT, African American, and other marginalized populations, and our responsibility and alignment on those values. Hurwitz wrestles with parts of the religious ideology that does not fit with modern current thinking, and does a great job wrestling with certain questions - such as if there is a God, why doesn't he jam up the trigger on school shooters? These are the modern day questions we are asking that are applicable. How does someone find spirituality in tough times, that fits in with our modern days questions, that the Torah/Bible may not feel like the answer fits? I appreciated that. I also appreciated some other reminders that were good to hear. One that stays is that you can only have a transformative experience if you put yourself into it. I think that's true. We have to meet our spirituality halfway, it can never be delivered on a plate. I also appreciated the uncanny experience of hearing her New York September 11th story about the town in Canada that just took in all the people just because. Not because they were any religion or race or country affiliation, but because the town just did what it needed to do to welcome fearful strangers. She takes these concepts that are Jewish concepts and shows how they are values we all share. From the Obamas, to everyone. But uncanny to be reading that on September 11th. That exact section. Gave me chills. Rosh Hashanah, well less uncanny, but still in line energetically.
The author describes her experience as one where she was never really connected as a kid, and had some conceptions of what she knew that felt critical or distancing. I felt while I was reading that I was having a conversation with a friend of mine. Much of the book felt like conversations I have had with her, and in fact, I thought she would really appreciate it. I think a big thing with this book is audience, who is right for this conversation? But the globally focused arguments and points, I know would touch her and she would find it meaningful. I just knew there were parts of this that were meant for her. But for me?
A few of the complaints in the Jewish Book Club, was that it was like 101 for those already in the know, and I think by the time I was deeply into the book I was tiring of that too. I think that part felt a little teach-y and less connected for me. There were a lot of quotes from the "greats" in Jewish learning. She has read and studied with them all. She didn't miss even one of them. They were all in there Kitchen Sink/Bris style. I did feel that while I enjoyed it, I did not feel like I was gaining a deeper spiritual experience. I was reminded of the feeling of reading How's Your Faith by David Gregory. Another news reporter/journalist writing about his deeper journey into Judaism, and he too studied with a lot of the greats. It tested his marriage, and other difficult beliefs. He had to resolve a lot. He interviewed Popes and Cardinals, and religious leaders of all faiths, plus presidents and world leaders. But the journey was his own. He got the title How's Your Faith from President George Dubya Bush, who knew of his journey, and used to always ask about it... How's your faith, David? I was deeply moved by that book. It was personal, and its struck me more deeply. I respect Sarah's experience however, and not everybody's journey has to be the same. It reminded me of reading Kamala Harris's book after I read Michelle Obama's, where (and you all know I love Kamala and feel deeply touched by her), no one holds a candle to the connectivity that Michelle is able to convey. But we need a Michelle and a Kamala, and a David and Sarah, and every one of us in our uniqueness. That was another piece of the book that touched me. That we are all going to connect uniquely and express uniquely on this planet. And that maybe God is about connecting, in all those varied ways. Prayer is about connecting. Rites are about connecting. That was one of the more deeply feeling parts of it for me. And one I will take away.
Shana Tova Sarah - and for everyone may this be the beginning of a renewed era and chapter, and may we all be blessed.
For one, its a labor of love and hard work to write a book. Especially a vulnerable and personal one. And when you are an established name, known for writing. That's a big deal. Congratulations Sarah, on both the journey and the book. There was a lot to appreciate about it.
For one, there are hundreds of books about people turning into the wonders of Judaism in a life changing kind of way. I myself have read about 25 of them. But this one is different, because the author was an non-affiliated kind of cultural Jew, and her journey took her into becoming involved with new experiences and learning, but into the world of the Reform Folk Elite. Those of us for whom religion and its rites are important, but that we do not become "Balteshuva", where our lives and communities become defined entirely by it, by dress, interaction, and way of life. As the head speechwriter for Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and General Wesley Clark, our author Sarah Hurwitz is very much in the world and its consciousness, and in fact that was a great part about the book. Relating how Jewish values show up in democratic values. How reform Jews wrestle with the idea of chosen-ness, about what it means to be LGBT, African American, and other marginalized populations, and our responsibility and alignment on those values. Hurwitz wrestles with parts of the religious ideology that does not fit with modern current thinking, and does a great job wrestling with certain questions - such as if there is a God, why doesn't he jam up the trigger on school shooters? These are the modern day questions we are asking that are applicable. How does someone find spirituality in tough times, that fits in with our modern days questions, that the Torah/Bible may not feel like the answer fits? I appreciated that. I also appreciated some other reminders that were good to hear. One that stays is that you can only have a transformative experience if you put yourself into it. I think that's true. We have to meet our spirituality halfway, it can never be delivered on a plate. I also appreciated the uncanny experience of hearing her New York September 11th story about the town in Canada that just took in all the people just because. Not because they were any religion or race or country affiliation, but because the town just did what it needed to do to welcome fearful strangers. She takes these concepts that are Jewish concepts and shows how they are values we all share. From the Obamas, to everyone. But uncanny to be reading that on September 11th. That exact section. Gave me chills. Rosh Hashanah, well less uncanny, but still in line energetically.
The author describes her experience as one where she was never really connected as a kid, and had some conceptions of what she knew that felt critical or distancing. I felt while I was reading that I was having a conversation with a friend of mine. Much of the book felt like conversations I have had with her, and in fact, I thought she would really appreciate it. I think a big thing with this book is audience, who is right for this conversation? But the globally focused arguments and points, I know would touch her and she would find it meaningful. I just knew there were parts of this that were meant for her. But for me?
A few of the complaints in the Jewish Book Club, was that it was like 101 for those already in the know, and I think by the time I was deeply into the book I was tiring of that too. I think that part felt a little teach-y and less connected for me. There were a lot of quotes from the "greats" in Jewish learning. She has read and studied with them all. She didn't miss even one of them. They were all in there Kitchen Sink/Bris style. I did feel that while I enjoyed it, I did not feel like I was gaining a deeper spiritual experience. I was reminded of the feeling of reading How's Your Faith by David Gregory. Another news reporter/journalist writing about his deeper journey into Judaism, and he too studied with a lot of the greats. It tested his marriage, and other difficult beliefs. He had to resolve a lot. He interviewed Popes and Cardinals, and religious leaders of all faiths, plus presidents and world leaders. But the journey was his own. He got the title How's Your Faith from President George Dubya Bush, who knew of his journey, and used to always ask about it... How's your faith, David? I was deeply moved by that book. It was personal, and its struck me more deeply. I respect Sarah's experience however, and not everybody's journey has to be the same. It reminded me of reading Kamala Harris's book after I read Michelle Obama's, where (and you all know I love Kamala and feel deeply touched by her), no one holds a candle to the connectivity that Michelle is able to convey. But we need a Michelle and a Kamala, and a David and Sarah, and every one of us in our uniqueness. That was another piece of the book that touched me. That we are all going to connect uniquely and express uniquely on this planet. And that maybe God is about connecting, in all those varied ways. Prayer is about connecting. Rites are about connecting. That was one of the more deeply feeling parts of it for me. And one I will take away.
Shana Tova Sarah - and for everyone may this be the beginning of a renewed era and chapter, and may we all be blessed.
January 25, 2024
Incredible read on getting started with integrating Judaism into one's life. A beautifully written perspective by Michelle Obama's former speech writer. An intellectual approach to basic concepts in Judaism, Jewish Ethics, and why choosing Judaism in different ways can provide meaning. As someone with a budding interest in what Judaism means as an emerging adult searching for meaning, Hurwitz does a tremendous job laying out possible ways to start and use Judaism to infuse meaning into one's life.
Read
September 7, 2025A star rating feels weird for a book so deeply intertwined with someone’s religious journey but overall really really enjoyed. Admittedly connected with more of the higher level reflections in Part 1 and some anecdotes/rationales didn’t connect with me in Part 2. But that’s what’s so cool about being Jewish. We can disagree! Also feels like a great book to add to the rotation right before high holidays but would be a bit on the nose to read during the first 10 days of the new year.
September 12, 2025
A dear friend gifted me this book after she read it during her journey towards converting to Judaism. I felt very honored that she wanted to include me in that journey, and I have since attended a few events at her temple (including a book talk with this author) and also a Passover Seder.
Although I am not Jewish, I thought this was an interesting and accessible read about Judaism practices and principles. Much I previously knew about Judaism was from the Old Testament or attending events, so I appreciated learning how the author approached her faith and principles, like Shabbat. I feel like I learned a lot and felt intrigued by many of the Jewish customs, especially the mourning rituals!
Although I am not Jewish, I thought this was an interesting and accessible read about Judaism practices and principles. Much I previously knew about Judaism was from the Old Testament or attending events, so I appreciated learning how the author approached her faith and principles, like Shabbat. I feel like I learned a lot and felt intrigued by many of the Jewish customs, especially the mourning rituals!
February 5, 2025
recommend to anyone who wants to move beyond their “pediatric judaism.”
October 2, 2024
Fantastic, inspiring book. This book can be read by non-Jews and Jews alike. It is both the best Introduction to Judaism I have read, and of immense value to me as a lifelong practicing Jew. If you're a Jew who grew up non-practicing, or who attended a mediocre Sunday School, this book is very much for you. If you're a non-Jew who wants to understand how the Jewish worldview is different from the familiar mainstream, this book explains it better than I've yet encountered (Spoiler: the Jewish worldview is very different: it is most similar to atheism yet also a complex religion. Often people make wrong assumptions about what Jews believe based on Christianity, but this book will help clear up those misconceptions.)
Sarah Hurwitz has written a triumph of a book, and I have benefited so much from reading this despite already being a religious Jew. I just finished adding books to my To Read list from her bibliography, and look forward to immediately re-reading most of this book and taking notes. I am planning to recommend it to many people, especially those who identify as Jewish yet don't think that Jewish religion has much to offer them.
This book has inspired me to increase my Jewish practice, and get back into reading books on Judaism that are of personal interest to me. I think Hurwitz also went above and beyond by stating demographics on American Jews (shocking to me, as the last demographics I read 20 years ago had way more affiliated and Conservative/Masorti Jews) and raising the important issue of how Judaism is in another transition period and needs to figure out how to appeal to the non-practicing majority of Jews today. I hope that she sparks a discussion about this across the country, and that other Jews feel as inspired as I did to strengthen their practice.
Second reading was with my husband who is was not born Jewish and is increasingly interested in learning more about Judaism. He agreed that the book was very interesting and informative. One thing we discussed while listening is how Judaism is very life focused, and Christianity is very death focused. The book is a great entry point and we will continue with reading more Jewish topics together.
Sarah Hurwitz has written a triumph of a book, and I have benefited so much from reading this despite already being a religious Jew. I just finished adding books to my To Read list from her bibliography, and look forward to immediately re-reading most of this book and taking notes. I am planning to recommend it to many people, especially those who identify as Jewish yet don't think that Jewish religion has much to offer them.
This book has inspired me to increase my Jewish practice, and get back into reading books on Judaism that are of personal interest to me. I think Hurwitz also went above and beyond by stating demographics on American Jews (shocking to me, as the last demographics I read 20 years ago had way more affiliated and Conservative/Masorti Jews) and raising the important issue of how Judaism is in another transition period and needs to figure out how to appeal to the non-practicing majority of Jews today. I hope that she sparks a discussion about this across the country, and that other Jews feel as inspired as I did to strengthen their practice.
Second reading was with my husband who is was not born Jewish and is increasingly interested in learning more about Judaism. He agreed that the book was very interesting and informative. One thing we discussed while listening is how Judaism is very life focused, and Christianity is very death focused. The book is a great entry point and we will continue with reading more Jewish topics together.
November 21, 2019
I’m giving up on this book. I wanted to like it, I really did, but no. The intro is great. She basically writes the story of my own childhood experiences with Judaism. Good start. But the chapter I was really looking forward to on God, was such a let down. I persevered through a couple of not very relatable or useful chapters after that, only to be struck dumb by the chapter on Shabbat, another one I was actually looking forward to. Her arguments are facile and don't really bring anything new to finding religion/spirituality in your own life. In fact, her whole pitch seems to boil down to I had a mini not quite mid-life crisis, went on a spirituality retreat, and found God. Ugh. Her chapter on God includes a dozen different Jewish interpretations of God but she quickly dismissing atheism as if there's only one possible perspective to atheism and it includes a dismissive view of all God-believers as morons. I can't believe I kept reading past that low point.
March 30, 2025
I can see it filling a specific niche: liberal secular Jews who haven’t paid attention to religion since becoming bar/bat mitzvah but now feel the pull, while still being somewhat dubious about religion, and who pick this book up as a start. Would probably work well for people in that place. For me it was both too basic and still too skeptical towards real belief, making it a somewhat thin offering.
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