Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network, New Books in Jewish Studies
Host: Ari Barbalat
Guest: Sarah Hurwitz
Book: As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us (HarperOne, 2025)
Date: October 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Sarah Hurwitz about her book As a Jew, which explores the evolution of Jewish identity, the impact of antisemitism past and present, and how American Jews can reclaim a meaningful relationship with their heritage. The conversation covers the book’s inspiration, the challenges of researching Jewish history, and the richness of Jewish tradition beyond tired stereotypes. Intended for both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences, the episode aims to shed light on what it means to be Jewish today, the complexities of antisemitism, and the urgent case for Jewish learning and engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Formative Experiences and Motivation for Writing (03:23–05:30)

• Hurwitz grew up with a superficial understanding of Judaism, viewing it as limited to “three kind of boring holidays and then one fun one—Hanukkah,” some vague ethics, and the Holocaust.
• Her turning point came in her mid-30s after a breakup, when she took an Intro to Judaism class “on a whim” and discovered an unexpectedly rich tradition:

  “It was 4,000 years of wisdom from my ancestors about what it means to be human, how to be a good person and lead a really worthy, meaningful life." (03:55)

From First to Second Book: Shifts and Themes (05:35–09:00)

• The first book (Here All Along) was “a love letter to Jewish tradition.”
• The impetus for the second book was more complicated, spurred by:
  • Experiencing assumptions of Christian norms while training as a hospital chaplain
  • Younger Jews’ discomfort and alienation due to antisemitism on college campuses
  • The realization that her own Jewish identity was “a series of caveats and apologies”—often reduced to food and pop culture stereotypes, or as a negative identity centered on Holocaust memory or opposition to antisemitism.

Jewish Identity and Historical Forces (09:01–12:38)

• Hurwitz details how 2,000 years of anti-Judaism and antisemitism, plus 250 years of assimilation pressures, “warped” the content of Jewish identity for many American Jews.

  • Focuses on the transition of Jews into modern citizenship in Europe and America, and how this process often involved erasing or downplaying key elements of tradition.
  • She notes that not only Western/European Jews, but also early Zionists sometimes participated in downplaying religious tradition, underscoring the complexity and global scope of the issue.

• The call-to-action:

  “We don’t just become anti-anti-Semites. We dive more deeply into our traditions. We actually really engage profoundly with our texts.” (11:15)

Understanding Antisemitism: Old Patterns, New “Upgrades” (12:43–18:00)

• Hurwitz distinguishes between social prejudice-based antisemitism and political forms that cast Jews as the obstacle to various “grand moral projects” (e.g., Christianization, Communism, Aryan “purity”, today’s far-right and far-left narratives).
• She references scholars like Bernard Harrison and Dara Horn’s frameworks:
  • “Eliminationist” antisemitism (e.g., the Holocaust)
  • “Conversionist” antisemitism:

    “Yes, Jews are bad, but actually, there is something they can do to be saved, which is that they can reject whatever element of Jewish civilization we the majority find disgusting.” (15:24)

  • In current discourse, the pressure is to “reject your ancestral homeland, disavow it, become an anti-Zionist, and then you’re acceptable and saved.”
• Hurwitz observes recurring historical updates (“antisemitism gets upgrades”) that feel rational in their time but continue the same pattern:

  “When you’re in an upgrade, it’s really hard to see clearly.” (17:28)

“Text Line,” Not Bloodline: Jewish Peoplehood (19:02–20:38)

• Citing Amos Oz and Fania Oz-Salzberger, Hurwitz embraces the concept that Jews form a "text line" rather than a “bloodline,” emphasizing the centrality of shared texts and heritage over racial or ethnic definitions.

Torah Study & Spiritual Practice (20:42–22:22)

• Hurwitz says meaningful Torah study—not just prayer—is central to her Jewish identity.

  “Studying our texts, trying to hear kind of the echoes of the divine voice down from Sinai throughout the ages to today, like, that is a spiritual practice.” (21:00)

Inspirational Jewish Stories (22:28–25:21)

• Hurwitz draws strength from biblical and Talmudic stories, e.g.:
  • Moses’ reluctance and God’s affirmation of his worth (“Who do you think created that tongue of yours?”)
  • The series of brave women in Exodus saving Moses
  • The Talmudic story: “A prisoner cannot free himself from prison,” illustrating the need for help from others during times of struggle.

Engaging Beginners: Making Tradition Accessible (25:21–26:36)

• The book aims in part to explain to American Jews why their tradition may have felt “contentless,” and to inspire engagement by highlighting Judaism’s radical, countercultural wisdom.

Guiding Principles in Writing (26:40–27:50)

• Cites Michelle Obama’s mantra “What’s true?” as a guiding question.
• Commitment to writing with truth and compassion—for ancestors and for those making choices in the present.

Challenges in Research & Process (27:58–29:14)

• Hurwitz is not a historian and found sorting through vast, conflicting claims about Jewish history “tremendously hard.”
• She asked 80+ experts to review drafts to ensure accuracy:

  “This book would be a catastrophe without these people. And I am...incredibly grateful to them.” (32:37)

Chaplaincy Training: Jewish Counterculture & Pastoral Care (29:22–32:29)

• Chaplaincy is accessible to laypeople of any background, and Hurwitz was drawn to the “profound way of engaging” with those in crisis.

  “Jewish tradition says exactly the opposite [of avoiding death and illness]: get your body right up close to this person who is in this liminal space.... These are spaces that require accompaniment.” (31:30)

Influences & Acknowledgments (32:37–38:12)

• Acknowledges the indispensable help of dozens in her writing and research.
• Discusses key influences:
  • Michal Bitton: Helped her see Judaism is not just a religion but a peoplehood/“family.”
  • Dara Horn: Closest friend; People Love Dead Jews was transformative.
  • David AR Clark: Christian ally, Holocaust scholar, expert reader.
  • Yossi Klein Halevi: Renowned author and mentor who influenced her approach to Israel and Jewish identity.

Audience & Intentions (38:12–39:47)

• Initially wrote for “American Jews like me, who grew up with this contentless...identity,” but found engaged Jewish readers also resonated with it.
• Hopes non-Jews will read it to better understand the Jewish historical experience and manifestations of antisemitism.

Misconceptions and Growth (39:57–41:27)

• Used to think Judaism was strictly a religion or dogma; learned it’s much broader and more nuanced.
• Realized the Torah isn’t meant to be read in isolation, but in the context of centuries of interpretation.

Where Do Jews Go from Here? (41:38–48:17)

• Skeptical that PR and fighting antisemitism alone will secure the Jewish future.

  “Instead of trying to, like, bail out a tsunami with buckets, I think it’s probably wise to invest a little more of our energy in building an arc.” (42:10)

• Urges Jews to break the “cycle of pediatric Judaism” by engaging in lifelong study and meaningful Jewish practice.
• Describes Jewish law as cultivating “an exquisite sensitivity to the needs and dignity and humanity and vulnerability to every single individual who crosses your path,” pushing back against simplistic binaries in modern discourse.

Closing (48:24–49:06)

• Hurwitz is preparing for the book tour and looks forward to conversations with Jewish communities across the country.

Notable Quotes

• On Misconceptions:

  “To think that you know enough about a people, a tradition, a rich, complex, varied people, or tradition based on what you learned as a kid is the height of arrogance. And yet that's how I felt about my own tradition.” (44:54)

• On the Centrality of Texts:

  “We are not a bloodline. We are a text line.... That text line is our shared heritage—it is sort of our DNA.” (19:15)

• On Breaking Cycles:

  “We have this cycle in the Jewish community where...we go to Hebrew school until bar/bat mitzvah age, we stop learning...and then the cycle starts again...we have to break this cycle.” (43:39)

• On the Core Message:

  “Let’s be Jews...There are so many different ways to practice and express and embody this tradition that are so powerful. But one of those ways is not being a contentless Jew.” (42:45)

• On Jewish Law as Love:

  “Our specific, weedy laws are how we set a high bar for love and teach ourselves to meet it...It’s like going to the eye doctor where they're clicking the vision machine and making your vision crisper and crisper.” (46:45)

Useful Timestamps

• 03:23 – Hurwitz’s Jewish upbringing and transformative moment
• 05:35 – Inspiration for her second book and the “contentless” Jewish identity
• 09:01 – Historical forces shaping modern Jewish identity
• 12:43 – Frameworks for understanding antisemitism
• 19:02 – “Text line” as Jewish peoplehood
• 20:42 – Torah study as spiritual practice
• 22:28 – Inspirational Jewish stories
• 26:40 – Writing principles: truth and compassion
• 27:58 – Research challenges and expert review
• 29:22 – Path to becoming a chaplain
• 33:31 – Influences: Michal Bitton, Dara Horn, David AR Clark, Yossi Klein Halevi
• 38:22 – Intended audience(s) for the book
• 41:38 – Prescription for the Jewish future: building the ark
• 48:24 – Life since completing the book

For listeners seeking a deep, accessible, and honest exploration of Jewish identity, history, and antisemitism, this conversation is a masterclass in humility, self-discovery, and hope.