Here All Along

“Sarah Hurwitz writes beautifully about her journey from Hebrew school dropout to thoughtful commentator on her heritage. She shows how this system of thought, founded in the time of shepherds, can be surprisingly relevant to modern life, with wisdom on such contemporary topics as mindfulness, gratitude, work/life balance, and politics. I recommend this book to all, no matter where you lie on the religious spectrum.”—A. J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Year of Living Biblically“Here All Along is exactly the introduction to Judaism that smart, thoughtful readers need: Not a how-to guide to these incredibly rich and relevant traditions, but a why-to guide that illuminates—boldly, bravely, and beautifully—why Judaism matters and how its wisdom can transform us. It’s been here all along, but now it’s here in the book in your hands, waiting for you. Open it, and discover what you’ve been missing.”—Dara Horn, author of Eternal Life“What an achievement—to have found a way to make every aspect of Judaism utterly accessible, digestible, and emotional all at once, in one riveting volume. This is an uncanny primer for anyone wanting to understand Judaism, and also a revealing portrait of one famous speechwriter who couldn’t believe what she’d been missing all along.”—Abigail Pogrebin, author of My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew “Repeatedly drawing on her life experiences, Sarah Hurwitz paints a vision of a Judaism that is wise, intellectually rigorous, experiential, accessible—and, frankly, exciting. Even when I disagree with her, she invites me into her world. This is a book we have been waiting for, and Hurwitz is an important new voice on the Jewish scene.”—Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, author of Words That Hurt, Words That Heal and Jewish Literacy

Sarah Hurwitz worked in the White House from 2009 to 2017, serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama. Prior to working in government, Hurwitz was the chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 campaign for president and a speechwriter for Senator John Kerry and General Wesley Clark during the 2004 presidential election. Hurwitz is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School.