Sarah Hurwitz, a former speechwriter for President Obama and lead speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, has rediscovered meaning in her life through a deeper exploration of her Jewish faith.
Background: Hurwitz grew up in a culturally Jewish home, but after her bat mitzvah at 13, she let her connection to the faith fizzle out.
* She experienced a spiritual reawakening in her 30s after an unresolved journey for deeper meaning in her life.
Her Journey: Led by curiosity, Hurwitz enrolled in an introductory Judaism class, a decision that eventually resulted in writing a book titled “Here All Along
* Hurwitz’s spiritual transformation began with a Jewish meditation retreat called Awake, where she was introduced to a practice known as hitbodedut— speaking out loud to the divine in nature.
* She ultimately found that Judaism offered concrete guidance for a moral life, finding it to be about the everyday practice of being present and responding to situations with love, kindness, and generosity.
Her Philosophy: Hurwitz believes that engaging with a single religious tradition deeply rather than sampling from various faiths can help expose one’s own flaws and areas for improvement.
* She is concerned with the “spiritual buffet” approach, where individuals pick and choose aspects of different faiths that align with their already existing beliefs, potentially missing out on opportunities for self-improvement and growth.
Quotes: Hurwitz said, “It gave me a greater sense of purpose in my own existence. It gave me a greater sense that those around me were part of this sacredness and this holiness.” She also noted, “I think a tradition that’s based on shame or harshness is not helpful in any way—please do avoid that—but other traditions say, ‘You’ve missed the mark, and here’s how you can do better.’”
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