Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

Reclaiming the Jewish Story - with Sarah Hurwitz

Episode Notes

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To register for Wednesday’s (09/10) Streicker Center event featuring Sarah Hurwitz, Dara Horn, Abigail Pogrebin, and Dan Senor:  streicker.nyc/events/hurwitz

To order As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us: sarahhurwitz.net/books/as-a-jew

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Today’s Episode: 

On today’s episode we are joined by Sarah Hurwitz, author of the new book  As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us. It is an urgent exploration of how antisemitism has shaped Jewish identity and how Jews can reclaim their tradition. Sarah was a senior speechwriter in the White House under President Obama, including as Chief Speechwriter for Michelle Obama from 2010-2017.

00:00 Introduction

05:22 How American Jews identify with Judaism

08:35 Sarah’s Jewish journey

11:36 Why “cultural Judaism” isn’t enough

13:00 What prompted Sarah to write As a Jew

18:00 The phenomenon of antizionist Jews

25:12 Blaming Jews for antisemitism 

29:00 Normalizing Israeli history

33:08 How Jewish kids will experience Israel

38:47 Antisemitism on the Right

40:35 Using Jewish wisdom in modern American life 

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

ADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive Producer

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer