Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life—in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There)

Hurwitz, a former speechwriter for Michelle Obama, debuts with an entertaining account of how she reengaged with Judaism during her adult life. Raised Jewish, Hurwitz lost her interest in faith during high school. But, at age 36, after dealing with a bad breakup and the stress of work, she began to rediscover Judaism’s allure, diving into the Torah and exploring different traditional practices. Hurwitz portrays Judaism as open to questioning and she recounts her own challenges with believing in God or an afterlife, as well as her struggle to make time for practices such as Sabbath observance. She also explains the traditions of Jewish sects through profiles of well-known rabbis (including an excellent reading of the poetry of Rabbi Menache Mendel of Kotzk). Though her primary audience is “lapsed Jews” like herself who are seeking to reestablish a connection to Jewish traditions, non-Jewish readers will also benefit from the wealth of wisdom Hurwitz provides: “I prefer to appreciate the transcendent and elevate it by calling it God rather than degrade it by defining it by its component parts or scientific basis.” Part memoir, part spiritual meditation, Hurwitz’s look into her Jewish roots will please any reader interested in the overlap of secular life and spiritual calling. (Sept.)