Sarah Hurwitz

What does it mean to be Jewish during a time of rising antisemitism? Sharing insights from her visits to dozens of college campuses and her research on Jewish history, Sarah delves into the history and impact of antisemitism: Where did it originate? How has it evolved and spread? What was the cost to Jews of efforts to seek safety and acceptance by assimilating? How has antisemitism shaped Jewish identity, and how does it continue to affect Jews today? And finally, how can Jews reclaim our story and our tradition and live proudly, boldly, and joyfully as Jews?

During the final years of her tenure in the White House as First Lady Michelle Obama’s head speechwriter, Sarah reconnected with Judaism and was astonished to discover thousands of years of wisdom from her ancestors about what it means to be human. She found beautiful rituals that honor the past and sanctify the present; wildly diverse conceptions of God, none of which were a bearded man in the sky; and guidance on living an ethical life that set a much higher bar for honesty, generosity, and basic human decency than she had ever thought to set for herself. Sarah shares insights about how the wisdom of an ancient tradition can transform our lives today, inspiring Jews to embrace and celebrate their heritage.

After serving as chief speechwriter on a presidential campaign and as senior speechwriter for a U.S. President and head speechwriter for a First Lady, Sarah offers audiences a behind-the-scenes glimpse at life on presidential campaigns and in the White House: from the high-wire act of getting last-minute speech edits into the teleprompter to the privilege of landing somewhere – anywhere – in the world in a blue and white plane with “United States of America” stamped on its side. Sarah shares the highs and lows of a life in politics, with plenty of war stories, behind-the-scenes details, and inspiration.

For over a decade, Sarah helped some of the most influential people in the world persuade and inspire with their words. While the rest of us may not have the same kind of platform or reach, we each have the power to influence and inspire others in our own lives, leading in our workplaces and communities through the power of our words. Drawing on her experience working on high-stakes, highly-regarded speeches, Hurwitz offers insights on the challenges and opportunities people face as they seek to make their voices heard. Sharing real-life examples from her time in the White House and on the campaign trail, Sarah offers concrete tips and lessons-learned about how to craft a compelling, authentic narrative that breaks through today’s noisy, fragmented media environment and changes hearts and minds.