As Buffalo Jewish Federation prepares for its signature event, the 2027 Campaign for Jewish Buffalo Kickoff Event, we are thrilled to spotlight this year’s keynote speaker, Sarah Hurwitz, an award-winning Jewish author and former White House speechwriter.
Sarah, author of Here All Along and As a Jew, was a White House speechwriter from 2009 to 2017, starting out as a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and then serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. Sarah also worked on policy issues affecting young women and girls as a senior advisor to the White House Council on Women and Girls.
Sarah is the author of Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life — in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There), which was a finalist for two National Jewish Book Awards and for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature. Sarah’s second book, As A Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try To Erase Us, is an urgent exploration of how antisemitism has shaped Jewish identity and how Jews can reclaim their tradition. As a Jew is a New York Times Bestseller and winner of a National Jewish Book Award and the Natan Notable Book Award.
Prior to her time on presidential campaigns and White House speechwriting, Sarah served as a speechwriter for several election campaigns and politicians. Sarah was also a lawyer at the Washington, DC office of Wilmer Hale. Sarah has been profiled in The Washington Post, People.com, The Boston Globe, and The Guardian; interviewed on The Today Show, Morning Joe, Amanpour & Co., and NPR; and featured in The Forward as one of 50 Jews who impacted American life.
Sarah is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, was a 2017 Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics, and has completed training to be a chaplain, which she does as a volunteer at a local hospital.
Federation looks forward to hosting a meaningful conversation with Sarah Hurwitz on stage at our Kickoff Event on September 23.
