In this episode of Jewish Crossroads, we sit down with Sarah Hurwitz—former chief speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama and senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama—to discuss her upcoming book, As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story from Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us.

Sarah opens up about how a personal breakup sparked an unexpected intellectual and emotional journey into Judaism—not through traditional religious practice, but through a deep engagement with Jewish texts, history, and ideas. She challenges the concept of “cultural Judaism,” advocating instead for a more informed, substantive connection to Jewish heritage.

We also delve into how centuries of antisemitism have shaped Jewish self-perception, and hear Sarah’s candid and deeply disappointed reflections on how her alma mater, Harvard University, has responded to recent events.

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

This special episode of Jewish Crossroads is released ahead of Passover — the holiday of freedom. But for 59 Israeli families, true freedom still feels painfully out of reach.

Tamar speaks with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Rachel has become one of the most powerful and persistent voices in the global campaign to bring the remaining hostages home.

In this conversation, we discuss her grief, the moral clarity that sustains her, and the strength she’s found in prayer, in community, and in her son’s own words — shared in captivity to help others survive.

Rachel speaks with honesty about Hersh’s life and death, while continuing to fight for those still living in darkness. She challenges the government’s refusal to act, honors the voices of the diaspora, and asks us all: What kind of people will we be in this moment?

If you would like to be in touch with us contact: jewishcrossroadspod@gmail.com

Tamar on X: https://x.com/tamarishshalom
Tamar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamarishshalom/
JPPI on X: https://x.com/JewishPolicy
JPPI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishpeoplepolicyinstitute/

When Joshua Leifer’s book Tablets Shattered was released, it was clear he wasn’t pulling any punches. A fierce critique of the Jewish establishment, a personal reckoning with American Jewish identity, and a progressive take on Israel that refuses easy answers – the book was bound to provoke strong reactions. But no one expected his Brooklyn launch event to be canceled at the last minute because his guest, a Reform rabbi, was a Zionist. In this episode, Leifer joins Tamarto unpack that surreal moment and the deeper tensions it exposed. With sharp insight and unflinching honesty, he delves into the struggles of being a progressive Jew in today’s polarized environment, the moral test of October 7th, and why he believes many of his progressive allies failed it – leading him to reassess his affiliations while holding firm to his core political beliefs.