Sarah Hurwitz, former chief speechwriter for Michelle Obama and a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, has called for Jewish schools to ban smartphones until senior year, arguing that constant exposure to graphic images from Gaza is both traumatising for children and seriously undermining efforts to explain Israel’s position to younger generations.Speaking at the Z3 Conference, a major Jewish leadership gathering, Hurwitz warned that social media feeds filled with footage of dead and injured Palestinian children are creating an emotional shock that “makes it impossible” for her to defend Israel’s actions in conversations with young people.“I’m talking through a wall of dead children,” she said, describing how the raw, unfiltered imagery circulating on TikTok and Instagram instantly shapes young people’s views before any political context or explanation can be offered. According to Hurwitz, these images not only drown out pro-Israel arguments but also expose children to trauma they are not psychologically ready to handle.She argued that temporarily restricting smartphone access in Jewish schools would protect students’ mental health while giving educators space to discuss the conflict without the immediate influence of distressing, algorithm-driven content.Hurwitz previously worked as a speechwriter for Barack and Michelle Obama and has since been involved in Jewish community discussions, often commenting on how younger audiences engage with issues of identity and Israel. She has not held any policy role related to the Middle East, but her recent remarks fit with past concerns she has expressed about social media shaping political views. Her statements at the Z3 Conference have drawn heavy criticism and online backlash.
