Board Member Profile: Jamie Hurewitz — Bet Shalom Congregation

Jamie Hurewitz

Thank you for serving on Bet Shalom’s Board of Trustees, Jamie! Let's help the congregation get to know you better with this interview. Please tell us about your family, your history in Minnesota, and when you joined Bet Shalom.

I am originally from Highland Park, Illinois, where I grew up in a conservative congregation. I moved to Minnesota in 1999 for law school and have been here ever since. I joined Bet Shalom in around 2003. At the time, I was engaged to be married to Chris Sather, who was not Jewish. We met with different synagogues in the area, and Bet Shalom was the one that made us feel the most welcome. We had two children together, Mia, who is 19 and a freshman at George Washington University, and Brandon, who is 16 and a sophomore at Minnetonka High School. We have since divorced, and I am now married to Matt Hurewitz. Matt has a son from his previous marriage, Joey, who is 21. We also have a 9-year-old son together, Warren. Chris recently converted to Judaism and has also made Bet Shalom his home, along with his his wife Jen and their 8-year-old son, Mac.

And your professional life?

I am an attorney, currently working as General Counsel for a small global software company, TalentNeuron. I have been practicing for over 20 years, and I have been working remotely since 2017. Matt and I also enjoy advising and investing in tech start-ups, mostly cybersecurity companies founded in Israel.

Tell us about your previous involvement at Bet Shalom.

When I first joined Bet Shalom, I was mostly involved in religious school and activities surrounding my children, such as Tot Shabbat. As my kids got older I started participating in different activities, such as Wine Club. I sat on the hiring committee that brought in Rabbi Thal. I have been the chair of the Social Action Committee for a few years now. Most recently I created a chess club for all levels of players, on Sundays after religious school lets out. I would love for the chess club to expand to include all ages and generations.

What has your experience been like on the Bet Shalom Board of Trustees?

I am currently in my second term serving on the Board of Trustees, and this year I took on the role of Vice President. My experience on the Board of Trustees has been very fulfilling. It has provided me with insight into all of the inner workings required to allow the synagogue to run smoothly. It has also allowed me to provide input and suggestions to help maintain the health of the synagogue.

What do you do in your spare time?

Most of my spare time is dedicated to my kids, whether it be driving them to extracurricular activities or attending tournaments of various sorts. I also enjoy traveling and try to travel as much as I can, especially with my children so I can expose them to different experiences. It is important to me that I raise children with open minds who think globally.

Favorite Jewish Holiday and foods?

My favorite Jewish holiday is Passover. I really enjoy the rituals of the seder. It makes me think about all of the generations that came before me who also sat around the Passover table, participating in the same rituals. It is incredible to think about how long the Jewish people have been around and not only survived, but thrived and became a strong, prosperous people.

My favorite Jewish foods are noodle kugel, matzo ball soup and potato latkes. Though we have an ongoing dispute in our home as to whether they are latkes or latkas.

Final thoughts?

Having no family in Minnesota since mine is still in the Chicago area and my in-laws are in Las Vegas and Dallas, I truly appreciate and am grateful for my Jewish community that feels like family at Bet Shalom.