The Skeptic and the Rabbi

Falling in Love with Faith

As Judy Gruen walked down the aisle and into her Orthodox Jewish future, her bouquet quivered in her shaky hand. Having grown up in the zeitgeist that proclaimed, “If it feels good, do it”, was she really ready to live the life of “rituals, rules, and restraints” that the Torah prescribed?

The Skeptic and the Rabbi is a rare memoir with historical depth, spirituality, and intelligent humor. Gruen speaks with refreshing honesty about what it means to remain authentic to yourself while charting a new yet ancient spiritual path at odds with the surrounding culture, and writes touchingly about her family, including her two sets of grandparents, who influenced her in wildly opposite ways. As she navigates her new life with the man she loves and the faith she also loves - surviving several awkward moments, including when the rabbi calls to tell her that she accidentally served unkosher food to her Shabbat guests - Gruen brings the listener right along for the ride. Reading this wry, bold and compelling memoir, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and when you’re finished, you may also have a sudden craving for chicken matzo ball soup - kosher, of course.

©2017 Judy Gruen (P)2018 Judy Gruen

Very Interesting

A very interesting insight into a journey of Judy's into Orthodox Judism. With humor and warmth Judy explains about her path to Judism and her marriage.

I’d recommend this book for a peek into observant Judaism (although it by no means represents all of Orthodoxy)

I really enjoyed the book overall. I appreciated the author’s description of her struggles with, and learning about, becoming more observant. I valued her insight into the journey. My only issue was the fact that near the end of the book the tone turned decidedly self-righteous and a bit smug in describing her interactions with non-orthodox Jews.