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, âIf it feels good, do it,â was she really ready to live the life of ârituals, rules, and restraintsâ that the Torah prescribed?
The Skeptic and the Rabbi is a rare memoir with historical depth, spirituality, and intelligent humor. Gruen writes 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 lovesâsurviving several awkward moments, including when the rabbi calls to tell her that she accidentally served unkosher food to her Shabbat guestsâGruen brings the reader right along for the ride. Reading this wry, bold and compelling memoir, youâll laugh, youâll cry, and when youâre finished, you may also have a sudden craving for chicken matzo ball soupâkosher, of course.