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The Skeptic and the Rabbi Hits Book Stores

The Skeptic and the Rabbi is featured in special High Holiday displays at many Barnes & Noble stores. The strong showing for Judy’s book has put the book into its second printing already. Here’s Judy at the B&N at The Grove in Los Angeles.

Praise for The Skeptic and the Rabbi

“This marvelous book should connect with the widest possible readership – ferociously religious or fervently secular; Jewish, Christian or humanist; baby boomer, Gen X’er or millennial . . . Judy’s relationship with Judaism comes across as a serious romance, but one that raises as many new life questions as it settles. The call to ‘rules, rituals and restraint’… don’t bring an end to thinking and choosing but provide a means to think more deeply and choose more richly.” – Michael Medved, author of The American Miracle: Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic.

“Readers will appreciate learning some of the reasons behind Jewish practice as well as understanding the differences between the three major branches of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform. This is a rewarding book for both general readers and book groups.” – Joan Curbow, Booklist

“The Skeptic and the Rabbi manages to be light and heavy, profound and amusing, uplifting and serious. . . These contradictions mirror an upbringing of contradiction as well as the main conflict of author author’s life – to become Orthodox or not.” – Devorah Gordon, L.A. Jewish Home

“The book offers insights for all, as I discovered parallels to my own adult baptism into Christianity years ago. . . “The Skeptic and the Rabbi” is both deep and delightful, and gives clarity how a love of faith can add purpose and richness to life..” – Suzette Standring, The Patriot Ledger

Mirth & Meaning Blog

Leashless in Los Angeles – A
Fond Farewell to Our Family Dog

September 14, 2017 by Judy Gruen

Dear Readers,

The past few months have been jam-packed with excitement for my family and me. Joyously, we celebrated the marriage of one of our sons to a wonderful young woman in Baltimore; my book, The Skeptic and the Rabbi: Falling in Love with Faith, is now published and getting rave reviews from readers and reviewers; Barnes & Noble is promoting my memoir on special in-store displays in many stores nationwide, and my book launch event at The Community Shul, my synagogue in Los Angeles, drew a nearly full house. After publishing three previous books that have not received anywhere near this kind of reception, I am hugely grateful! Now I am trying to focus on the upcoming High Holidays, with Rosh Hashana just a few days away, and thinking about the biggest issues of life — what am I doing with my life, and am I fulfilling the job that the Almighty set out for me? I am looking forward to this reflective, and to me, ultimately joyful time.

Here’s a new essay titled Why Choosing a Torah Life Was the Hardest Thing I Ever Did, my first piece for Forward.com and one that explains why I wrote my memoir in the first place. This esssay is generating a lot of positive discussion on social media, which is a good thing.

Aside from all the exciting news, though, our family also bid a sad goodbye a few months ago to Ken, our beagle-lab who had just turned 15. He was a wonderful family dog, cute, funny, troublesome, and lovable. This column about him first appeared on Aish.com with a different title and is reprinted here with permission. More…

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