Judy Gruen's Mirth & Meaning Blog

Get Judy’s Blog by Email

Delivered by FeedBurner

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
    • The Skeptic and the Rabbi: Falling in Love with Faith
    • Till We Eat Again: A Second Helping
    • MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools
    • The Women’s Daily Irony Supplement
    • Carpool Tunnel Syndrome:
      Motherhood as Shuttle Diplomacy
  • Publications
  • About
  • Writing Services
  • Contact

 Judy’s Newest Book is Here!

 
meme-skeptic1

 

 

News & Events

 

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.

“Gruen’s ebullient positivity is a counterweight to religion-as-abuse memoirs… an uplifting spin on an often-misunderstood life choice.” – Library Journal

“Honesty shines throughout the book, as Gruen refuses to sugarcoat her narrative. She frankly discusses the many real challenges she encountered in her decision to take upon various mitzvot. The memoir is a terrific read for anyone curious about the Torah lifestyle.” – Leah Aharoni, Jewish Action Magazine

 

Books

 

Click on the books to learn more

 
 
 

Mirth & Meaning Blog

News And Notes From Judy

February 1, 2018 by Judy Gruen

Dear Readers,

This season has brought joy and blessing to our family. Our fourth grandchild, our second grandson, was born January 14, at a strapping 9 pounds, 2 ounces. His name is Reuven Yitzchak (Robert Issac), carrying the name of both his great-grandfathers.

We feel enormously blessed to have children who are bringing in a new generation to the world. So many people are not making parenthood a priority; and I hope they will change their minds for all the right reasons! We are especially fortunate that our grandchildren live nearby, filling our lives with joy, trips to the park, and yes, sometimes sprained shoulders or sore backs from too much lifting of little people topping 30 or 40 pounds!

This was also the third time I had the privilege of attending a grandchild’s birth. It is dramatic and awesome to witness it. What a miracle!

New columns, reviews, and other professional news

Professionally I have also been busy. My recent columns on Aish.com include my observations after my first experience knowing someone who chose physician-assisted suicide — something that affected me very powerfully. Other columns focused on Harvey Weinstein and the “Me-Too” phenomenon, a promising twist in the world of fashion, and more. You can check out my whole line up of stories on this wonderful website here.

Click for full blog post

 
 

Publications

Click to read Judy’s latest articles


 
 

Connect



Judy Gruen has written several award-winning humor books and co-authored the business book MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and many other media outlets. Judy’s insightful observations on Jewish interest and spirituality have been featured on Aish.com, Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, Jewish Action and Beliefnet.com. Learn more.    

Get Judy's RSS Feed

Recent Blog Entries

  • News and Notes
  • News and Notes from Judy
  • Leashless in Los Angeles — a Fond Farewell to Our Family Dog
  • News and Notes from Judy
  • Hat’s Off to My Wonderful Husband on Father’s Day
  • My Friend’s Amazing Recovery from Stage 4 Cancer

Get Social

Judy on Twitter

Tweets by @judygruen
 

Judy's Goodreads Reviews

 

Judy's bookshelf: read

The Devil Came on Horseback: Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur
really liked it
The Devil Came on Horseback: Bearing Witness to the Genocide in Darfur
by Brian Steidle
I got a copy of this book because I did an interview with Brian Steidle, co-author, who served as an unarmed miliary observer in Darfur. Till that point, the name "Darfur" was not much more than a bumper sticker cause, though I knew the ...
Espresso Tales
really liked it
Espresso Tales
by Alexander McCall Smith
I love Alexander McCall Smith's writing; its subtlety, its gentle humor, and its wisdom. This is a book of stories about the intersecting lives of the characters of his previous book, "44 Scotland Street," a book I liked even more than t...
Now You See Me...
it was amazing
Now You See Me...
by Rochelle Krich
Rochelle Krich explores what happens to a naive teen who meets a man in an online chat room, and detective Molly Blume sets out to find the girl after she disappears. Krich's writing is taut, her characters well developed, and the story ...
The Ten Commandments of Character: Essential Advice for Living an Honorable, Ethical, Honest Life
it was amazing
The Ten Commandments of Character: Essential Advice for Living an Honorable, Ethical, Honest Life
by Joseph Telushkin
Written like a ethical "Dear Abby" collection, Rabbi Telushkin's book is comprised of moral questions asked of him over the years in the areas of family, money, friends, everyday dilemmas, and work. Ex-hippie parents wonder if it's okay ...
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books
really liked it
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books
by Aaron Lansky

goodreads.com

For media interviews, contact Stuart Schnee Public Relations 973-796-2753 stu@stuartschnee.com
For speaking engagements, contact Judy Gruen 310-486-4573
Photo Credit Jonah Light | Site Design by Endeavor Creative