Gruen's memoir is of a rare genre, a Jew who found religion, davka, Judaism. It's much more common to hear of books about Jews who left Judaism, whether for a life without religious law or a different religion entirely.
Gruen manages a rare feat, total honesty and discretion. Except for her publicity headshot, there are no photographs, allowing her husband and children full privacy. Her descriptions suffice. That is a very important aspect of tsniyut, the Laws of Jewish Modesty. We do not have to display everything. Privacy is important.
But throughout the the book, Gruen does reveal her doubts and difficulties in accepting and taking on Jewish Law. She didn't just jump in and become a dedicated Orthodox Jew without looking back. Many of the mitzvot took her a long time to accept and adopt. There's no sugarcoating in her story. What we do see is growth, acceptance, appreciation and a lot of love. Love for her husband, her parents, grandparents and children. Gruen also loves and appreciates the community she joined in Venice, California.
I highly recommend The Skeptic and The Rabbi. Buy it for yourself and everyone else who needs a good dose of Jewish love and honesty.
- Paperback: 256 pages
- Publisher: She Writes Press (September 5, 2017)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1631523023
- ISBN-13: 978-1631523021
- Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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