The Choosing: A Rabbi's Journey from Silent Nights to High Holy Days

by Andrea Myers

A young Lutheran girl grows up on Long Island, New York. She aspires to be a doctor, and is on the fast track to marriage and the conventional happily-ever-after. But, as the Yiddish saying goes, "Man plans, and God laughs." Meet Andrea Myers, whose coming-of-age at Brandeis, conversion to Judaism, and awakening sexual identity make for a rich and well-timed life in the rabbinate.

In The Choosing, Myers fuses heartwarming anecdotes with rabbinic insights and generous dollops of humor to describe what it means to survive and flourish on your own terms. Portioned around the cycle of the Jewish year, with stories connected to each of the holidays, Myers draws on her unique path to the rabbinate--leaving behind her Christian upbringing, coming out as a lesbian, discovering Judaism in college, moving to Israel, converting, and returning to New York to become a rabbi, partner, and parent.

Myers relates tales of new beginnings, of reinventing oneself, and finding oneself. Whether it's a Sicilian grandmother attempting to bake hamantaschen on Purim for her Jewish granddaughter, or an American in Jerusalem saving a chicken from slaughter during a Rosh Hashanah ritual, Myers keeps readers entertained as she reflects that spirituality, goodness, and morality can and do take many forms. Readers will enthusiastically embrace stories of doors closing and windows opening, of family and community, of integration and transformation. These captivating narratives will resonate and, in the author's words, "reach across coasts, continents, and generations."

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, Memoir, Religion

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2011

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrea Myers’s memoir, The Choosing: A Rabbi’s Journey from Silent Nights to High Holy Days, reminds us that there’s more than one way to create an interfaith family. Although Myers’ wife is Jewish, her own conversion to Judaism created many of the same dilemmas in her relationship to her parents and extended family that many interfaith couples confront. Her parents, themselves a mixed marriage of Catholic and Lutheran, are supportive and even eager to embrace their daughter’s new faith — at times with hilarious results. You mean the Jewish new year isn’t celebrated with midnight noisemakers? It’s not appropriate for a woman to thank an Orthodox Judaica seller for a discount with a big bear hug?

Read the rest at InterfaithFamily.com

[Angélique (Angel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. Although this book was amusing and thought-provoking, it didn't fully live up to the expectations I'd formed based on the summary and opening. I had hoped this would be an insightful memoir detailing how the author discovered and embraced Judaism despite her Christian upbringing, but instead I found this book to be mostly a collection of anecdotes showcasing how the author considers the world in light of her upbringing and her chosen faith. While that is an interesting premise, it just wasn't what I wanted at this time. If it weren't for the author's humor, authenticity, and spiritual insights, I would've rated this much lower in light of my feelings of dissatisfaction by the end.

[Katy Jean Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent series of essays from Andrea Myers. She had me rolling and crying in laughter throughout most of the book, but by the end, she had touched me with the sentiment of her stories. I enjoyed getting to know her and her family members and appreciated the insights into her life as a rabbi, a daughter, a sister, and a wife. Like any good teacher, Ms. Myers does an excellent job of mixing her lessons with stories.

[Fay Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, inspiring and fascinating book. I learned a lot about my own religion, but more importantly I enjoyed the rabbi's journey coming out as both a lesbian and then a Jew.... This book says so much about values, persistence, family, discrimination, acceptance and more. You'l enjoy it,

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rabbi Myers spoke at our synagogue & had us all in stitches with her funny but also insightful & sometimes poignant stories. I enjoyed the book enormously.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. Very funny at times, and insightful at times. There were a few chapters in the middle that felt a little draggy to me, but on the whole, a good read.