Book Review: Holy Unexpected

I recently finished Robin's Chotzinoff's Holy Unexpected and found myself unexpectedly moved by it. This book is the non-fiction story of a secular woman who decides to explore and embrace Judaism. I won't spoil the whole book for you, but here's a quick summary: Although Robin's father was of Jewish descent, he was a firm atheist, and Robin was raised without religion. In her 40s, at a time when other aspects of her life are finally starting to come together, Robin begins to think that Jewish faith might be the last missing piece. She seeks out a small synagogue in Evergreen, Colorado, and finds just the community she's been looking for.

That story in and of itself isn't what made this book so fascinating for me. I was entranced and charmed by Robin's descriptions of her personal faith. Her faith is less about belief (she seems to consider much of the Torah to be a metaphor) and more about finding a community, a structure, that supports and nourishes and loves. She finds that her community encourages disagreements and debates about what it means to be Jewish, and no two people will agree on a definition of the nature of God or whether it's okay to run to Wal-Mart for duct tape on the Sabbath. She meets with some people who keep Orthodox practices and who tell Robin they find freedom in the rules. Robin finds her own balance between keeping some of those strict rules and still being true to her own life, her family, her community.

Will this atheist be embracing Judaism (or any other faith)? No. But I did find this read to be, for lack of a better word, heartwarming. I strongly recommend it. (Along with another book of Robin's, People With Dirty Hands.)

I must be on a religious/anti-religious book kick. I just started reading Richard Dawkin's The God Delusion -- check back for a review soon.