Holy Unexpected: How I Became an Unorthodox Jew - Softcover

Raised by a Catholic mother and a Jewish father as a born-again agnostic, Robin Chotzinoff had no interest in religion-and practically no experience in it-until she turned forty. When she suddenly discovered a belief in God, she had no idea what to do next. Discovering that Judaism embraces arguing with God, hot sex, and acts as opposed to beliefs, Robin embarks on a journey to reconstruct her Jewish heritage and forge a relationship with her faith while remaining, resolutely, herself. While studying for her bat mitzvah, learning Hebrew, and delving into Torah, she also explores Judaism through the perspective of many teachers. Without condescension, proselytizing, or self-absorption, Chotzinoff takes readers on an unexpected religious journey lit by humor and grace.

Robin Chotzinoff is the author of People With Dirty Hands: The Passion for Gardening, and People Who Sweat. An award-winning columnist and writer at Denver's alternative weekly Westword and at The Denver Post, her writing has also appeared in Outside, The New York Times Magazine, Food and Wine, and Garden Design, among other publications. She has recently moved to Austin, Texas.