God Said What?! #MyOrthodoxLife (ePub)

A mysterious letter shows up from an old college boyfriend throwing Meryl's life into turmoil. When a local rabbi warns her that her ex, David, has been brainwashed into a cult, Meryl is pulled into the mystical world of religious Judaism in a way that her stubbornly atheist self would never have expected. Once a free-spirited Grinnell College grad living a hippie life in Berkeley, California, she now finds herself in Israel on a rescue mission to bring him home. To accomplish her mission, Meryl must come face to face with her heritage and her own beliefs about God and the universe while struggling with the powerful pulling of her heartstrings and her hope of building a life together with the man who she has always believed to be her soulmate.

"This book was amazing! I could not put it down; it kept me riveted. I think many diverse people will benefit from and enjoy this book. I would definitely recommend this excellent book to my community members, family, and friends, no matter their level of religious observance. I feel there is something in this book for everyone to gain from. The captivating storyline, the great amount of Jewish knowledge included, and the easy style that it is written in make it an excellent read." -Chaya Moryosef, Director

"Miriam writes in a voice that resonates with so many of us, from a place that feels both refreshing and skeptical, with a heart that pounds with life." -Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Senior Editor Chabad.org

"I could not put this book down. The author's words spoke to me as if she was sitting across the table, leaned over with a cup of tea, sharing every detail. I was with her every step of her journey, following her open heart and curious nature through defiance and resistance, to becoming a woman of unshakable faith and contribution. This is a spiritual romance story of becoming oneself and finding love of G-d." -Gail Tremblay, Martha Beck coach

"'God Said What?!' is a memoir of a woman on a journey, physical and spiritual, crossing continents seeking an awakening that she is not aware of. I found myself nodding, wondering where the next chapter was going to take 'us,' for the journey is one we all take. I was pulled forward, as Miriam learned that there is a spiritual, hidden side to us all. The writing is engaging, compelling. I responded with tears and laughter, as Miriam set out to "save" her boyfriend, finding herself instead. This book is about discovering what the purpose of our existence is. Everyone who reads this will connect on some level to this tale of miracles and hope that occur in everyday life, in this mundane world." -Deborah Adelman, RN, Ph.D.