A young Lutheran girl grows up in Long Island, New York. She aspires to be a doctor and is on the fact 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 wtih rabbinic insights and generous dollops of humor to describe what it means to survive and flourish on your own terms. She 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.

Rosh Hashanah: bird in hand -- The secular new year: happy new year -- The new year for trees: the lance and the twig -- The new year for animals: because no one is allergic to butterflies -- Sukkot: wild turkey -- Hanukkah: miller light -- Purim: surprise endings -- Passover: I'll be home for Passover -- Lag B'omer: the work of the chariot -- Shavuot: take two tablets -- Tisha B'av: broken sound -- Elul: hit-or-mitzvah -- Purim Katan: calendar girls.