Sharon Kahn

Sharon Kahn (1934–2024, born Birmingham, AL) was an attorney and arbitrator living in Austin, Texas. Her Ruby Rothman series (also known as “Ruby, the Rabbi’s Wife”) is a collection of six “kosher cozy” mysteries, celebrated for their humor, Jewish cultural themes, and satirical look at congregational life. 

Protagonist and Premise

Ruby Rothman: A 40-something computer consultant and the widow of a rabbi. Despite her husband’s death, she remains deeply involved in the social and spiritual life of her small-town Jewish community in Eternal, Texas.

Setting: Much of the action takes place at Temple Rita, where Ruby often tangles with her arch-nemesis and temple yenta, Essie Sue Margolis.

Companions: Ruby is often accompanied by her three-legged dog, Oy Vey, and later a kitten named Chutzpah. 

Kosher Cozy: The books are lighthearted, featuring no graphic violence or explicit content, and often include recipes (e.g., chopped liver with tofu).

Identity: Academic analysis identifies Ruby as an “outsider within”—someone who possesses insider knowledge of the community but lacks formal religious authority, allowing her to observe and investigate from a unique perspective. See the article by Koplowitz-Breier, Anat & David J. Zucker, “Fictional Rabbis’ Spouse Sleuths: Married to the Rabbi, Wedded to Mystery” – referred to in this Bibliography.

Humor: The series is noted for its “wry humor” and sharp observations of small-town Jewish life and the dynamics of synagogue boards.  [Google/AI]

Kahn, Sharon, [Ruby Rothman #1], (Fax Me a Bagel: A Novel Introducing Ruby, the Rabbi’s Wife [hc, Scribner, 1998] 978-0684847375 [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2001] 978-0425180464

Kahn, Sharon [Ruby Rothman #2], (Never Nosh a Matza Ball) [hc, Scribner, 2000] 978-0684847382 [pb, Prime Crime, 2002] 978-0425184325

Kahn, Sharon, [Ruby Rothman #3], (Don’t Cry for Me, Hot Pastrami) [hc, Scribner, 2001] 978-0684871554 [pb, Berkley, 2002] 978-0425187159

Kahn, Sharon, [Ruby Rothman #4], (Hold the Cream Cheese, Kill the Lox) [hc, Scribner, 2002] 978-0684871561 [pb, Scribner, 2003] 978-0425191316

Kahn, Sharon, [Ruby Rothman #5], (Which Big Giver Stole the Chopped Liver?) [hc, Scribner, 2004] 978-0743243575 [mass mkt pb, Berkley, 2005] 978-0425205341

Kahn, Sharon, [Ruby Rothman #6], (Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Choir) [hc, Scribner, 2006] 978-0743243582 [pb, Wheeler – large print, 2007] 978-97225311