Dana Rubin is an award-win­ning jour­nal­ist, speaker, speechwriter, and creator/curator of the world’s largest col­lec­tion of speech­es by women. 'Jewish Voices' is a different kind of collection, an assemblage of quotes from Jewish men and women, accompanied by beautiful artistic renderings by Jewish artists.

Rubin introduces 'Jewish Voices' as follows: "Words and language have always occupied a place of special reverence in Jewish life. From the beginning of recorded history, the wisdom and culture of the Jewish people have been communicated through the written and spoken word." Perhaps the best example of this are Talmudic scholars who spend their entire lives studying and discussing the Talmud - the compilation of writings that covers all Jewish laws and traditions.

'Jewish Voices' is divided into ten sections, each containing a series of quotes and a brief biography of each person quoted. The men and women cited include scholars, politicians, celebrities, authors, scientists, poets, artists, and more. I'll list the sections, with an example of a quote from each one.

❂ Land of Milk and Honey (This refers to the land of Israel.)

"I stand with Israel because when I walk around Jerusalem, every step I take is part of my history." Melinda Strauss, Jewish content creator and kosher cookbook author.

*****

❂ Diaspora ("The Jewish people have continuously been uprooted and forced to abandon and rebuild their lives in a perpetual state of exile.")

"The Jewish masses, though dispersed to the four winds of the world and mostly destitute of mere shelter - because tenacious of their creed, endure, true to themselves and to their past." Waldemar Haffkine, Russian-French bacteriologist

*****

❂ Art and Culture ("Historians have compared the achievements of the Jewish people in the arts to the....Italians during the Renaissance....")

"Our capacity to create something that is not useful, that's only understood by mortals, that's only within the human experience, and that is beyond the provable and everyday, that is unpredictable - that's the highest praise we can give for being human." Leon Botstein, Swiss-American conductor, educator, and scholar.

*****

❂ Laughter and Tears ("From ancient times to the Borscht Belt, from Hollywood to Comedy Central, Jewish people have found wit and humor in the human condition....")

"Laughter forces air into and out of our lungs - it keeps us alive and motivated even in the worst of circumstances." Esther D. Kustanowitz, American writer, editor, and consultant.

*****

❂ Antisemitism and the Holocaust ("Historians say the first antisemitic attack occurred in 38 BCE in Alexandria....That was the start of centuries of catastrophe for the Jewish people.")

"We all have a responsibility to stand up. Words matter. Hate speech begets hate crimes." Josh Shapiro, 48th governor of Pennsylvania.

*****

❂ Education and Learning ("The notion that the most secure investment you can make is in your knowledge may not be exclusively Jewish, but it does have a powerful Jewish lineage.")

"The most violent element in society is ignorance." Emma Goldman, Anarchist revolutionary, political activist, and writer.

*****

❂ Family and Home ("Jewish family life is the core from which all else radiates: identity, belonging, and self-fulfillment.")

"Though we come from different cultures and totally different worlds, we all want the same things - to provide a good environment for our kids to grow in. To laugh and share experiences with family and friends. To see our children grow up and achieve their dreams." Ben Stiller, actor, filmmaker, and comedian.

*****

❂ Inspiration and Hope ("With the founding of the Jewish state, the first two stanzas of Naftali Herz Imber's poem became the national anthem, 'Hatikvah: Our hope is not yet lost/It is two thousand years old/To be a free people in our land/The land of Zion and Jerusalem.')

"I have never seen the world as 'deaf' or 'hearing' or 'Jewish' or 'gentile' or 'black' or 'white'.....There is only one world, and many people live in it." Shoshannah Stern, actress, writer, and producer. (Stern was raised in a deaf family and learned sign language before English.)

*****

❂ Holidays and Tradition ("Some Jewish holidays commemorate key events in Jewish history....others are tied to the agrarian cycle.")

"Shabbos is the central point of our lives, the culmination of the entire week, showcasing our purpose and bringing us full circle. It forces us to stop and connect with our Creator and gives us the tools and opportunities to be present and take a look at the faces of our families." Raizy Fried, teacher, innovator, and lifestyle influencer.

*****

Tikun Olam (Repairing the world: tikun olam places the well-being of humanity not just in the providence of God, but also in the hands of the Jewish people.)

"Say to yourself, If there is a wrong in our midst, what can I do? What is my responsibility?" Lilian Wald, American nurse, activist, and humanitarian.

*****

Though it might seem like this book would appeal mostly to Jewish people, I think persons of all faiths would find it enlightening. As humans, we have common hopes, dreams, and goals, many of which are reflected in the selections included by Dana Rubin.

In addition to the quotes, the book includes an index of individuals, permissions, and a bibliography at the back. There are also colorful illustrations on every page - by artists Chavi Feldman, Leah Bar Shalom and Eleyor Snir - which make this a good candidate for a gift or coffee table book.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dana Rubin, and Wellfleet Press for a copy of the book.

While this will probably appeal mostly to Jewish readers, I believe the thoughts expressed in this compendium hold universal values and truths. The publisher says: “Explore the richness and diversity of Jewish heritage and history with this expansive volume of quotes from Jewish figures...People from all cultures and walks of life will feel inspired, empowered, uplifted, and motivated to discover new perspectives.” 

Dana Rubin has pulled together quotes from a wonderfully diverse group of Jewish people, across the world and across the centuries. Among the people who appear in Jewish Voices are well-known (and less well-known) contemporary voices, from Mandy Patinkin and Dr. Ruth (so sad that we lost her this year) to Josh Shapiro, Michael Twitty, Stephen Sondheim, and Judy Blume. There are also quotes from centuries ago: Maimonides, Gluckel of Hameln, Nachman of Breslov and Rabbi Tarfon. In between, we have quotes from more recent figures such as Gold Meir, Theodor Herzl, Emma Lazarus, Elie Wiesel, Henrietta Szold, and Louise Nevelson.

The quotes are arranged in themed sections as follows: Land of Milk and Honey; Diaspora; Art And Culture; Laughter And Tears; Antisemitism And The Holocaust; Education And Learning; Family And Home; Inspiration And Hope; Holidays And Tradition; and Tikun Olam (Repairing The World). Along with the quotes, you get short biographies of the person being quoted. I was delighted to discover quite a few people I had no previous knowledge of.

The artwork included in Jewish Voices is beyond beautiful. One illustration is more lovely than the next. Listed artists are Chavi Feldman, Leah Bar Shalom, and Eleyor Snir.

The hardover format is 7.2 inches wide and 8.3 inches high, which seems a bit small for what could be called a coffee table book (not an insult!). I would love to display this in my home in the hope that visitors would page through it and find inspiration and/or comfort in the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This collection of thoughtful quotes is organized by topic. A few of these include Art and Culture; Laughter and Tears; Antisemitism and the Holocuast; Family and Home; and more. Each of these sections begins with an orientation to the topic.

The author-compiler’s introduction notes the importance of language and words to the Jewish population across the diaspora. She has chosen quotes from Greek, Latin and Aramaic teachings as well as Yiddish lore. In addition, there are sayings from migration to the Aegean, the Iberian Peninsula, Asia Minor and the Russian steppes. Quotes cover a wide period of years up to the present day.

Readers are also given information on those who are quoted. Some of these authors may be well known, for example there are quotes from Amy Shumer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg while others will be from those not previously known by the reader.

The quotes themselves are plentiful. In addition, the text is accompanied by graphic illustrations.

This book would make a lovely gift or addition to libraries. It would maybe be a nice title to give to someone at the time of the Jewish fall holidays. I hope it will be read by many and will help to open dialogue during fraught political periods.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful collection of wise sayings designed to make you think, reflect and imagine. This is a collection o could actually use as discussion prompts with groups of students, of many ages. Well done and artfully presented.

Beautiful, inspiring and reassuring collection of Jewish quotes from thinkers ancient and modern.

Illustrated and designed to please the eye and the heart, this book is a treasure trove of inspiration and hope.
While it would be difficult to summarise what it means to be a Jew, this book's collection of art and quotes comes very close.

The book is divided into topical sections, with quotes from Theodor Herzl and Golda Meir to Hen Mazzig and Melinda Strauss.
Each quote comes with a short text on the person it is attributed to.

The art by Chavi Feldman, Leah Bar Shalom and Eleyor Snir is stunning, quintessentially Jewish and makes this book truly stunning. The layout is great, giving art, quotes and text blocks space to breathe and shine on their own.

This book is a beautiful tribute to Jewishness and Jewish resilience and a wonderful gift - to yourself or loved ones!