October 8, 2014 The Chronicle Herald:

 

...Her first book of poetry, Reaching Beyond Ourselves: Leading a Spiritual, Peaceful and Diverse World ($25, Top Publishing House), placed first in the Hollywood based...International Competition... Ruby's own verse recalls the humanism and mysticism of William Blake...

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Such lines are earnest, won from trials: Ruby was born in Ukraine, then emigrated to Israel, and is now a Haligonian. 

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Ruby's reminiscences about her life in multicultural Israel and her celebration of Jewish heritage are impassioned:

"Jewish people of strong and true faith/

Always try to give to the world/More

goodness than they take from it./It's

called in Hebrew 'Tikun Olam,' healing

the world."

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While Ruby's verses are likely better thought songs, her own art --photographs -- are quite compelling, very beautiful. She has added to the visual power of her book by choosing well images by Forrestall and Silverberg -- and by Natan Nevo and Frank Kravetz, two other European-born artists who, like Ruby, have made themselves homes in Halifax. Their works are also very fine.

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Ruby's prize-winning book deserves appreciation, for her articulation of her

heartfelt beliefs and for her presentation of her impressive art and that of others".