Event Date: 5 November 2025
Event Time: 5pm GMT / 1pm ET
Online, Free
Dog: Yishay Ishi Ron in Conversation is now available to view free of charge on the JLF Player, our online catalogue of video content featuring hundreds of conversations and performances from Jewish Book Week and beyond. Visit the JLF Player to browse +1,000 hours of videos, made possible with the support of the Klein Family Foundation.
In Dog, Israeli writer Yishay Ishi Ron draws on his own experience of war and recovery to create an unflinching, humane portrait of a soldier’s life after combat. Geller, once a decorated officer, now roams Tel Aviv’s margins, haunted by memories of battle and the death of a dog in Gaza. When a stray crosses his path, a fragile bond offers him a chance at care and redemption. Beautifully translated by Yardenne Greenspan, Dog explores trauma, loyalty and the struggle to survive with insight and compassion.
Buy a copy of Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron
Jewish Book Council is the longest-running organisation devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature. For over seventy years, Jewish Book Council has brought people together for meaningful discussions about Jewish life, identity, and culture through a literary lens.
Yishai Ishi Ron is an Israeli author, a former elite combat soldier, and a survivor of severe PTSD. Writing has been an essential part of his healing journey, enabling him to channel deeply personal experiences into his work.
His novel, Dog, is a powerful work of literary fiction that delves into trauma, resilience, and redemption. With his background as both a soldier and a psychology graduate, Ron brings authenticity and depth to his storytelling, making Dog both intensely personal and universally resonant.
Originally written in Hebrew, Dog was translated into English by the highly regarded New York City-based translator, Yardenne Greenspan. The Hebrew edition of Dog was long-listed for the Sapir Prize, Israel’s most prestigious literary award.
Ron’s previous works in Hebrew include Holiday Apocalypse, which was nominated for the Geffen Award, and Vincent’s Nose, a children’s book that was adapted into an award-winning play.