"From wry quotes by Golda Meier to bawdy 'Abe and Becky' jokes told by seniors and life-reinforcing philosophical humor in the midst of pain, JEWels delights with surprise. There will be something new here for everyone."—Jewish Book Council
"I recommend JEWels to anyone interested in Jewish culture in general, and especially to those interested in its rich folklore. . . . The commentaries, alongside the "jewels" themselves, make for lessons one might never forget—that there is beauty even in terrible situations, laughter to be found in all aspects of life, and that stories reminding us of these facts might be more relevant now than ever before."—Journal of Folklore Research
"These poems made me laugh, cry or nod with acknowledgment to the wisdom offered. . . . Zeitlin notes that he hopes to give readers a chance to experience a wide range of Jewish perspectives on the world. In that, he has definitely succeeded."—Reporter
"Perfect addition to any poetry collections as well as collections with Jewish story and or joke anthologies."—Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews
“Steve Zeitlin is a national treasure who celebrates the voices of everyday life. Wise, funny, and poignant, his book JEWels brings Judaism to life in short bursts of words that explode off the page and infuse our hearts with light and truth.”—Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps
“I could not put this book down. JEWels is brilliant, intelligent, well researched, and has heart. It’s an immersive experience in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, but the parts are what matter, each jewel standing on its own.”—Amy Shuman, professor in the Department of English at Ohio State University and author of Other People’s Stories
“JEWels is a unique, humorous, and sensitive link in the chain of Jewish storytelling, humor, and commentary.”—Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, coeditor of The Big Book of Jewish Humor
