By David Behrman
Many who read this will not have known our former colleague Ruby Strauss, but you are reading her words in your books, and using her books in your classrooms. She was a powerhouse—our vice president and the editor of the vast bulk of what we published for almost 20 years before she retired in 1998. Her work had remarkable range—she spanned Hebrew and Judaica, was an editor and an art director—and she had a good eye, a keen visual sense, and a good ear—a feel for words and verbal expression.
Ruby’s list of firsts was extensive and continues to inform what is published today—the first story-based Bible book, the first liturgically-based Hebrew series, the first book about God for the religious school classroom. When Ruby retired we made her a 3x5-foot framed poster of the covers of all the books she had worked on; virtually every one of our best-selling textbooks and core textbooks in Jewish religious schools throughout North America was on it.
Ruby was also fun. She was authentic, and genuine, and in-your-face in the very best meaning of the phrase. She always had time to help, always had time to mentor. Behrman House would be a completely different kind of place had she not come on the scene. And so would the field of Jewish education.
In addition to her work for Behrman House, Ruby was also a talented creator of miniatures and doll houses, including this replica of Jacob Behrman's office at 1261 Broadway, and a miniature classroom featuring Sam the Detective.
Ruby leaves behind an extended clan: her husband Stanley, her sons Tommy, Ken, and Andrew, and many grandchildren. We wish them comfort among the mourners of Zion, and we know for certain that her memory will be for a blessing, much as her memory survives with them and in the words, books, images, and learning that she leaves behind in the work she did with us.
