ART AND LIFE OF RUTH MANDEL Paperback – January 21, 2021

"The Art and Life of Ruth Mandel" is an amazing and beautiful fusion of anart book, (which includes documents, newspaper clips, and facsimiles of themanuscripts written about her art by the artist herself), and an absorbingbiography written by her husband, David Mandel, which reveals another aspectof Ruth, her generosity and the kindness of her heart.The many paintings, drawings and sculptures included in the book arewitnesses to Ruth's talent as a great artist. Several of her sculptures arein public spaces in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, and were inauguratedwith the presence of the mayors of the respective cities and the Peruvianambassadors.The book, which is bilingual, English and Hebrew, is beautifully printed.Its high quality provides the reader with a pictorial delight.Ruth Mandel had a unique life, full of events. She was born in Lima, Peru,where she was named as one of the ten most beautiful faces in the country.Ruth was still a young wife and mother, when she immigrated to Israel, withher husband David and three small children. Although, her new country was sodifferent from the South American culture where she grew up, she quicklylearned the language and very soon felt completely at home.In Israel she continued her art studies and graduated from the Avni ArtInstitution. At the same time, she became, and continued to be during herwhole life, involved in the Fight against Cancer Association, and becamepresident of the Tel Aviv chapter.She loved to travel, which she did frequently to all corners of the planet,from the Himalaya Mountains to the Sahara desert, from Patagonia in SouthAmerica to Alaska in the north. She visited the home where her father grewup in Vienna, and the town, Ostrowiec, in Poland, where her maternalgrandfather was murdered by the Nazis because he refused, as a religiousJew, to work in the Sabbath.The book includes many anecdotes such as the story that Ruth herself tellsof her participation in a New York University Art Workshop in Venice, Italy,1982, when she stayed in what she, at first, thought was a hotel. Only afterseveral days, she found out that the nice and kind women that were in chargewere all nuns wearing civilian clothes.This is one of the most beautiful art books I have seen. I highly recommendit, not only for the wonderful reproductions of the art works of a talentedartist, but as an invaluable document, (which includes the facsimiles ofRuth's manuscripts about her art and experiences), of the life of abeautiful woman who was a great artist but, more important, a great humanbeing.

I have known Ruth and David Mandel for many years and with my wife, we have been many time to their home in Savyon, Israel. During our visits we almost admired Ruth’s art, in drawings and paintings, and we were introduced to some of her sculptures. But we never knew of the real scale of her artwork until we received David Mandel’s master work while creating a memory of Ruth and her work. It took David’s book to open my eyes and discover the wonderful lifetime work of Ruth Mandel.In Judaism we have an exquisite and multi-layered poem Eishet Chayil - translated to English as the Woman of Valor. This poem was written by King Solomon as part of Proverbs, a book of great wisdom. We sing this ode to women before sanctifying the Sabbath on Friday evening. On a more modern-day level, David Mandel has recreated the most beautiful expression of Ruth, his wife, his Eishet Chayil. It is, without doubt, amazing, and a modern version of Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31.Ruth created, with a dose of wisdom and understanding, a wonderful life span artwork with her ability of intuition and understanding of the world around her and from the warmth of her beautiful home she created with David. David’s book has then recreated King Solomon’s words, ‘Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds’. The book clearly shows his love and feelings toward Ruth stating forcefully '...she is the woman of valor which I found'. When I read the book a clearly understood that Ruth is David’s Woman of Valor, and in his book he Celebrates Jewish Womanhood.This magnificent book by David Mandel is to be enjoyed, and a must read.

“The Art and Life of Ruth Mandel” is one of the most extraordinary art book that I have ever seen and read, not only because of its beautiful paintings and exuberant colors, but because it includes a wealth of information, such as manuscripts written by the artist herself about her views on art, documents that chronicle her life, newspaper clips, interviews, and a biography with photos.The sheer amount of her work presented in these pages, hundreds of her paintings, drawings and sculptures, that were shown in art shows, galleries and museums in Peru, Israel, United States and Italy, in individual and group exhibitions, is incredible, and her creativity is amazing.Seeing the reproductions of her paintings, drawings and sculptures, we appreciate and admire Ruth’s talent. Reading her manuscripts and her biography, we appreciate and admire her love of life.The book succeeds in presenting Ruth as the remarkable artist and wonderful human being that she was.The reproduction of the artist’s paintings and sculptures is a work of beauty. The text about her life and her person is a work of the heart.To summarize, “The Art and Life of Ruth Mandel” is both a beautiful book and a heart-touching testimony to a talented artist who lives in the hearts of all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

The Art and Life of Ruth Mandel is a book to be cherished. Her family history and the life she led are right out of an historical novel, but she lived it and it is her legacy.Her story is tenderly told by her husband, David. They both grew up in Lima, Peru and David married her when she was seventeen. Their life together was an adventure and the narrative lets you ride along with them to many continents spanning many decades.It is Ruth's artwork that is the real joy that emanates from this book. Her color pallet is as bright and vivid as any you have seen. Her style reflects her joy for life. Turning the pages is to view the visible color spectrum through the prism of her creativity.History, life and art are presented in a way that shares the essence of Ruth Mandel's life. Taking this journey with her is both exhilarating and inspiring.

The way the artist expresses herself through her art reflects her knowledge and mature understanding and respectfor color and space.Innovative and yet eternal, unique and universal.