Jessica Fishman is available for book readings and speaking engagements. To schedule an appearance, please fill out the form.
“As part of her book launch for Chutzpah & High Heels, Jessica spoke at our Hillel interfaith campus-wide event about her experience of moving to and living in Israel. She told her story, one that represents a larger struggle of Israel’s Jewish identity, in an honest, heartfelt, and often humorous way. Hers is an important story to tell and hear. I highly recommend her presentation to Jewish organizations.”
-Rabbi Heidi Coretz, Director, SMU Hillel, Dallas, TX
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“Fishman’s book sheds a unique perspective on the experience of making Aliya. Her presentation, which touched upon identity, politics, and cultural differences in an extremely down to earth, humorous, and thought-provoking way, was exceptionally well received by our audience.”
-Sara Ewing, Director of Adult Programs, Jewish Community Center of the North Shore, Marblehead, MA
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“Cincinnati is still talking about Jessica Fishman and the deeply personal story she shared with a sold out crowd of Jewish young professionals at a local bookstore this past March. While Jessica challenges some old ways of thinking, she does so with love and humor and the kind of “heart on her sleeve” honesty that had participants hanging on her every word. We are thrilled to have been a stop on her book tour and appreciated the chance to hear her perspective and get to know a little bit more about this amazing young woman!”
-Pamela Richards Saeks, Director of Jewish Innovation and Engagement, The Mayerson Foundation, Cincinnati, OH
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“Jessica Fishman’s presentation to our Hadassah group was a huge success. Those that read her book, first, as I did, loved her recounting her struggles with learning the Hebrew language. Those experiences, along with how difficult it was to make allyah, made her book a fast read. The members that had not read the book, were able to experience it, along with her, as she told her heartwarming story. Many were anxious to purchase the book after her presentation. Thank you to Jessica for sharing her journey with us both in person and in the book. She made it come alive.”
-Marilynne Davis Flaquer, President of Hadassah Chapters Albert Einstein, Philadelphia, PA,
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“Jessica’s story gives an important voice to Israel’s struggle with gender issues and marriage rights. Her powerful presentation is given with insight, intelligence and wit – bringing an uplifting message of hope for the Jewish future.”
-Debra J. Siroka, RJE Director of Lifelong Learning, Temple B’nai Torah
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“Jessica Fishman, author of Chutzpah and High Heels, was a delight to have at our joint temple event in March. Her journey was a fascinating one and very eye-opening about the need for equality and pluralism in Israel. Many people in the community where unaware of the policies regarding marriage, conversion and burial in Israel and the need to have the services performed by an Orthodox rabbi. The discussion was enlightening and educational. Jessica is warm and friendly and weaves her tale like an intricate novel. We look forward to Jessica’s next book and hope that there is a happiness in her next journey.”
-Marla Bucher, Sisterhood President, Women of Reform Judaism of Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro, NJ
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“We truly appreciated the book tour visit Jessica had with Temple Shalom Dallas that was enjoyed by over 50 members and friends. Her presentation was flawless and the bits of humor made it so believable it hurt to know that conditions for women is as it is. Her strength in continuing on and making a great life for herself and her work to help others is inspiring. Many bought her book and have read it and shared it with others to see additional content that couldn’t be covered in the short time we had with her. Working with her to bring her here was also very easy and enjoyed some time with her one-on-one with a few friends. If you have a chance to have her visit, do it. You won’t regret it.”
-Howard Gottlieb, Lifelong Learning Chair, Temple Shalom Dallas, Dallas, TX
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“Jessica’s story is both inspiring and entertaining. She was kind enough to make Temple Sinai Las Vegas a stop on her book tour where she shared even more details of her adventures in making Aliyah to Israel with our group. We were able to both feel her pain and laugh along with her as she gave a very honest and thoughtful account of her experiences in Israel, contrasted with American Reform Jewry. We look forward to reading about what happens next for Jessica.”
-Stephanie Helms, Temple Sinai Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV
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“We call it “aliyah” because moving to Israel is supposed to take new immigrants to great spiritual heights. Supposed to… In her engaging and unfiltered telling, Fishman shared the great heights and tremendous lows of her aliyah story. In her Shabbat afternoon talk, she took listeners on a journey of romance and rejection that pulled at our heartstrings and challenged our idealistic image of Israel. Given the growing gulf between Israel and Diaspora Jewry, I believe presentations like Fishman’s told with passion and pain, honesty and hopefulness are more essential than ever.”
-Rabbi Alexander Davis, Beth El Synagogue, Minneapolis, MN
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“Jessica shared her heartrending and inspiring story with poise and clarity, moving us to action. She captivated her audience with her interesting and humorous tales of her experiences making Aliyah to Israel.”
-Wendy Schwartz, R.J.E., Adult Learning Coordinator, Temple Israel, Minneapolis, MN
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“It was a pleasure to host Jessica Fishman at Sutton Place Synagogue. She has an important story to share about the need for religious pluralism in Israel, a story that gets at the heart and soul of the Jewish homeland.”
-Rabbi Rachel Ain, Sutton Place Synagogue, NYC, NY
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“Through Jessica Fishman’s engaging presentation, our community learned about the challenges many Jews face when deciding to live in Israel from an insider’s perspective. Jessica’s ease and humor in relaying her deeply personal story of Aliyah is reflected in her must read book.”
– Lauren Marcus Johnson, Director of Libraries & Media Center, Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, MI
“Our audience members enjoyed and appreciated Jessica Fishman’s deeply personal and provocative account of her aliyah experience. The conversations her presentation raised about Jewish and Israeli identities, and about who and what defines our Judaisms, continue to echo through our community.”
-Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Director of Community Engagement, Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center of Silicon Valley, Los Gatos, CA
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“Jessica Fishman tells her aliya to Israel story in an easy-to-read, entertaining, and humorous way. Her written and spoken words deliver a sincere and heartfelt message about the challenges and opportunities that face all new immigrants to Israel. And she is able to share her personal experience honestly, while communicating her love for Israel and its people. It’s a must-read for anyone considering moving to Israel.”
-Rabbi Misha Zinkow, Temple Israel, Columbus, OH
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“We were recently honored to host Jessica Fishman as she read from her marvelous book, Chutzpah & High Heels. Her captivating presence and her ability to tell a painful story in a remarkably engaging fashion transformed the evening into a tremendous success. Having been privileged to be Jessica’s rabbi from hear earliest years through her making aliyah, I can say that her book reflects the real meaning of living a Judaism of inclusion and affirmation–a Judaism of hope and of purpose. Israel will be a healthier and more Jewish country when the narratives of people like Jessica and her mother are more fully integrated into the body politic of the State.”
-Rabbi Morris Allen, Beth Jacob Synagogue, St. Paul, MN
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“Jessica quickly engaged us with her painful story, as a young woman immigrant to Israel. Her presentation was skillful and filled with humor. Jessica had a depth of information, a lot of which was new to the guests present. We read the book and admire the courage, strength, and time it took to write this memoir. Jessica is a gifted facilitator who welcomes questions and comments during her presentation. Peg and Dick KavaneyJessica quickly engaged us with her painful story, as a young woman emirgee to Israel. Her presentation was skillful and filled with humor. Jessica had a depth of information, a lot of which was new to the guests present. We read the book and admire the courage, strength, and time it took to write this memoir. Jessica is a gifted facilitator who welcomes questions and comments during her presentation. “
-Peg and Dick Kavaney, Mill City Commons Book Club
Jessica Fishman 