DOG has won TWO Jewish Book Council National Book Awards: Book Club Award

National “Book Club” Award

Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron Wins TWO National Jewish Book Awards

Soncata Press announces that Dog by Yishay Ishi Ron has been awarded two 2026 National Jewish Book Awards, presented by the Jewish Book Council.

The novel received the Miller Family Book Club Award and the Jane Weitzman Award for Hebrew Fiction in Translation, highlighting both its literary distinction and the strength of its English translation by Yardenne Greenspan.

Originally published in Hebrew, Dog is a psychologically charged work of literary fiction examining memory, trauma, and moral ambiguity.

Dog is a powerful and unflinching exploration of PTSD, addiction, and redemption, told through the eyes of an Israeli combat officer returning from Gaza. Haunted by trauma, he spirals into heroin addiction, finding himself among Tel Aviv’s community of misfit outsiders — until a stray dog unexpectedly enters his life. What follows is a raw, immersive journey through psychological anguish, fragile hope, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of war.

Beyond its deeply personal narrative, the novel offers a profound examination of PTSD’s mechanisms — how extreme stress, moral injury, and combat reshape the psyche, complicating any return to ordinary life. With sharp social observation and emotional intensity, Dog sheds light on the invisible wounds carried long after conflict ends.

Critics and readers alike have praised the novel’s narrative restraint and emotional depth.

Author quote: “Dog is about shame, memory, and the thin line between collapse and survival. I am grateful that its raw honesty is being met with such meaningful recognition.” -Yishay Ishi Ron

Translator quote: “Like the characters in Dog, translators are forever asking people on the outside to listen - to others’ pain, trauma, and lived experience. Having that plea answered, especially in this divisive moment, means so much.”

— Yardenne Greenspan

Publisher quote:“Dog asks readers to sit with moral discomfort rather than easy answers. To see that kind of work honored, along with the care taken to translate it, means a great deal to us as a publisher.”

— Ann Marie Sabath

Published by Soncata Press in October 2025, Dog is available in paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audio editions through major retailers and independent bookstores.

About Soncata Press

Soncata Press is a New York–based independent publisher committed to distinctive literary voices and international fiction. Founded with the belief that books should challenge, illuminate, and endure, Soncata has grown into a home for distincti...

http//:www.soncatapress.com and http//www.yishayishiron.com

The National Jewish Book Awards are one of the most prestigious and long‑standing literary awards in North America focused on Jewish literature. They were established in 1950 and are presented annually by the Jewish Book Council to recognize outstanding English‑language books of Jewish interest.