10 minute read
Celebrity Jews
ARTS&LIFE CELEBRITY JEWS
NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST
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SEGEL; LEBOWITZ; SEX AND THE CITY REBOOT
Our Friend, a “tearjerker” dramatic film, opens in a few theaters Jan. 22 and is also available that day on video-on-demand. It is based on a 2015 Esquire article in which Matthew Teague detailed the death of his wife, Nicole, from ovarian cancer.
The couple’s best friend, Dane, upended his life and stayed with them for months, assisting with everything, including helping with their two young daughters. Jason Segel, 40, plays Dane, his first major film in four years. Casey Affleck plays Matthew, with Dakota Johnson as Nicole. Critics were divided, but all praised Segel’s performance.
In 1978, Fran Lebowitz, now 70, came out of almost nowhere with Metropolitan Life, a collection of stories featuring acerbic, brilliant and funny observations about contemporary life. It was a smash, as was Social Studies (1982), a similar collection of stories. Lebowitz was in demand as a paid speaker and talk show guest for most of the 1980s. Most people, I think, assumed she came from an intellectual family and had an Ivy League degree. In reality, her father ran a New Jersey furniture store, and she was a high school dropout (she did get a G.E.D.).
Lebowitz worked menial jobs until magazines started buying her stories, some of which were in her first book. Her Cinderella story faded as she wrote virtually nothing after 1982, blaming a writer’s block. Then, in 2010, Martin Scorsese brought her
WIKIPEDIA
back into the public eye with Public Speaking, an HBO documentary mostly about her entertaining speaking appearances. A decade has passed, and Scorsese has stepped up again to showcase Lebowitz in a new documentary. Pretend It’s a City, was released on Netflix on Jan. 8. Scorsese pretty much points the camera at Lebowitz and she opines, in her funny/snarky way, about New York City, the pandemic and other things. A memorable line: It would take one subway ride for the Dalai Lama to turn into a lunatic, crazy person. On Jan. 9, it was confirmed that a revival or reboot of Sex and the City will begin filming this spring for HBO Max. Three out of the four leads will return: Sarah Jessica Parker, now 55, as Carrie, Cynthia Nixon as Miranda and Kristen Davis as Charlotte, who converted to Judaism and wed Harry, a Jewish guy played by Evan Handler, now 60. It’s likely that Handler will be in the reboot. Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha, has said that she wouldn’t appear in another sequel. Few details are available, just a vague press release about the ladies navigating the realities of life and friendship in their 50s.
A Family Tradition Since 1964
Farmington Hills Thank you to all the guests that have been patient and understanding and have supported us through this extremely difficult past year. For over 56 years our restaurants have been through countless challenges, from financial recessions to depressions and through it all we have continued to expand and grow and together we have now faced a pandemic. We are blessed to always find a positive solution to overcome and succeed! This could not be possible without our extended family of staff and their ability to step up to the many challenges with a positive focus on working together unified in one direction and a goal to always move forward Tiriamo AvantiTM . As we begin this brand-new year, we are faced with the unknown in what the restaurant industry as many businesses have been forced to close and hardworking people are now unemployed. One thing is promised, my family and I are looking forward to working, serving and feeding our great community. We remain strong and thank our guests for standing with us. Looking forward to a positive 2021! Sincerely, Anthony Rugiero, CEO. President Antonio's and Roman Village Dear Readers,
Canton Dearborn Heights Dearborn
www.antoniosrestaurants.com
Livonia
ON THE GO PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS
THEATRE PRODUCTION THROUGH JAN. 29
The Nicely Theatre Group presents what happens after happily ever after. Disenchanted! revisits familiar princess characters to get their side of the story. Tickets are $15 per household for the 65-minute musical production. You can watch it whenever you'd like and as often as you like during the run since it is not a ZOOM-style production. Rather, it was filmed by industry professionals at the Berman Theatre in West Bloomfield while observing appropriate social distancing protocols for the actors and crew. Get tickets at nicelytheatregroup.org.
Jaimie Branch
MUSIC SCENE 7:30 PM, JAN. 22
The Kerrytown Concert House in Ann Arbor, 415, N. 4th Ave., will present Jaimie Branch on trumpet. For ticket info: kerrytownconcerthouse. com.
DIA FOR KIDS 1 PM, JAN. 23
The Detroit Institute of Arts presents this free special edition of Wimage LLC.’s engaging and live online show for kids — Wimee’s Words. Wimee is a fun lovable robot that inspires kids to learn through creativity. Each special DIA episode will feature interactive songs, wordplay and more inspired by exhibitions and works at the DIA. Watch live on the DIA’s Facebook page and You Tube channel. This episode will take a close look at Construction Watcher’s, a photograph featured in the special exhibition Russ Marshall: Detroit Photographs, 1958-2008.
Dr. Micah Goodman
JEWISH IDENTITY 10 AM, JAN. 24
A middle ground is emerging between religious and secular Jews who want to engage with their heritage without being restricted by it or losing it completely. This concept is addressed by Dr. Micah Goodman in his new book, The Wondering Jew, which will be the subject of “The Wondering Jew: Israel & the Search for Jewish Identity,” an online program hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council/AJC (JCRC/AJC), in partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute. There is no cost to attend the event, which is open to the community. Register at bit.ly/3qN7dVA.
VIRTUAL YOGA 10 AM-NOON, JAN. 24
Certified yoga therapist Donna Raphael will lead a gentle flow yoga class, with optional chair yoga modifications. Wear comfortable clothes and have a mat, rug or chair. This event is for paid Congregation Shaarey Zedek Sisterhood members. A link to join will be sent on Friday, Jan. 22. To become a member of sisterhood, go to cszinfo@shaareyzedek.org and see #CSZSisterhood.
SYMPOSIUM ON POLITICAL CULTURE 11 AM-1:45 PM, JAN. 24
The Sterling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel in East Lansing will present three consecutive panels. Links will be sent via email. Register at jewishstudies@list.mus.edu.
A SCHOOL’S HISTORY 2 PM. JAN. 24
The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan will present this Zoom meeting. “Dreaming of a Different World” is with Marcia Ruff, Roeper School historian. George and Annemarie Roeper arrived in Detroit in 1941, having fled Germany in 1937. Once here, they founded the Roeper Grade School, now known as the Roeper School, one of Michigan’s best-known independent schools. They used the model of the pro-
Wimee’s Words
gressive German school founded by Annemarie’s parents to help them develop a clarity of vision that guided them through challenges and still provides inspiration for Roeper School today. No charge. Register by 9 pm Friday, Jan 22; instructions for joining the Zoom call will be sent the day before.
Klezmer Conservatory Band
YIDDISHLAND 2 PM, JAN. 24
The Yiddish Book Center will present “40 Years in Yiddishland: The Yiddish Book Center Celebrates the Klezmer Conservatory Band,” a video special celebrating the anniversaries of the Yiddish Book Center and the Klezmer Conservatory Band (KCB). It will include a historical overview of the band’s history, along with exciting video concert footage from over the years. The 90-minute special will be presented live via Zoom and will also stream live on the Yiddish Book Center's Facebook page. To reserve a virtual seat in the Zoom audience, which will allow you to submit questions, registration is required: https://tinyurl.com/ y2o33u42
FILM FESTIVAL 3 PM, JAN. 24
Sponsored by the Jewish Community Center, author Howard Jacobson, screenwriter Martin Stellman and the Detroit Film Theatre’s Elliot Wilhelm will discuss the place of the U.K.’s Jews in
media and popular culture with moderator Jaemi Loeb, senior director of Cultural Arts at the JCC. To see where Jews are and aren't in British film, check out these: Babylon: an incendiary portrait of racial tension and police brutality set in Brixton, London; Dough: The owner of a struggling Jewish bakery hires Muslim African immigrant teenager Ayyash Habimana to work in the shop. Tickets: $5 per person per film. Info: filmfestival@ jccdet.org.
JEWISH-MUSLIM SEMINAR 11 AM-NOON, JAN. 25
The University of Michigan Frankel Center for Judaic Studies will present “Affective trouble: A Jewish/ Palestinian heterosexual wedding threatening the Israeli nation-state?” with Roey J. Gafter, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev & Tommaso M. Milani, University of Gothenburg. The aim of this presentation is to illustrate and analyze the reactions of some mainstream Israeli politicians to a celebrity marriage between Tzahi Halevi, a Jewish Israeli actor, and Lucy Aharish, a Palestinian Israeli TV personality. Advance registration required: umich.zoom.us/ meeting/register/tJYldeiopj4sGdD5vHKjgcHI9tOIfbyR8LiR.
HILLEL OPEN HOUSE 6 PM, JAN. 26
For grades K-4, Hillel Day School will host this event. RSVP by Jan. 21 to ensure delivery of dinner and other surprises. Info: ashlussel@hillelday.org; 248-5349-1484.
COMBATING HATE 7 PM, JAN. 26
The Jewish Community
Holly Huffnagle
Relations Council and the American Jewish Committee will sponsor this event. AJC’s U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism, Holly Huffnagle, will speak on “After Auschwitz: Antisemitism in America,” an online program sponsored by the Eastern Michigan University Center for Jewish Studies in partnership with JCRC/AJC, Hillel at Eastern Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University Campus Life, and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required at https://tinyurl. com/yxeothoo.
BETTER HEALTH 1-2:30 PM, JAN. 27
Jewish Family Service will sponsor this Zoom program with Brittany Denis. She will discuss the connection between balance, fall risk and brain health. Included in the presentation is a discussion of how you can tap into your mobility to improve your brain health, an overview of various fall risk factors along with the latest research on the connection between fall risk and brain health. Register in advance for this meeting at: zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYrduurpjssHtJOUSJt94a2sFAf4VasESRB. A Zoom link will be sent after registration.
SPIRITUALITY IN SOLITUDE 7 PM, JAN. 27
The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit will present an online panel to discuss how faith and spiritual practice are affected by COVID-19. Panelists will represent five faith perspectives: Baha’i (Dr. Paula Drewek), Buddhist (Dharmanandu Bhikkhu), Christian (Rev. Wendy Van Tassell), Jewish (Suzanne Levin) and Muslim (Dr. Saeed Khan). To register, visit iflc. wufoo.com/forms/spirituality-in-solitude/. A Zoom link will be sent after registration. The program is free but donations to the nonprofit InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit are welcome.
WINE CLUB 8 PM, JAN. 27
NEXTGen Detroit will host this event for adults 21-45. This first meet-up is free of charge. Register by Jan. 26. Info: Hannah@hberger@jfmd. org.
A PLAY SERIES BEGINS JAN. 27
Theatre NOVA, Ann Arbor’s professional theater with an exclusive focus on new plays and playwrights, presents its new Zoom Play Series, featuring new plays written specifically for the Zoom format each month: a new short play (20-40 minutes long) each month, January through April, 2021. The series will open with Whatcha Doin? by Jacquelyn Priskorn, performed live on Jan. 27 and available on video for the month of February. Tickets are $10 each month, or $30 for a Series Pass, which admits ticket holders to a new play each month. Purchase tickets online at TheatreNova. org. Information: a2theatrenova@gmail.com. All proceeds benefit Theatre NOVA’s ongoing efforts to stay alive through the pandemic.
KIDS & FINANCES 7:30-8:30 PM, JAN. 28
The Well team and board member Lowell Weiss will present a workshop on teaching kiddos about finances with a Jewish lens. They’ll cover all the bases from spending to saving to giving and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Due to the generosity of donors, this event is available at no cost, but registration is required. A complimentary workbook will be dropped off at your home before the program as well. Info: Marni Katz at marni@ meetyouatthewell.org.
WINTER COURSE
The Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies will offer a new lecture series titled, “Life After Life” brought to you by the Bais Chabad Torah Center. Use the link for more details and info on how to register. Classes begin Jan. 31: https://tinyurl.com/ y3vketmd.
