Celebrity Jews

ARTS&LIFE CELEBRITY JEWS

NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST

BROADWAY MUSIC, A JEWISH WOMAN INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR

One Night Only: The Best of Broadway is a special NBC show, hosted by Tina Fey, that airs Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. The special features cast members from seven Broadway musicals dancing and singing on Manhattan streets. The special benefits Broadway Cares, a charity that helps people associated with the theater. The featured musicals written by “tribesmen” include Chicago (John Kander, 93, and the late Fred Ebb); Jersey Boys (Marshall Brickman, 81, and Rick Ellice, 64), and Rent (the late Jonathan Larson). The performers include Jake Gyllenhaal, 39 (who can really sing), and Camryn Manheim, 59.

The original HBO Max film Let Them All Talk begins streaming Dec. 10. Meryl Streep plays Alice, a celebrated author who takes an ocean cruise with her old friends, Susan (Candice Bergen) and Roberta (Diane Wiest). The three have some rough history. The film was the subject of a CBS Sunday Morning feature on Nov. 29 (on CBS news app and on YouYube). It includes a trailer, cast interviews, and some comments by director Steven Soderbergh.

Let Them was written by Deborah Eisenberg, 74, known as a best-selling writer of short stories. Her awards include a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Let Them is the first film she’s written. On Nov. 22, President-Elect Joe Biden announced his national security cabinet nominees. The Jewish media VIRGINIA SHERWOOD/NBC quickly and correctly identified Antony Blinken, 58 (Secretary of State) and Alejandro Mayorkas, 61 (Secretary of Homeland Security) as Jewish. However, no source identified Avril Haines, 41 (the Director of National Intelligence nominee), as Jewish. Her late mother, painter Adrienne Rappaport, tragically died when Avril was only 15.

Avril’s father is Thomas Haines, 87, a very interesting (non-Jewish) guy who hung out with artists while he became a top biochemist. He wrote a memoir in 2019. Thomas wrote this about a trip to Israel he took with Avril: “They [Israeli young men] could see she was American, and once they found out she was Jewish (Avril considered herself Jewish because her mom was Jewish), they wanted her to move to Israel.”

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ON THE GO PEOPLE | PLACES | EVENTS

HOME MENORAH WORKSHOP 4 PM, DEC. 10

Don’t miss out on the grand Home Depot menorah workshop this year, hosted by Chabad Jewish Center of Troy and sponsored by Home Depot in Troy. Pick up a free grand menorah workshop kit for some holiday fun! Registration required: jewishtroy.com/menorah.

CHANUKAH EVENTS DEC. 10-17

Jewish Ferndale has a Chanukah filled with live and virtual events. Live events at Jewish Ferndale, 1725 Pinecrest Drive, Ferndale; virtual events can be viewed at Herschel Finman’s Facebook page. Events are free and open to the public. Info: Rabbi Finman, 248-798-5082. Thursday, Dec. 10 — virtual menorah lighting with Menorah in the D, 6 pm. (Jewish Ferndale is a pickup point for a free Chanukah in a box.) Friday, Dec. 11 — virtual unity Chanukah and Shabbos candle lighting, 4:25 pm. Saturday, Dec. 12, virtual Chanukah lighting and Saturday night Chasidic stories, 7:30 pm. Sunday, Dec. 13, virtual candle lighting and cooking demo with Chana “Healthier Latkes,” 6 pm. Monday, Dec. 14, grand Chanukah lighting with live music, special entertainment, 6 pm. Tuesday, Dec. 15, virtual Chanukah lighting and book review, 7 pm. Wednesday, Dec. 16, virtual Chanukah lighting and wine and cheese tasting. Thursday, Dec. 17, virtual Chanukah lighting with elected officials, 6 pm.

OU CHANUKAH CANDLE LIGHTING 6:30 PM, DEC. 12

Join Hillel of Metro Detroit, Chabad of Troy and the Cis Maisel Center for Judiac Studies at Oakland University to light the Chanukah candles together. Online event: https://hillel. zoom.us/meeting/register/ tJArcO-tqDgoE9zKcLf3DbGiN-kf9DuDEAdT.

FILM SCREENING 1 PM & 3 PM, DEC. 13

The Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills will present for free a screening of “Prosecuting evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz.” A discussion and Q & A will be hosted by Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Adat Shalom Synagogue at 2:30 pm. To view: holocaustcenter.org. At the site, there will be an opportunity to donate to keep the programs available.

CHANUKAH PARADE OF LOVE & LIGHT 4 PM, DEC. 13

At Meer Jewish Apartments. Hosted by Bais Chabad Torah Center, Chanukah Wonderland and others. Bring Chanukah light and love to those that need it most! Join a procession of Chanukah-decorated cars as we drive by our local senior homes. Swag bags, delicious treats and crafts will be distributed. Event concludes with a large screening of Chanukah entertainment to be enjoyed from the warmth of your car. www. baischabad.com/light.

DONUTS IN THE DARK 6:30 PM, DEC. 13

Hosted by Chabad of Greater Downtown Detroit. Celebrate the warmth of Chanukah with a bonfire, lighting the menorah, fresh homemade donut making (and, of course, lots of latkes!). Due to COVID regulations, space will be limited, and advance registration is required. Masks and physical distancing will be practiced. Tickets: www. chabadinthed.org/events/ donuts-in-the-dark.

BROADWAY IN DETROIT 8 PM, DEC. 13

See the Tony-award nominated musical, Jagged Little Pill. Early bird tickets are on sale now to our fans. Get them during this special presale and save $6 with the code JLPresale.; visit email@ broadwayindetroit.com.

JEWS, RACE & U.S. HISTORY 7 PM, DEC. 14

The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan will present a virtual gathering on Zoom. Many American Jews are reflecting on systemic racism. This presentation will be a journey through American Jewish history, exploring historical documents about Jews and racism, thinking about what is means to “become American” and the ways that racism has played within the Jewish community. Cost: $10 for JHSM members and $18 for non-members. Register by 9 pm on Dec. 13. Instructions for joining the Zoom call will be sent the day before: info@michjewishhistrioy.org.

FAMILY ROOM SERIES 8 PM, DEC. 15

The Ark in Ann Arbor will present a free event: Michelle Held, poet and singer-songwriter. Visit the Ark Facebook page.

HANUKKAH RUCKUS 8 PM, DEC. 17

Are you ready to gather with community and kick 2020’s tuchus good-bye? Join Detroit Jews for Justice from 8-9:15 pm for a ruckus of a Hanukkah celebration. Enjoy some singing, candle lighting, games with prizes and a live musical performance. RSVP to get your Zoom info: https://www.detroitjewsforjustice.org/djj_hanukkah_2020.

Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial Assistant. Send items at least 14 days in advance to calendar@thejewishnews. com.