I Dream Of Sheldon
It's so great to have a Jewish connection to this fine show!
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Q: I know that some reli-
an ascetic lifestyle that includes
certain prohibitions, among
which is total abstinence from
consuming grapes or any of its
derivatives. The Torah laws re-
garding the Nazir are found in
Parshat Naso (Numbers 6:1-21).
gions, such as Islam and cer-
tain denominations of
Christianity, forbid the con-
sumption of alcoholic bever-
ages. What is Judaism's policy
toward liquor?
Q: I understand that George
A: Judaism permits imbibing Gershwin, famed composer,
— providing ifs prudent.
bon vivant and man about
The favored alcoholic bever-
town
("Why should I settle
age is wine, which has a special
place in both Jewish law and down," he remarked, "when I
tradition and has many ritual can have as many women as I
uses: Shabbat and holiday Kid- want?") did, in fact, fall in
dush, the Pesach seder, Hav-
love and even propose mar-
dalah, brit milah, pidyon ha-ben
riage
— to one woman. Who
(redemption of the first born),
weddings, often with birkat was she?
hamazon (grace after meals) and
A: Rumor has it (alas, no one
to accompany dinners, especial-
is alive to confirm or deny the
ly those of a festive nature. Ac-
story) that George's true love
cording to tradition, when
was none other than actress
Mashiach comes, a great ban-
Paulette Goddard (born Marian
quet will be held at which spe-
Levee).
cial wine will be served.
She was a much-married
In the Halachic sense, "wine"
beauty who starred in The
refers to the juice of the grape,
and Modern Times. He
fermented or not. Because the Women
was the leading composer of the
blessing over grape juice is the
day, whose popular works in-
same as that for wine (borey pre
cludedRhapsody in Blue andAn
ha-gafan), those who do not like, American in Paris.
or cannot tolerate, wine gener-
Gershwin supposedly was,
ally may fulfill their ritual oblig-
soon before her marriage to
ations with grape juice.
Charlie Chaplin, Goddard's
Judaism further permits the
paramour, at which time he
consumption of all other alco-
wrote her a number of passion-
holic beverages so long as they,
ate letters and asked that she be
like wine, conform to the laws of
his wife. Apparently, however,
kashrut.
the actress turned him down.
Judaism forbids alcohol
Her last husband was author
where it is injurious to health.
Erich Maria Remarque.
The Talmud contains many
statements describing the ben-
Q: I know that one of the
efits of wine. Nonetheless,
throughout the generations the most popular biblical stories
rabbis have forbidden drunken- concerns Noah and his ark. My
ness, for it may lead to licen- question is, exactly what did
tiousness, violence and other
the ark look like?
boorish behavior, as well as be-
ing a hazard to health. Ha-
A: It certainly is amazing how
lachah (Jewish law)
forbids a person un-
der the influence to
make a blessing,
lead religious ser-
vices or enter into a
contract.
Judaism specifi-
cally prohibits wine
in but a few cases.
Except for Shabbat,
wine is not drunk
during the first nine
days and half of the
10th day of the
month of Av. The
only other instance
where wine may not
be drunk is by the
Nazir, a person who
voluntarily takes on
much interest this story contin-
ues to generate. Doesn't it seem
like at least once a year some-
body new has found Noah's Ark,
or remnants of it, or most cer-
tainly has pinpointed its loca-
tion, high atop a mountain
where it can never actually be
found? In fact, these accounts
pop up with as much regularity
as tales of alien abduction. Wait.
Maybe we're on to something
here. Could it be that Noah's Ark
is really an alien spacecraft?
Think about it.
Now on to your question.
The Bible describes Noah's
Ark as 300 cubits long, 50 feet
wide and 30 feet high. It was
made of wood, held tightly to-
gether by pitch, and contained
three stories. There was a door
near the bottom on one side, and
even a removable roof. Some ac-
counts say the ark also includ-
ed a window and jewels, whose
magnificent sparkling kept the
craft lighted.
At times called "a great house
afloat," the ark supposedly was
still visible long after the flood
had ended, stopping atop Mt.
Ararat (once in Armenia, then
part of Turkey). The historian
Josephus (circa 37 B.C.E.-100
C.E.) recalls that bits of it could
still be seen in his time.
Q: Wow! Life just got s000
great! I mean, I am in par-
adise! Why, you ask? Because
I just heard that the creator of
that fantastic show "I Dream
of Jeannie" was Jewish. Could
it be, could it really?
A: And aren't we proud! Yes
indeed, Sheldon Leonard, born
Sheldon Bershad in 1907 in
New York, is the man responsi-
ble for "I Dream ofJeannie," pos-
sibly the most intellectual
program in the history of televi-
sion. Actually, Mr. Leonard got
his Hollywood start playing
gangsters is some very forget-
table programs. Then he dis-
covered Barbara Eden and
"Jeannie" and the rest is histo-
ry! ❑
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