"[Sinatra] was very
good-looking, very
When Frank Sinatra died
thin, very pleasant. It
last week at the age of 82,
was very exciting.
he was remembered for
`You're twins,'
many things — his
Sinatra said to us.
incomparable voice and
He told us we
phrasing, his impeccable
looked alike."
style and macho appeal,
In a photo in
his love affairs, his alleged
the
May 17, 1946,
Mob connections, his
Jewish
News, the
quick temper and pen-
twins
flank
Sinatra
chant for holding a
holding
his
loving
grudge, his hatred of the
cup.
"America
needs
press, his wide-ranging
boys
and
girls
who under-
philanthropy — includ-
stand the need for good
ing considerable charita-
brotherly relations among all
ble contributions to
races and religions," commented the
Jewish causes.
singer.
Sinatra certainly was
Sinatra wasn't shy about voicing his
Sinatra throughout his life contin-
no saint, but we, as Jews,
feelings,
either. In a 1962 Playboy
ued to set examples of racial and reli-
should salute him for
interview, he said:
gious tolerance and friendship. While
being one of the first
"I believe in nature, in the birds,
The
Rat Pack (two movies on the
celebrities to stand up
the sea, the sky ... If these things are
group are due out later this year) had
against bigotry in all
what you mean by God, then I believe
its detractors, its members, led by
forms — including anti-
in God. ...
Wanted:
Sinatra, embraced one another and
Semitism. In 1946,
"To me religion is a deeply personal
A few
celebrated their diversity.
Sinatra appeared in the
thing in which man and God go it
good cooks.
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin,
film The House I Live In,
alone together, without the witch doc-
both
Italian Catholics; Peter Lawford,
the controversial-for-the-
tor in the middle. ...
an Anglican WASP; the Jewish Joey
Chicago and Detroit, and Mort
time, Oscar-winning short denounc-
"There are things about organized
Bishop and Sammy Davis Jr,. who was
Meisner, an Emmy Award-winning
ing prejudice.
religion which I resent. You show me
both black and Jewish, showed
television news producer, director
In May 1946, he performed at the
one step forward in the name of reli-
America
— in a time when it wasn't
and managing editor.
Downtown Theatre in Detroit, and in
gion and I'll show you a hundred ret-
politically correct — that, yes, we
"Everything's Kosher" will initial-
a backstage ceremony, a group of
rogressions. Remember, they were
could all get along.
ly be broadcast to over 700,000
teenagers from the Intercultural Youth
men of God who destroyed the educa-
MediaOne Television cable house-
Committee presented
tional treasures at
holds in metropolitan Detroit, with
Sinatra with a loving cup
Alexandria, who perpetrat-
outstare and national distribution to
for his efforts in cement-
ed the Inquisition in
follow.
ing interracial relation-
Spain, who burned the
"Jewish food is savored by individu-
ships.
witches at Salem.
als everywhere, regardless of their reli-
Sixteen-year-old twins
Remember that leering,
gious affiliation," said Meisner. "We
Joyce and Janet Beckman
cursing lynch mob in
think that television audiences nation-
(Joyce Beckman Hodess
Little Rock? Weren't they
ally will devour the opportunity to dis-
and Janet Beckman
— or most of them —
cover how to prepare traditional kosher
Spinner today both live
devout churchgoers? ...
foods that have been enjoyed for gener-
in Farmington Hills and
"I detest the two-faced
ations."
who pretend liberality but
are active in the
The auditions for host and co-host
are practiced bigots in
Michigan Twins
will be held at MediaOne Television,
Association) were at the
their own mean little
27800 Franklin Road, in Southfield.
spheres. ... I'm for decency
Jewish Community
While no previous television experience
— period. I'm for any-
Center on Woodward
is necessary, the producers are looking
thing and everything that
when, recalls Hodess, "a
for individuals with "excellent kosher
bodes love and considera-
man came up to us and
cooking skills [who] can dish out tasty
tion for my fellow man.
asked if we wanted to
Jewish tales and interesting morsels of
But when lip service to
meet Frank Sinatra."
information."
some mysterious deity per-
With their mother's
mits bestiality on
permission, the girls were
To be considered for an audition,
Wednesday and absolution
taken down to the theater
send a photograph (and a video-
on Sunday — cash me
and waited outside with a
tape if you have one) as well as a
out."
group of people for
bio, resume or letter, to
Rest in peace, Frank —
Sinatra's arrival. "We all
"Everything's Kosher," do
The Triumphant Spirit, a photography book featuring
and thanks for doing it
wore bobby sox and were
Holocaust survivors and their messages to America's youth,
MediaOne, 27800 Franklin Road,
your way.
well behaved," says
was named to the 1998 "Best Books for Young Adults" list
Southfield, MI 48034. Materials
Hodess, "... well, maybe
— Gail Zimmerman
by the American Library Association. Portraits by Nick
must be received no later than
there was a little scream-
Del
Calzo
with
author
Renee
Rockford.
June 12, 1998.
ing.

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