The Many Faces Of Sandra Bernhard

OU'' ANNUAL
HOLIDAY S LE

December 5 - December 31

Danielle Peleg Gallery

Specializing in modern fine art.

4301 Orchard Lake Road • West Bloomfield

(248) 626-5810

Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30-6:00, Sun 12:00-5:00

1 /2 OFF

Any Menu Item

when a 2nd menu item of equal or greater value is purchased

Not good with any other offer. Expires December 31, 1999
Valid Anytime • Dine in Only

—

L

6745 ORCHARD LAKE RD.

Acrossfrom Americana West

(248) 737-7242

Iro r;t4.41-14

NE. yAaD BAR- 13

Family Restaurant
OPEN 7 DAYS — 11 a.m. to 12 Mid.

r

.

$2 OFF

Includes: 2 Potatoes, 2 Slaws
and 2 Garlic Breads

L

12/4
1998

• 1 Coupon Per Order • Dine In or Carry-Out •
JN
Expires 12-17-98

SLAB FOR 2

$2 OFF
Includes: 2 Potatoes, 2 Slaws

With or
Without Skin

$2 OFF

• 1 Coupon Per Order • Dine In or Cary-Out •
Expires 12 - 17 - 98

ORCHARD LAKE RD. SOUTH OF 14

RIBS

--i r- BBQ CHICKEN FOR 2 -1

Includes: 2 Potatoes, 2 Slaws I
and 2 Garlic Breads

J L

T11E.
PlroiCE

jN -1 L

and 2 Garlic Breads

• 1 Coucon Per Order • Dine m 0' Carry - Out •
JN
Expires 12-17-98

Farm. Hills • 851-7000

ALSO GOOD AT OUR LWOW
LOCATION ON PLYMOUTH RD.

From left: Allan and Donna Pearlman, Bessie Davidson, Jeanette Bernhard (partially
hidden), Sandra Bernhard, Tobye Kaye, and Libby and George Weingarden enjoy
themselves at the David-Horodoker 60th anniversary celebration in September 1995
in Detroit.
in Farmington Hills.
traditions and holidays are important
"She would create stories and have
to her. In fact, Bernhard, who had a bat
her
dolls and animals participate as
mitzvah, was confirmed and grew up
characters.
She would make them say
Conservative, is now studying
weird and obnoxious things, and she
Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, with its
would put on puppet shows from
emphasis on spirituality, meditation
behind the couch. My brothers and I
and a deeper understanding of Torah
were a part of it. We had our own
and text.
unique brand of humor peculiar to our
"I have always loved being Jewish,
family, and I am not sure outsiders
but I wanted to choose a more spiritual
would
have thought it was funny.
path," explains Bernhard, who was
"Perhaps
Sandra got her vivid imagi-
introduced to Kabbalah nearly four
nation from our grandmother, who
years ago by her Brazilian personal
used to tell stories of how she per-
trainer. "Everything I love about
formed on stage in Russia. We're quite
Judaism is manifested in Kabbalah. I
certain it was an exaggeration, but she
don't feel like a part of the typical
did sew clothes for dancers on stage."
Jewish community, which I think can
Jeanette Bernhard, Sandra's mother,
be a bit superficial and materialistic.
says
she also noticed signs of her
For me, religion comes out of this spiri-
daughter's
unique talent early on.
tuality. Kabbalah is a big commitment.
"When Sandra was about 4 years old,
It's not just making Shabbat dinner, it's
she would imitate my friends' accents,"
a much deeper study and means look-
recalls Jeanette, who was born and
ing at yourself and making big
raised in Jackson, Mich. "It was embar-
changes."
rassing at the time, but now I know
Indeed, she has undergone many
why
she did it — she was observing.
changes in her life. Born in Flint,
"When
Sandra was about 7," her
Mich., on June 6, 1955, Bernhard is
mother
goes
on to say, "we took her to
the youngest sibling of four, and the
her first musical. She
Hello
Dolly,
see
only girl.
was
really
enthusiastic
about it, and she
Her mother, Jeanette, is an artist,
used
to
perform
with
an
umbrella, try-
and her father, Dr. Jerome Bernhard, is
ing
to
re-create
the
show.
It was
a proctologist. Since the age of 3,
adorable."
Bernhard knew she wanted to be a per-
Those early childhood years in Flint
former. "I was funny, with three older
were
happy ones, says Sandra. "Flint
brothers you have to be," laughs
was a great family town with a big
Bernhard. Her brother, Mark, agrees.
Jewish community, - she says. "It was a
"Sandra would entertain us, but in a
much safer and freer time than now, in
sophisticated way," says Mark, who is a
every
sense — it was before they put
physician in California but did his
kids'
pictures
on milk cartons. We sled-
internship at Botsford General Hospital