14, Just How Jewish The lowdown on some of your favorite celebrities from a Hollywood insider. PHILIP BERK Special to The Jewish News II aving interviewed stars for the past 20 years, I often have asked them about their Jewish identity. Barbra Streisand wear People like their Judaism on their sleeve. For oth- ers, like Paul Newman, the question alone is an irritant. I remember asking actor/director Rob Reiner why he avoided the sub- ject of religion in his hit film When Harry Met Sally. Inspired by his own experiences, it was a love story in which the two lead- ing characters, played by Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, were obviously (in the movie and in real life) gentile and Jew. But neither of them ever discussed family, differences in religion or even social values. I wanted to know why. For a moment, Reiner flushed with anger. Philip Berk writes from Los Angeles. "A lot of people have asked that same question," he replied. "To me, it's completely irrele- vant. I'm not saying the film is a work of art, but if you look at any work of art, you are judging what's there, not what's not there. "We made a con- scious choice not to show the family. We wanted to show how men and Right: Gwyneth Paltrow• Bat mitzvahed at 12. women rub up against each other, Above: Harrison Ford: Not bar mitzvahed. His Jewish mother wasn't happy how they relate to each other, in a dis- tilled fashion." their family; they talk about But isn't religion their differences in religion. But not and family part of that? when they are on camera." "Sure, it's part of that." Hollywood can get away with Then, he added, somewhat face- ignoring religious concerns. Paul tiously, "Look, they do talk about Alicia Siverstone: Proudest Jew in Hollywood. 1/1 66 Detroit Jewish News Newman, nominally Jewish on his father's side, responded to my ques- tions as though he had no Jewish identity. When asked about Exodus having Kyra Sedgwick: Definitely Jewish but loves her Bacon. Jeff Goldblum: Remind him. 1999 C Harvey Keitel: With age conies wisdom.