'AMON* IlOw

Spirituality

"The Jewish Spark" lured future rabbi fivm the glitter of Hollywood.

cover the phrase's original source is the Torah (Leviticus
19:18). Drawing upon his acting skill, Sinclair captivated
the audience with his portrayal of midrashim and sto-
ohn Sinclair, formerly of London, used to act in
ries illustrating the Jewish concepts that equate giv-
ing with loving.
the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and had a part in
the stage musical Hair. He came to Hollywood
"When we give, we invest ourselves in
and played in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, in
others," he said. "Action leads to emo-
movies with Sigourney Weaver - and Michael Caine and
tion.
opposite Cybill Shepherd on the TV show Moonlighting.
By acts of giving, he said, love is
He ran a recording company and produced records for the
developed for others. Of course, the
rock group Foreigner, including their album Cold as Ice,
ultimate giver is God, he said.
which sold 4.5 million copies. In 1973, he co-authored
People, created "in the image of
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the far-
God," are meant
as
cical rock musical that achieved cult
to
follow His lead
a a
a al
status among young moviegoers.
— and be givers,
At 61
aK
On March 7, now named Rabbi
too.
a al al WM
"Yaakov Asher Sinclair, he played to a
Rabbi Sinclair said
St
auseillt:
different kind of audience. The bearded
it's important to feel
Ohr Somayach hosts
rabbi, bedecked in black hat with tzitz-
fargin, a Yiddish word
it fringes peeking beneath his black suit
that implies the ability to
actor-turned-rabbi for
jacket, spoke to 100 attendees at a
be happy for the success and
a Hollywood-spiced
lunch-and-learn program held in the
happiness of others.
Max M. Fisher Federation Building in
"He's an outstanding, spiri-
lunch-and-learn
Bloomfield Township. His visit was
tually grounded speaker," said
program.
sponsored by Ohr Somayach, a world-
Helena Shavell, at
wide adult Jewish education outreach
whose Bloomfield
organization based in Orthodoxy, but with a cross-stream
Hills home the rabbi spoke
appeal. This time, the former John Sinclair wasn't acting.
the same evening. "I
admire him. He gave up
"Ten years ago, if you'd have told me then that I'd be
standing here talking to you, I'd have changed my agent!"
the excitement and
Rabbi Sinclair said with a laugh.
power of Hollywood
What brought about this "riches to rabbinate" change?
for the excitement of
"The Pintele Yid," he said. "The Jewish Spark, dormant in
spirituality."
the hearts of us all, was ignited."
Scott Hamburger -of
Through a series of incidents sparked by his disdain
Franklin called the
for the materialistic, "dream factory" lifestyle of
rabbi's speech "fantas-
Hollywood, Sinclair ended up in Jerusalem, learning first
tic" and "refreshing."
at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach, then at the Mir Yeshivah.
"I'd like to get a
Now married and the father of six, he teaches Talmud at
tape of it and play it
Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem.
for every temple and
His topic last week was "Love Your Neighbor as
synagogue," he said.
Yourself — A Jewish Invention?"
"Everyone needs to
hear this mes-
Rabbi Sinclair, who grew up thinking "loving your
neighbor" was rooted in Christianity, was surprised to dis-
sage."

SUSAN TAWIL
Special to the Jewish News

ry

3 17

2000

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