Arts & Life
THE SPOS►TA FAMILY "DOES IT RIGHT"
AT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD RISTORANTE...
Danny Raskin
September 20, 2002
—
JOURNEY TO JUDAISM from page 93
Sposita's wishes all their
customers and patrons
a Happy New Year!
Fine Italian Dining in a Casual Atmosphere
33210 W. 14 Mile Road
In Simsbury Plaza
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West Bloomfield
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On March 3, 2003, an entourage of
friends and relatives accompanied
Winningham to the official ceremony at
the UJ.
"Sitting in on her beit din, [rabbinical
court], was one of the most moving
experiences I have ever had of conver-
sion," Rabbi Netter said. "It was appar-
ent to me and to the other rabbis that
this was a woman who was born a
Jewish soul, in terms of the depth of her
feelings and the rawness of her emo-
tion."
Cori Drasin, a former Beth Am vice
president, says she was especially
touched by the ritual immersion part of
the ceremony.
"I stood behind the curtain as Mare
chanted the blessing in the mikvah, and
the walls just resonated with her beauti-
ful voice," Drasin says.
A friend placed a Star of David
around Winningham's neck (she's still
wearing it) and "I cried a lot," she says.
She was moved not only to become
Jewish, but because her family has been
so supportive.
"When I told my mother I was going
to become Jewish, she said, 'You know
Mary, they were the first,"' Winningham
recalls.
The actress' children have also been
accepting, which, Winningham says, "is
lucky, considering that it must be weird
for your mom to embrace a new religion
when you're a young adult."
The performer also feels lucky to have
been embraced by the Beth Am com-
munity, where she recently chanted from
the Torah for the first time.
"Everyone in the minyan rejoiced,"
Rabbi Netter says. "It was as if one of
our children had become bat mitzvah."
Winningham isn't content to stop
there. A self-prescribed "cheerleader for
the Torah," she intends to read the entire
Bible in its original language, which is
why she's taking that Thursday Hebrew
class at the UJ.
"I don't care if it takes decades, I'll fin-
ish it eventually, I really will," she says.
"I may be 80 when I finish, but that
would be a beautiful thing."
Winningham sounds more like a schol-
ar than the world's second Jewish country
singer when she adds, "Judaism for me is
like a mystery novel. I just can't stop read-
ing; that's what it's like for me." fl
-
Mare Winningham stars in
Clubhouse, debuting 8-9 Sunday,
Sept. 26, on CBS, before moving
to its regular 9-10 p.m. Tuesday
time slot on Sept. 28.
Healing And Hope
DINE IN OR CARRYOUT
Winningham lends voice to new CD.
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(248) 353-7890 • 29875 Northwestern
In Applegate Square, Between 12 & 13 Mile Roads
Southfield
Mickey Alterman and all the folks at
Floorin0 Warehouse wish you
a happy, heahhy and prosperous liew Year
JIM
9/10
2004
04
880350
20750 Hoover Road (3 miles south of 1-696)
Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
and by appointment.
Call Mickey at 586-756-2400.
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SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
A
ctress/singer Mare
Winningham and
Temple Israel Rabbi
Paul Yedwab — along with
some 60 people known for
expressing themselves
through music or writing —
have joined inspirational
forces in a project planned to
promote emotional healing and insight.
The World is a Narrow Bridge, a CD
and book combination, has been
released by singer-songwriter Craig
Taubman for reflection during the High
Holidays. The two releases make up the
seventh project in Taubman's "Celebrate
Series," which is based on recordings
built around Jewish themes.
"Well It's Gone," a song written and
performed by Winningham, deals with
the grief felt after the death of
Winning,ham's drama teacher and
friend.
"0 Lord Won't You Buy Me ...," an
essay written by Rabbi Yedwab, explores
the power of prayer.
"It's as if [many] dif-
ferent roads were
taken," Taubman says
about the pieces and
what they represent.
"Yet each traveler is
on the same essential
journey — from
darkness to light,
from pain to peace,
from loss to hope,
from grief to healing."
Among the more familiar contributors
are singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman,
whose version of the "Mi Shebeirach"
addresses the death of a friend's husband
as the friend marks a milestone birthday,
and actor Kirk Douglas, whose essay
"Going Home, Going Home" recalls his
resolve in coping with debilities left by a
stroke.
Information on the CD and book —
both recounting highly personal and
trying times — is available at
wwvv.celebrateseries.com. The CD and
book together cost $30. The CD alone
sells for $15, while the book alone has a
price of $20.