AROUND TOWN

Yes
Israel!

3

Sheri Wagner of Birmingham
and Michele Saulson of
Franklin

TV star's Jewish identity grabs
spotlight at ADL night.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

BRIDGET A. BARRETT

ome of the Anti-Defamation League Michigan
Region's biggest supporters spent an evening rub-
bing elbows with prime-time television star Joshua
Malina from the NBC drama The West Wing — and they quickly
found out they have a lot in common with the actor who plays
"Will Bailey" on the award-winning show.
Malina, who was born and raised in New York, is passionate
about his Jewish heritage and is a staunch supporter of Israel.
Unlike many of Hollywood's other Jewish
celebrities, he's not afraid to talk about it
publicly
"An actor is what I do — nothing more. A
'Bruce and Stacey
Jew is the very cornerstone of my identity —
t Bloomfield
that's who I am," Malina said.
"I just give him credit for being so
ROBIN SCHWARTZ
courageous, for speaking out about some-
COLUMNIST
thing he feels so strongly about," said event
chair Judi Schram of West Bloomfield.
Elaine Serling of West Bloomfield also was impressed. "I'm
a bigger fan now," she said.
About 150 people gathered at the Community House in
Birmingham to hear Malina speak about his Jewish upbringing
and his hope that other Jewish stars will follow his lead and
publicly stand up for Israel. The event was co-sponsored by
the Ravitz Program for Confronting Anti-Semitism.
Brad Schram and his
Leadership Circle members, who pledged $1,000 to $15,000 to
wife, Judi, of West
the ADL, were invited to a pre-glow cocktail party to mingle with
Bloomfield
Malina and talk to him one-on-one. Afterwards, many sounded
more like proud family members than fans.
"I love The West Wing, I love his character and I love the fact
that he's a big supporter of Israel," said Susan Feber of West
Bloomfield.
"I thought he was charming," said Stan
Halprin of West Bloomfield.
"He's such a mentsh; he's such a real guy,"
,.4-!°., 1-
added the ADL's regional director, Betsy
Kellman.
Also spotted in the crowd at the March 22
event and pre-glow were: Jeffrey Kaftan and
Pamela Applebaum Wyett, both Birmingham
residents; Michael and Elaine Sterling of
Orchard Lake; Hillary and Edan King of
Franklin; and Peter and Barbara Alter, Sue
Blemfield,
ADL 1Thasurer Dan Levy of
Luria, Hilary Isakow, Jan Hauser, Robert Aaron
arianne
ADL Director of Developme
and Chad Zamler, all of Bloomfield Hills. ❑
Bloomberg of Farmington Hills and ADL Regional

S

jr1

Director Betsy Kellman of Huntington Woods

1 8 •

NIA) . 2005 •

JNPLATINUM

Mark Blumenfeld
and his wife,
Elaine, of
Farmington Hills

Andrew Newman of East
Lansing and guest speaker
Joshua Malina

Jeffrey Kaftan of
Birmingham and his
aunt Mari Kaftan of
West Bloomfield