The most beautiful and best
and Hibachi Steak House!
VALENTINE'S DAY SPECIAL
$59.99 per couple
FREE ROSE FOR
All LADIES
Lobster, Fillet & Shrimp
Arts & Entertainment
Free Spirit
Jewish actress takes role on The L Word.
Now Serving Beer, Wine & Liquor
Come see our wonderful selection
RJA
2
14 Mile
1-696
*All specials only good Mon-Thurs.
4:30pm-6pm. Order must be completed
by 6:00. Dine in only. Exp. 2/1/07
248461-L,
1E3 01
=
3apffaese Steak House • Sushi & Hibachi
www.samuraisteakhousemiscom 7390 Haggerty Rd. at 14 Mile • West Bloomfield, MI
Mon-Sat Lunch 11-3 pm • Mon-Thur Dinner 4:30-10 pm • Fri & Sat Dinner 4:30-11 pm • Sunday 4-10 pm
Marlee Matlin and Jennifer Beals on The L Word
Come celebrate Shabbat as you tour our
pre-schools in both locations.
Curt Schleier
Special to the Jewish News
m
Visit the classrooms, meet the staff, talk to
parents and participate in our children's
Shabbat service.
At our B'nai Israel Center, visit our Kindergarten,
Parent-Tot and Music Together classes.
W re,
To RSVP for the
B'nai Israel Center,
please call Dolly Simon
at 248/681-4235
To RSVP for Southfield,
please call Gail Goodstein
at 248/357-5544
10% OFF —I
RISTORANTE
TOTAL FOOD BILL
Fine Italian Dining in a
Casual Atmosphere
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
OUR NEW HOURS
Monday-Thursday
4pm-10pm
Friday
1 1 am-11 pm
Saturday
4pm-11pm
Sunday
3pm-9pm
L
(MON-THURS. ONLY)
PLEASE PRESENT THIS COUPON TO
RECEIVE DISCOUNT!
ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER • EXPIRES 2/2W07
(NOT VAUD ON HOLIDAYS)
NEW LOWER PRICED
LUNCH MENU FRIDAYS ONLY
33210 W. 14 Mite Road
In Simsbury Plaza
Just East of Farmington Road
West Bloomfield
RISTORANTE
(248) 538-8954
SALE IN PROGRESS
Furs *Shearlings • Clothing & Sportswear
Tobert GMann GlitCs
n fore boutique
248-855-9545 Telegraph at Maple In Bloomfield Plaza
54
January 25 . 2007
"He's over the moon. He gets a glimpse
of something he'll never get at home."
Matlin became deaf when she was
arlee Matlin, 41, hasn't
a year and a half old, after she suffered
allowed the fact that she
a series of high-grade fevers. "It hap-
can't hear stop her from a
pened," she says. "I really don't dwell on
successful career on screens both large
why. I'm deaf. It's just part of who I am."
and small. She won her Oscar in her film
She grew up in Chicago and attended
debut as the deaf student in Children of the Jewish Temple for the Deaf B'nai
a Lesser God. But since then, she's taken Shalom, in Skokie. "I was bat mitzvahed
on all kinds of roles that have nothing to
and grew up in a typical Jewish family.
do with her being deaf.
I have very fond memories growing up
She had her own TV series,
— of going to services every Friday
Reasonable Doubt, in which she
night after dinner, Sunday school and
played a lawyer. She's had recurring
working one-on-one with my [hearing]
roles on other series, most recently
rabbi on my Haftorah."
The West Wing, on which she played
In large measure, Matlin attributes
a political analyst. And now she's a
her success to her Jewish roots. "I think
regular on The L Word, the spicy
it was our Jewish culture and commu-
Showtime series about lesbians, in
nity and sensibilities that allowed me to
which she plays a sculptor.
become independent. Also, what we call
On The L Word, Matlin plays
chutzpah, to do what you have to do in
Jodi Lerner, a character introduced
the face of adversity
on the show this Sunday. Lerner is
"My mom and dad told me I could
hired as artist in residence at the ficti-
do whatever I wanted to. I got it from
tious California University by the new
my roots."
dean of the Arts College, Bette Porter
And the Fonz helped, too. For about
(Jennifer Beals).
nine years, between the ages of 7 and
Lerner is a free spirit; Porter a control 16, Matlin participated in a deaf theater
freak. The two clash — but only at first. troupe. Henry Winkler just happened to
Their mutual attraction overcomes any
be in Chicago and attended one of her
personality differences and, initially at
performances. He came back stage, told
least, they end up in some passionate
her how great she was and encouraged
embraces.
her to continue her quest to become a
Matlin feels her character is Jewish,
professional actor.
judging by the name alone, though she
Some at the theater criticized
never discussed it with the series' creator Winkler for raising unrealistic expec-
and guiding force, Ilene Chaiken, who is
tations for Matlin, setting her up for
Jewish. "I'm sure as the show grows, the
disappointment. She and Winkler had a
character will grow and [her Jewishness] good laugh about that after she won her
will come into play:' says Matlin.
Academy Award in 1986. ❑
The actress "did not feel uncomfort-
The L Word airs 10 p.m. Sundays
able when she took the role." Asked
on Showtime.
about her husband's feelings, she says,