Arts & Entertainment
P ho to by Ad d ie Lac hma n
I
Genocide from page B15
Sudan Divestment Task Force, part of
the Genocide Intervention Network.
"I studied Africa before I became
interested in Darfur three years ago
and I kept going forward to push our
agenda. We're trying to put an end to
the Darfur crisis by putting economic
pressure on the Sudan government
through divestment. The government
is extremely dependent on foreign
companies."
A course that covered the 1994
genocide in Rwanda became a turning
point for Sterling's interests.
"It completely opened my eyes:'
he says. "I was too young to do any-
thing, but it shook me to my core. I
started grabbing book after book to
learn about genocide. After someone
e-mailed me an article about Darfur,
I joined with students from my class
and there was no turning back."
Members of Sterling's group used
their own money to finance early
efforts to get California to cut funds
from Sudan. After the bill was signed,
Sterling's network received grants
and donations and his team grew to
six members working in the U.S. and
London.
"We've established partnerships
with the American Jewish World
Service and other organizations:' says
Sterling, whose dad, Wayne Sterling,
was born in Detroit shortly before the
family moved to Pennsylvania.
Sterling's group, based in
Washington, D.C., has been successful
in promoting divestment laws in 13
states and policies at 50 universities
and colleges. He has visited Michigan
to urge state legislators to agree on
divestment; and members of his
organization have pushed for federal
legislation, which has been approved
by the House of Representatives and
the Senate Banking Committee.
"Our immediate goals for Darfur
are a peace treaty and security
through a United Nations peace-keep-
ing force Sterling says. "We hope we
can get Sudan to have fair elections in
2009. 11
Darfur Now opens Friday, Nov.
9, at the Maple Art Theatre in
Bloomfield Township. (248) 263-
2111. "Darfur-Darfur" a digitally
projected photo exhibit capturing
the crisis, can be seen through
Nov.19 in Strohm Hall of the
Detroit Public Library, 5201
Woodward. (313) 833-4042 or
www.detroitpubliclibrary.org .
B16
November 8 • 2007
iN
Linda Solomon and Jill Rappaport: Photojournalist and entertainment reporter.
ister Act
Siblings collaborate on book about celebrity b'nai mitzvah.
Suzanne Chessler
Special to the Jewish News
T
wo Michigan-bred celebrities,
who built separate careers
showcasing international celeb-
rities, have returned to their Jewish roots
for a new book.
Sisters Jill Rappaport and Linda
Solomon have collaborated on Mazel Toy:
Celebrities' Bar and Bat Mitzvah Memories
(Simon & Schuster; $25), an anthology
of religious recollections of Jewish media
stars.
Rappaport, TV's entertainment
reporter for the Today show and special
correspondent for Extra, came up with
the idea and the text, while Solomon, a
photojournalist for many periodicals and
books and also a television personality,
took new pictures and paired them with
personal snapshots from each subject's
13th year.
Solomon — and maybe Rappaport —
will discuss the book 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov.
11, at the Jewish Community Center in
West Bloomfield as part of the 56th annu-
al Jewish Book Fair. Both sisters dedi-
cate their book to the late Temple Israel
Rabbis Leon Fram and M. Robert Syme,
who helped instill the Jewish values that
led to their confirmations and continuing
connections with Reform traditions.
"Jill is the funny sister, and I'm the
serious sister:' Solomon says about their
outlook as they put the chapters together.
"The book goes back and forth between
both sensibilities and reflects our person-
alities.
"There's a silly segment about a woman
who has a 'bark mitzvah' for her two dogs,
and there is a very thoughtful section on
Henry Winkler, who has a doctorate in
Hebrew literature."
Celebrities who have funny stories to
tell include comedian and TV host Howie
Mandel and fashion icon Michael Kors.
Those with poignant memories include
actress Marlee Matlin and Sen. Joseph
Lieberman.
Other featured icons include actor
Jeremy Piven, former New York Mayor Ed
Koch and talk show host Larry King.
"We have a very eclectic group of
people with a range of stories:' says
Rappaport, who came up with the idea
for the book about eight years ago. "It was
very interesting to find out the impact
religion has had on people and how one
event has helped to shape their lives.
"This project has been one of the most
difficult I ever worked on. It was unlike
the overall response to our book People
We Know, Horses They Love (a photo
essay about equestrian celebrities), with
personalities open and excited. Not every-
body wanted to be out there discussing
their religion or religious upbringing."
Each Mazel Tov section begins with a
profile of the celebrity and turns into a
question-and-answer format.
"I felt that the interview helped the
story along while I was doing it:' explains
Rappaport, based in New York while her
sister is based in Michigan. "I felt that if I
took out my questions, the stories would
lose some of the impact.
"It was kind of an unconventional way
to do a book, but I think it led to interest-
ing paths that might not have been taken.
I also felt that I was involved in the sto-
ries with the celebrities by actually shar-
ing in the interview."
Besides taking the photos, Solomon
was involved in book jacket and page
design.
"When I could see the bar or bat mitz-
vah photo before I took the new picture,
I tried to match it," Solomon says. "I later
realized the same expressions were on the
faces of people in both the early and cur-
rent pictures, but this was not deliberate."
Solomon wanted the book to resemble
an album so the photos have large bor-
ders and gold framing. She planned that
the cover would have elements of a for-
mal invitation.
Both sisters have distinct commit-
ments to community causes. They cur-
rently are deciding on a charity to share
the proceeds from Mazel Tov sales.
Rappaport, whose dog Jack has sur-
vived bone cancer after a leg amputation,
has established the Jack & Jill National
Awareness Campaign to inform people
of the medical options available to pets
given devastating diagnoses.
Solomon, with the sponsorship of
General Motors, visits Salvation Army
shelters around the country for A Picture
of Hope, a project that helps homeless
children use photos to capture what they
wish for in life and create greeting cards
sold through the organization as a fund-
raising initiative.
"This book has been only the second
time my sister and I have collaborated,
and I've been very touched to have
been able to work with her again:' says
Solomon, who recently released the book
The Key: The Celebrated Unlock Their
Secrets to Life.
"I think we all need to respect religion,
and I feel very strongly about spiritual
traditions. I think the book shows the
importance of self-respect and respect for
being Jewish." 7
Linda Solomon (and maybe Jill
Rappaport) will discuss their book
2 p.m. Sunday, Nov.11, at the
Jewish Community Center in West
Bloomfield as part of the 56th annu-
al Jewish Book Fair. (248) 661-1000.