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.