Front Lines
A Many Faceted Jewish Star
Los Angeles
I
n the 2010 book Furious Love,
about the fervent, stormy romance
between Elizabeth Taylor and
Richard Burton, the lovers have a quar-
rel about Judaism.
In one scene, Taylor and Burton have
one of their usual, theatrical spats —
over who was more "Jewish."
The book says Burton had referred
to the Welsh as "the Jews of Britain,"
a comment on their self-identity as
the outsiders of the United Kingdom.
Burton was Welsh.
"You're not Jewish at all," he told
Elizabeth in one of their very public
fights. "If there's any Jew in this family,
its me!"
"I am Jewish," she answered, "and
you can f*%# off!"
Taylor, the irreverent and dazzling
actress who died March 23, 2011 at age
79, was raised a Christian Scientist but
converted to Judaism at age 27. Though
some say the decision was motivated
by marriage to her third husband, Mike
Todd — born Avrom Goldbogen, the
grandson of a Polish rabbi — Taylor
famously denied it, insisting she had
always been interested in Judaism.
In her book Elizabeth Takes Off
Taylor tried to set the record straight:
"[Conversion to Judaism] had absolute-
ly nothing to do with my past marriage
to Mike [Todd] or my upcoming mar-
riage to Eddie Fisher, both of whom
were Jewish. It was something I had
wanted to do for a long time."
Divas do things on their own terms.
When she finally decided to con-
vert, Taylor did so at Temple Israel
of Hollywood, under the tutelage of
then-Rabbi Max Nussbaum. According
to Time magazine, which reported
on Taylor's conversion in April 1959,
Nussbaum developed a special cur-
riculum for the actress that included
the Bible and the books A History of
the Jew by Abram Leon Sachar, What
Is a Jew? by Morris Kertzer, and Basic
Judaism by Milton Steinberg.
Afterwards, "They discussed the
ancient traditions and modern prob-
lems of the people of Israel," Time
reported.
At her conversion ceremony, Taylor
was given the Hebrew name Elisheba
Rachel Taylor (Elisheba being the
Hebrew version of Elizabeth and Rachel
being the actress' biblical heroine).
According to Time: "The ceremony
took place in the chapel of Temple
Israel in the presence of Convert
Taylor's parents. Facing the open Ark of
the Covenant and the Holy Scrolls, she
iN CONTENTS
Elizabeth Taylor
answered the ritual questions put to
her by Rabbi Nussbaum. Among them:
`Do you promise to cast your lot with
the people of Israel amid all circum-
stances and conditions?' Do you agree
to rear your future children according
to the Jewish faith?'"
Taylor channeled her defiant Jewish
spirit into almost everything, even her
eight marriages. Mike Nichols report-
Jewish Star on page 5
theJEWISHNEWS
March 31-April 6, 2011 25 Adar 11-2 Nisan 5771 Vol. CXXXIX, No. 8
The Power of Recycling
Cover Story on page 9
Shabbat Lights / Holidays
Ann Arbor
Around Town
Shabbat: Friday, April 1, 7:40 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, April 2, 8:43 p.m.*
14
18
Arts/Entertainment
51
Family Focus
60
Health
44
Marketplace
64
Mazel Toy!
60
Metro
9
Obituaries
72
Points Of View
42
Red Thread..Center Section
Roundup
5
Spirituality
Sports
Staff Box/Phone List
Synagogue List
Teen2Teen Extra
To Do/Calendar
Torah Portion
World/Israel
36
48
6
38
59
57
37
20
Shabbat: Friday, April 8, 7:48 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, April 9, 8:51 p.m.*
* Times according to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
calendar. Havdalah practices may vary.
Consult your rabbi.
Danny Raskin
Robert Sklar
56
42
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