dealing with childhood obesity is not
as easy, straightforward and pleasant
an experience as conventional wisdom
would have us believe.
"To an equal extent, I wanted people
who don't have obese children, but who
know them and judge them, to under-
stand the hypocrisy out there and the
incredible challenges for people who
actually are dealing with it"
The book, which substitutes the
name Bea for the youngster's real
name, covers consultations with a
nutritionist, efforts to make food
substitutions and decisive cutbacks in
servings. It also describes the psycho-
logical environment that was pursued.
"Deciding to write the book was a
continuation of experiences in which I
would end up frustrated that the posi-
tion I was in was so misunderstood
and made so much more challenging
than it needed to be says Weiss, 42,
who originally covered the subject in a
magazine article for Vogue.
The article had received criticism
from people who believed that the age
of dieting was too young and that the
obesity issue should not be discussed
outside the home for fear of causing
psychological damage to the child, who
was put on a "public diet"
Weiss goes into great detail about
what she looks for at the supermarket
in terms of calories, sugar substitutes
and other dietary considerations. She
uses brand names and references actual
research.
While working on diet plans, Weiss
did not keep notes. The writing process
relied on her own memory and her
daughter's memory. They didn't have to

fact that he is actively engaged in
every scene during the 85-minute
intermission-less show.
Siebert's other parts include the
Rebbe, Rivkeh's exuberant brother,
Yaakov, and the Jewish (but non-
observant) artist Jacob Kahn, who
is recruited by the Rebbe to mentor
the young Asher. It is through this
relationship that some of the major
themes are depicted, as the older
man teaches his student that art
requires absolute honesty, even when
it brings parental disapproval. Kahn
initiates his protege by teaching him
to paint crucifixions and nudes, to the
shock and dismay of his parents and
other members of the community.
Edwards also plays art dealer
Anna Schaeffer and makes a brief
appearance as an artist's model, but
her major role is Rivkeh, the long-
suffering wife and mother whose
pain and frustration she so palpably
portrays. The production is further
enhanced by a simple yet versatile set

go back far, she says, because the issues
were on their minds constantly.
When the first draft was finished,
Weiss had her daughter look it over.
"My daughter read the passages that
I thought would be most sensitive, and
she provided feedback:' explains the
author, a Web producer and content
developer whose article and book were
her first ventures into print publishing.
"I took out the passages she was
most uncomfortable with. I knew
that there was going to be a risk that
it would be uncomfortable for all of
us, which includes my husband and
son. There was some sacrifice in pri-
vacy documenting what we had gone
through.
"So many parents won't talk abut it,
can't talk about it and need to be more
comfortable talking about it"
Weiss has noticed maturation in her
daughter's outlook toward food.
"I think my daughter is the same
person in how she would like to eat but
understands how her body needs her to
eat in order to stay healthy:' Weiss says.
The book explores a bit about weight
issues mom and dad have faced and
what they did about their own eating
during their daughter's dieting.
They treated holidays like every other
day. Their seder was subject to the same
kind of tracking as every other meal.
Chanukah parties were approached as
carefully as birthday parties.
"It still requires work and effort, but it
doesn't require the same level of strict-
ness it required when we were trying to
get Bea to a healthy weight:' Weiss says.
"She's now maintaining her weight, and
that's a testament to her:' ❑

By

Aaron Posner

Chaim Poto
Magidson
Directed by David

adapted from the novel by

els Thrilling

alum noun

C?

Name

st, yt9r
classic.

Co-produced with the Performance Network Theatre
JET performs in the Aaron DeRoy Theatre
Corner of Maple & Drake Roads in West Bloomfield

0 0d1 tomimss 162dS Int mu
1324y
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Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, Sat. and Sun. dinner only • Private room available for up to 85 people

Clockwise from left: John Seibert, Naz

Mother's day at ALFOCCINO OPEN at NOON WITH
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Edwards and Mitchell Koory in JET's

production of My Name Is Asher Lev.

My Name Is Asher Lev runs
through May 19 in the Aaron
DeRoy Theatre in the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield. $38-$45/discounts
for seniors, students and groups.
(248) 788-2900;
www.jettheatre.org .

by Sarah Tanner, costumes by Mary
Copenhagen, lighting by Jon Weaver
and sound design by Julia Gray. ❑

Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

248.476.0044

Buy o - lunch or dinner entree
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Not good with any other coupons.
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total food bill

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Farmington Hills • Corner of Grand River & Haggerty Road
Auburn Hills • I miles south of the Palace of Auburn Hills

JN

May 9 • 2013

59