arts & Life Lake Effect Ricki Lake opens Sara Eaker I Special to the Jewish News up about her influences and the causes most important to her. Ricki Lake will be the featured speaker at the Lois Linden Nelson Woman's World Wednesday, May 6, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Southfield. The event is held 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Lake will speak at 11:45 a.m. Boutique Show is open to the public and free of charge. Luncheon/ speaker tickets start at $72. (248) 357-5544; Ilnwomansworld.org . Celebrity Jews Nate Bloom Special to the Jewish News WORKING THE DIAMOND: JEWISH BASEBALL PLAYERS As of opening day (April 6), the following Jewish players were on a MLB roster. All these play- ers have at least one Jewish parent and were raised either Jewish or secular. Players: Ryan Braun, 31, outfielder, Milwaukee. Braun was named Rookie of the Year in 2007, the only Jewish player ever to win this award. He had a so/so 54 April 23 • 2015 or me, being memorable is more important than winning; says Ricki Lake. The pop-culture icon has managed to do both for nearly two decades. Lake, 46, has reinvented herself at every stage of her career. From singing and dancing her way into millions of hearts in John Waters' 1988 cult-classic film, Hairspray, to her Emmy-award winning talk show (1993-2004); she acts, writes, produces and is an advo- cate for women's issues. Lake, who has two sons, made a highly successful 2008 documentary, The Business of Being Born, which will soon be re- released and includes footage of Lake's own life-changing home-birth while chronicling a day in the life of a mid- wife. Her most recent projects include two documentaries: Sweetening the Pill raises questions about the long- term effects of hormonal birth control; and Breast Milk examines society's double-standard on female breasts and breastfeeding. She's currently at work on Weed the People, about children with cancer and parents' choices to find alternative treatment for their children. Lake continues her role as an advo- cate, this time in the Jewish com- munity, when she will appear as the featured speaker at the Lois Linden Nelson Woman's World at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield on May 6. Talking to Lake is like talking to a F season in 2014 and had hand surgery in the off-season. This season will tell us whether he can return to top form; Craig Breslow, 34, reliever, Boston. As for Braun, 2015 will be a piv- otal test season for Breslow. He missed part of 2014 to injuries and his pitching quality was way below his career-average. He's an honors Yale grad from a religious home; Ike Davis, 28, first base, Oakland. Davis broke in to the majors with the Mets in 2010 and remained with them until early 2014. He was traded to the A's in the off- season. He has a lot of power, but suffers from anemic bat- longtime girlfriend. "I have a theory about why I am not aging and why my skin is looking good:' she says. "It's because I'm a little fat — that is the secret to not looking so wrinkly. My friend Courtney Cox says, 'You have to choose if you want the a** or the face. I'm choosing the face." On the agenda for her appearance in Detroit is discussing the impact her grandmother — who raised her until her death from breast cancer when Lake was 9 — had on her life. "I would like to answer questions and share. I am an open book, and I love expressing myself and sharing what has gotten me through this crazy life of mine Lake says. "My grandmother Sylvia was a true matriarch and got me through hard- ships and this amazing career. "She was such a support for me. I was the first-born grandchild on her side of the family, and I was the light of her life. I loved performing, even at a young age. At 3 years old, I was doing Shirley Temple. I wanted to be an orphan in Annie. She said I was the best, the most talented, the most beautiful. I don't think I was the prettiest or the best, but she believed in me and that has gotten me so much through my life. Because she believed it, I believed it." Lake continues, "You have to have one person that you love that believes in you, that role model or big brother, and my grandmother was that for me. I grew up in New York City, and I remember going to see the opera and Pirates of Penzance. I have her to thank for those experiences — that uncon- ting streaks; Scott Feldman, 32, starting pitcher, Houston. A 10-year veteran, Feldman had a good season in 2014, with a career best ERA; Sam Fuld, 33, outfielder, Oakland. He's very good when his batting eye is sharp; Ian Kinsler, 32, second base, Detroit Tigers. Named several times to the All-Star team (including 2014), Kinsler has speed and power and is off to a very good start; Ryan Lavarnaway, ditional love. She was so special, like a presence, and I think of her often." Her grandmother also influenced how she connects to Judaism. "It was a vibe of family and tradition and safety:' says Lake, who adds that many of her memories are cultural. "I remember hiding the matzah [at seders]," she says. "But, I was more concerned about how I could get chocolate gelt. There are a lot of food-related memories! My Uncle Murray Klein started Zabar's [in New York City]. Every weekend at the coun- try house, we would have a platter of Zabar's with bagels and sturgeon. The paper label with the orange writing; that was my childhood." Lake, who stresses that she's always been very independent, won the role of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray and never looked back. "I had my own life outside of my home life and school life she says. "I moved to California when I was 19. I was my own mother." She's also very proud of her role in the film. "[It's the film] that never dies. It is amazing. I love that girls who are not a size zero can see themselves in my character. It is an iconic role." She adds that working with director John Waters was an opportunity she's grateful for. "We are still in touch:' she says. "He is like a big brother to me, and he instilled great values in me. [My life] was about to get crazy from becoming famous overnight. He told me to never lose sight of who I am — and to not believe the good press, because then you have to believe the bad press." • •• ❑ 27, catcher, Baltimore. He's been shuttling between the majors and minors since being called up in 2011 by Boston. He's a Yale grad, like Breslow; Jason Marquis, 36, start- ing pitcher, Cincinnati. The much-traveled Marquis broke into the majors in 2000. He's had some very good seasons, but 2014 wasn't one of them; Joc Pederson, 22, outfielder, L.A. Dodgers. Great things are expected from Pederson, who was called up last September after a stellar minor league season. He played for Israel in the 2012 World Baseball Classic qualifiers; Kevin Pillar, 26, outfielder, Toronto. This for- mer bar mitzvah boy has been shuttling between the big club and the minors since mid-2013; Danny Valencia, 30, third base, Toronto. Like Pillar, Valencia had a bar mitzvah. He had a good season with two clubs in 2014. AT THE MOVIES Opening this week: The Age of Adaline is a romantic fantasy- drama. The title character (Blake Lively) was born in 1908; 20 years later she's in an accident that somehow stops her from aging. To avoid attention, she conceals her -.