Jewish Contributions to Humanity

# in a series

Three Jewish
Stars of the
Silver Screen.

Jewish Ferndale hosts
vigil for Pittsburgh
shooting victims.

KERI GUTEN COHEN STORY DEVELOPMENT EDITOR

RUDY THOMAS

Standing
Strong

A

bout 60 people participated
Ferndale Police Chief Vincent
in a vigil at Jewish Ferndale
Palazzolo said the city’s police have
Sunday afternoon in memo-
a watchful eye on the community,
ry of the 11 Jews slain and the many
including Jewish Ferndale. “We will
others injured during the shooting
continue to have patrol cars drive
Shabbat morning inside the Tree of
through here more than usual,” he said.
Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pa.
County Commissioner Helaine Zack
Standing in a chilly, light drizzle,
said she was at synagogue when the
those gathered hud-
shooting happened. After her
About 60 people
dled close together and
words at the vigil, she talked
gathered at Jewish
heard words of comfort
of how, as a social worker, she
Ferndale Sunday
and resolve from Rabbi
emphasizes it’s important to
to memorialize
Herschel Finman of Jewish
take care of yourself in times
the victims of the
Ferndale, several elected
Pittsburgh shooting. of trauma through tools such
officials and Ferndale Chief
as yoga or prayer or coming
It was the first of
of Police Vincent Palazzolo.
together as a community.
many vigils held
“In the face of adversity,
Judge Mark Goldsmith
this week in
Detroit.
we look for opportunities
ended the vigil by chanting
to transform the darkness
the Eil Malei Rachamim
into light,” Finman said. “In
prayer. At its end, a woman
a personal way, reflect on what good
started to say Kaddish aloud but was
act would make the world a better
too emotional to continue.
place when it is looking darker.”
The crowd contained mostly Jews,
State Reps. Robert Wittenberg and
but many non-Jews as well, including
Jeremy Moss both urged solidarity.
Ann Heler, who lives nearby.
“We come together and realize that
“I just wanted to lend support and
words have meaning and that actions
be one more person to say we will
have consequences,” Wittenberg said.
not have this happen again,” she said.
“Anyone who goes to pray should not
“This is not how we build communi-
have to worry about safety. We have
ties. We can do it.”
differences, but we need to respect and
The idea for the vigil came from
appreciate those differences.”
Chana Finman of Jewish Ferndale, a
Moss said he’s a board member at
Chabad Lubavitch organization.
his synagogue and that they have to
“We learned about the shooting
talk about increasing security, “but we
when Rabbi Matthew Zerwekh of
cannot pray in fortresses,” he said.
Temple Emanu-El, who lives nearby,
“Hatred again seems to be growing
came to say hello. He didn’t want to
and, sadly, that’s not entirely new. We
tell us on Shabbat, but had to tell us
persist because of our religious values.
the news,” said Chana, wife of Rabbi
As Jews, we need to lead by example.
Finman. “I said, ‘Let’s do something.
There’s a lot of work to do to honor
We need to be with other people.’ This
these victims. We need to make sure
morning, when the names [of the dead
we are constantly battling rhetoric
in Pittsburgh] came out, it was so per-
against anybody facing attack. We
sonal. We needed to be with others to
know what it’s like to be oppressed and restore our faith in humanity and real-
we stand with them.”
ize we’re all connected.” ■

Billy Wilder

Sidney Lumet

Mel Brooks

BILLY WILDER (1906-2002).

b. Sucha Beskidzka, Poland. d. Beverly Hills, California. A king of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
One of Hollywood Golden Age’s most renowned filmmakers, Billy Wilder came a long
way from his early years as a journalist and amateur screenwriter in Berlin. Upon Hitler’s
rise to power in 1933, Wilder presciently moved to Paris and then Los Angeles, where
he continued his pursuit of a screenwriting career, which really took off in 1940 when
he was nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay for Ninotchka. The next 30 years saw
many more Oscar nominations and wins, including for The Lost Weekend, Sunset Blvd.,
and The Apartment, for which he became the first person to win an Oscar as producer,
director, and screenwriter for the same film. Wilder’s films were known for superb plots
and memorable dialogue. As he put it, “I just made pictures I would’ve liked to see.”

SIDNEY LUMET (1924-2011).

b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. d. New York, New York. A director for the ages.
With over 50 films to his name, Sidney Lumet remains one of the modern age’s most prolific
directors, and arguably worked with the greatest collection of actors any director ever has. Raised
by parents who were veterans of the Yiddish theatre, Lumet began his directing career after his
World War II service in the Army. Beginning with Off-Broadway productions, Lumet moved on
to TV and then film. His first movie, 12 Angry Men, was a critical success, and earned him an
Oscar nomination for Best Director. His other Oscar nominations included Dog Day Afternoon,
Network, Prince of the City, and The Verdict. In 2005 Lumet won an honorary Oscar. Lumet’s
films were filled with energy, lots of dialogue, and were often set in single, confined locations.
He was famously open to incorporating ideas from actors, writers, cinematographers, and other
cast and crew who he thought could help make the best film possible. Lumet filmed most of his
work in New York, almost none in Hollywood, and said, “In Hollywood, actors learn to act from
watching television. In New York, people learn to act by walking down the street.”

MEL BROOKS (1926-).

b. Brooklyn, New York. The funniest man on earth.
One of Hollywood’s greatest comedic filmmakers, Mel Brooks (born “Kaminsky”) is in the
rarified group of people who has won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. Three
of his films are in the American Film Institute’s top 100 comedies: Blazing Saddles (#6), The
Producers (#11), and Young Frankenstein (#13). Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brooks had a
difficult childhood. He said about his short temper, “I learned to clothe it in comedy to spare
myself problems—like a punch in the face.” After serving in the Army during World War II
(where he diffused enemy land mines in Europe), Brooks returned to New York, where he
performed stand-up comedy in the Catskills. In 1949, Sid Caesar hired Brooks to write jokes
for NBC. There, Brooks met Carl Reiner, and the pair’s 2000 Year Old Man comedy routine
became a massive hit. After finding success with TV comedy, Get Smart, Brooks moved on
to directing, winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The Producers. Other Brooks
hits include History of the World: Part I and Spaceballs. His works are famous for containing
over the top acting styles, Jewish jokes, and a villain with a mustache or beard. As Brooks
said in his classic self-deprecating way, “My movies rise below vulgarity.”

Original Research by Walter L. Field Sponsored by Irwin S. Field Written by Jared Sichel

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November 1 • 2018

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