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Sunday, December 30th through Thursday, January 3rd

(248) 538-8954

22.95

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Includes Petite Filet, antipasto plate, side of pasta,
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Dine-in only, not valid with any other offer.

15% Off

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Offer Good Monday-Thursday, dine-in only and entrees only. Not
valid with any other offer. With coupon only. Not valid on holidays.
Expires 1/9/19

33210 W. 14 Mile Rd, in Simsbury Plaza,
just east of Farmington Rd., West Bloomfield

Mon-Thurs: 4pm-10pmtFri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 4pm-11pmtSun: 4pm-9pm

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Daily Special to choose from for lunch & dinner…

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30

December 27 • 2018

jn

Hillcrest that didn’t end until the
board reversed itself and Seaton
became the first non-Jewish member.
Call it “the Miracle at the Hillcrest”
or, maybe, “Be a Mentsh: Admit a
Mentsh.” By the way, in 1962, at the
Oscars ceremony, the Motion Picture
Academy gave Seaton its prestigious
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award. It’s
the award they give for being a really
big mentsh.

TWO MIRACLES
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) is not
only a great Christmas movie, it’s an
easy movie for anyone, Jew or not,
to like — a charming tale of how a
little girl comes to believe
a Macy’s Santa is really
Santa Claus — and maybe
she’s right. Very recently,
CHENEY AND BERNSTEIN
I pieced together the
A biopic about former Vice
background of George
President Dick Cheney,
Seaton (1911-1979), who
titled Vice, opened on
got an Oscar for writing
Dec. 25. It begins in 1963
the Miracle screenplay.
and follows Cheney until
Seaton, a Protestant, was
the end of the George
born in Indiana, but grew
W. Bush administration.
up in a mostly Jewish
Cheney’s big role in the
George Seaton
Detroit neighborhood.
planning and execution
His buddies were mostly
of the second Iraq War
Orthodox Jews and he
has made him a figure of
was their “Shabbos goy.”
intense controversy. The
For example, he bought
film, written and directed
his friends their movie
by Adam McKay (The
tickets on Shabbat.
Big Short), has garnered
He hung out near their
a slew of Golden Globe
synagogue so much that
nominations, but critics
the rabbi invited him in
are decidedly mixed on
to take classes, which
the film’s semi-comic
he did, and even had a
tone and how well it really
Justin Kirk
bar mitzvah. He never
covers Cheney’s life. An
converted to Judaism,
unrecognizable Christian
however.
Bale plays Cheney. Three
Fast forward to the late
Jews are characters in the
1940s, and Seaton is a
film: former Sec. of State
very successful Hollywood
Henry Kissinger, now
screenwriter and
95; Paul Wolfowitz, now
producer. His producing
75, who served as Deputy
partner is Jewish. He
Defense Secretary under
goes to two prominent
George W. Bush, and Lewis
Los Angeles-area country
“Scooter” Libby, now 68.
clubs intending to join,
Justin Kirk (Weeds), 49,
Leonard Bernstein
but asks first: “Are you
plays Libby, an aide to V.P.
restricted?” (i.e., no
Cheney, who was convicted
Jews allowed). They
(2007) of lying to the FBI
say they are and he walks away. He
about an Iraq-related matter. He
then applies for membership at the
was pardoned this year by President
Hillcrest Country Club. All the Jewish
Trump.
entertainment biggies belonged to the
2018 is the 100th anniversary of
Hillcrest, including Groucho Marx, a
the birth of Leonard Bernstein. A
great friend of Seaton. The Hillcrest
PBS Great Performances program will
board said they would give him
celebrate with a performance of the
non-member privileges (play golf, eat
Boston Symphony, conducted by John
there, etc.), but wouldn’t admit him as Williams and Michael Tilson Thomas,
a member because he wasn’t Jewish.
74. There will be many guest soloists,
Seaton said, “Full membership or
including Yo Yo Ma. (First airs Friday,
nothing.” A furor erupted at the
Dec. 28, at 9 p.m.) ■