44 July 25 • 2019 jn celebrity jews arts&life RED SEA DIVING PROJECT The Red Sea Diving Project, an orig- inal Netflix film, begins streaming on July 31. This dramatic film recounts the true efforts of the Israeli secret service, the Mossad, to rescue thou- sands of Ethiopian Jews in 1981. Many of them were hidden in a Sudan resort (near the Red Sea) before being transported to Israel. The film was direct- ed and written by Israeli Gideon Raff, 46, who shared an Emmy for best writing, dramatic TV show (Homeland). Most of the film’ s char- acters are Jewish, but only two major cast members are really Jewish (Israeli actress Alona Tal, 35, and Israeli actor Mark Avnir, 52, who was born in the Ukraine and came to Israel when he was 4 years old. Avnir plays the head of the Mossad). Chris Evans, Ben Kingsley and Alessandro Nivola have co-starring roles. Nivola’ s paternal grandmother was Jewish. SEINFELDIA The new (12-episode) sea- son of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, a talk show hosted by Jerry Seinfeld, 65, began on July 19 on Netflix. Guests this season include Seth Rogen, 37, and Matthew Broderick, 57. Also appearing is comedian Martin Short, who has frequently said: “Everybody thinks I’ m Jewish, but I’ m not.” (His ancestry is mostly Irish Catholic). Jewish or not, Short is a terrific talk show guest. Here’ s some Jerry fun facts you may not know: (1) He grew up in Massapequa, a middle-class suburb on Long Island that had so many Jews and Italians that many locals have referred to it as “Matzah-Pizza.” (2) Jerry’ s father, the late Kalman Seinfeld, was — ready — the owner of a sign company. I grew up near Massapequa and I used to notice a weird thing during election season. All over the county there were political billboards and in the corner of almost all these billboards there was a plaque with these words: Sign by Kal Seinfeld. It was so weird I wondered if it was some sort of joke. It wasn’ t a joke. However, Jerry has said his father was a very funny guy. (3) Kal Seinfeld was of Hungarian Jewish ancestry, and Jerry’ s late mother, Betty, was of Syrian Jewish ancestry; and (4) Jerry worked on an Israeli kibbutz when he was 16. SUPER DR. MIKE Dr. Mikhail Varshavski, 29, who is better known as Dr. Mike, is a celeb- rity thanks to “new media.” Quick bio: born in Russia, came to the U.S. when he was 6; his father is a doctor who had to re-earn his degree in the States; the future Dr. Mike became known when he Instagrammed his medical school stud- ies and People magazine noticed — they named him the “sexiest phy- sician alive” in 2015. YouTube fame followed (he gives medical tips). Well, Dr. Mike became super-doctor Mike when he saved a fellow pas- senger on a recent flight to Israel. Matt Faraco, 26, who was traveling on a Birthright trip, went into allergic shock. Dr. Mike located epinephrine in the plane’ s emergency kit and injected Faraco, who quickly recovered. ■ NATE BLOOM COLUMNIST Gideon Raff Alona Tal Jerry Seinfeld Mikhail Varshavski VIA RAFF FACEBOOK VIA TAL FACEBOOK VIA TIMEOUT.COM VIA DR. MIKE FACEBOOK Voted Best Italian Restaurant by Hour 2019 Is it the simple fresh ingredients made to order? Is it a clean atmosphere? Is it friendly service? Or is it 55 years in business? It’s all the above. Come Break Bread With Us! C U C I N A I T A L I A N A est. 1964 Dearborn Dearborn Heights Farmington Hills Canton Livonia antoniosrestaurants.com come as you are 248.438.6741 • www.cayagrill.com 1403 S. Commerce Rd., Wolverine Lake HOURS: Tue - Sun dinner starting at 4:30 p.m. Brunch: Sat and Sun starting at 10 a.m. THE AREA’S MOST POPULAR SMOKEHOUSE BISTRO OFFERING A CASUAL AND FUN DINING EXPERIENCE! Enjoy a casual dining experience focusing on quality food made with local ingredients. House-smoked meats along with fresh seafood, steaks, chops and bistro entrées. Happy Hour Dai l y • Carry Out Cateri ng • Speci al Events Weekend Brunch