34 | MAY 21 • 2020
Arts&Life
celebrity jews
THE STILLERS AND THE
PULITZERS
There have been a lot of tribute
articles in the Jewish and general
media about Jerry Stiller, who died
last week, age 92. But I was most
moved by a couple of sentences
in Ben Stiller’
s announcement of
his father’
s death. Ben wrote: “He
was a great dad and grandfather,
and the most dedicated husband to
Anne for about 62 years.”
I was drawn back to the many
times I saw Jerry and Anne do
comic routines or just ad lib some
funny banter. You could see that she
really adored this not-so-handsome
Jewish fellow, who was several
inches shorter than her. Their love
grew as the years passed. She was
a Catholic when they married in
1954, and Jerry never asked her to
convert. But, on her own,
Anne converted to Judaism
shortly before the birth of
the Stillers’
first child, Amy,
in 1961. Anne said she did
so because: “I wanted my
children to know who they
were.”
Jerry said that Anne
drew him more into
Judaism, and Ben said
shortly after her passing
in 2015 that he credited
her most for his Jewish
upbringing. It took a great guy, like
Jerry, to find such a great woman
(vice versa, of course).
By coincidence, Ben Stiller, 54,
is the host of the first of two NBC
Red Nose (for charity) specials air-
ing on Thursday, May 21. Celebrity
Escape Room starts at 8 p.m. First,
Stiller explains what escape rooms
are (in short, they are “themed
rooms.” Within these rooms there
are clues, like in a painting on
the wall, that help you — and
your partners — figure out how
to escape within a limited time).
After Ben finishes explaining the
game, Jack Black, 50, takes over
as the Game Master. The escape
room contestants include Stiller,
Lisa Kudrow, 56, Adam Scott and
Courtney Cox.
The 2020 Pulitzer Prizes were
announced on May 4. Here are
the Jewish winners: Brian M.
Rosenthal of the NY Times for
investigative reporting (exposed
predatory lending that destroyed
the lives of thousands of NYC
cabdrivers). He grew up in West
Lafayette, Indiana (near Chicago).
His father is a retired Purdue
University health sciences profes-
sor, and his mother is a nurse (who
credits her Jewish background
for her work as a social activist);
Ben Taub, 29, the New Yorker, for
feature writing (about conditions at
Guantanamo Bay detention facility).
While still a Princeton student, he
was a contestant (2011) on The
Voice, and he used his winnings
to finance a trip to report on the
Arab Spring. He then got his grad
degree in journalism; Barry Blitt,
62, the New Yorker, editorial car-
tooning; and Benjamin Moser, 44,
the Biography Award for Sontag:
Her Life and Work (about Susan
Sontag, the late social critic). Moser
is fluent in many languages, includ-
ing Hebrew.
NATE BLOOM
COLUMNIST
COURTESY OF NBC
STAYING CONNECTED
At this time of social distancing,
the Jewish News will try to bring
awareness to events/learning
situations offered online by
synagogues, temples and
community organizations.
MENTAL HEALTH
7 PM, MAY 21
Women’
s philanthropy of Jewish
Federation will host mental health
advocates Deborah and Sophie
Riegel, sharing perspectives and
stories to help those struggling with
anxiety. Get info at jewishfederation@
jfmd.org.
HOLIDAY LEARNING
Traditionally read on the upcoming
holiday of Shavuot, the Book of Ruth
is about building and rebuilding
relationships. Join educator Abby
Eisenberg for a series that looks at
three key characters: Ruth, Naomi
and Boaz, and their relationships
to one another. Join My Jewish
Learning on Thursday, May 21; and
Tuesday, May 26, at 3 p.m. Register
at myjewishlearning.com. Also be
aware of a discussion of “Tools in the
Genesis Story to Deal with Disaster”
on Tuesdays at 1 p.m.
TOUR – TEL AVIV-YAFO
NOON-1 PM, MAY 26
Temple Shir Shalom is offering a live,
virtual tour of Israel with Rabbi Daniel
Schwartz and Israeli tour guide Beni
Levin. Learn the history and stories of
Tel Aviv-Yafo on this one-hour guided
tour on Zoom. To learn more or
register, call 248-737-8700, or email
audrey@shirshalom.org.
HOLISTIC MEDICINE
FOR COVID-19
11 AM, MAY 27
Zoom with Dr. Jen Green for
“Holistic Medicine for COVID-19:
Integrative Approaches to Coronavirus
Prevention,” followed by Q and A.
Free. Call Hadassah Greater Detroit,
248-683 5030 to register.
TRIVIA
7 PM, MAY 27
The Jewish Historical Society of
Michigan will host a trivia night,
Cost: $10 for members; $18 for
non-members. A Zoom link will be
sent to registrants the day before.
For info, contact kschuchman@
michjewishhistory.org.
CONCERT
7:30 PM, MAY 27
Lisa Fishman in concert, featuring
Jewish standards and some
unknown gems sung in Yiddish and
English with a modern twist, and
influenced by klezmer, jazz, musical
theater, cabaret, folk rock, Latin,
blues and a touch of comedy. Lisa.
nytf.org/live and on Folksbiene’
s
Facebook page at facebook.com/
folksbiene.
WE NEED TO TALK
7 PM, MAY 27
We Need to Talk presents an
evening with Will Heininger, former
defensive lineman for the University
of Michigan Wolverines football team
and outreach coordinator at the U-M
Depression Center. He struggled
with depression and has made it
his mission to raise awareness and
shatter stigmas surrounding mental
health issues. Hear Will’
s personal
story and learn how to support
yourself or someone else struggling
with mental health. Registration info:
Jaime@jfmd.org.
Compiled by Sy Manello/Editorial
Assistant
Send items at least 14 days in advance
to calendar@thejewishnews.com.
Will
Heininger
On The Go
virtual events | learnings