ARTS&LIFE
BENEFITS

A

s Hadassah Greater Detroit makes
accommodations for the Judi
Schram Annual Meeting — for those
attending in person or virtually — there will
be a lot of inspiration.
Much of it will come from the guest speak-
er, film and TV actress Marlee Matlin, known
for developing an award-winning career and
maintaining strong relationships as a wife and
mother — all while moving beyond the deaf
community and leading others to advance
along with her.
Matlin’s topic, to be expressed Tuesday,
Oct. 5, at Adat Shalom Synagogue, will be
“Living Generously: Healing the World One
Person at a Time.” The message relates to
the healing work done through Hadassah
medical facilities in Israel and programs that
empower women and support at-risk youth.
“Our guest, Marlee Matlin, who is a life
member of Hadassah, represents the women
of our organization so well,” said Fran
Heicklen, Hadassah Greater Detroit presi-
dent. “She works to raise awareness for causes
dear to her — the deaf community, LGBTQ
rights, diversity, humanitarian needs, domes-
tic violence and addiction.
“
As Hadassah women, we support the same
issues, also striving to heal the world one per-
son at a time.”
Before and after Matlin takes the podium,
there will be a series of shopping opportuni-
ties and the availability of boxed lunches.
In the evening, at Congregation Beth Ahm,
there will be a tribute dinner honoring Elaine
and Stephen Sturman for their dynamic
activities in the Michigan Jewish community.
She has been a 30-year member of Hadassah
and served as chapter and region president,
earning the Hadassah National Leadership
Award. Together they are active in many
organizations, including the Ecumenical
Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies, the
Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre.
In 2018, Matlin told Oregon Jewish Life how
she grew up in a Reform family and had her
bat mitzvah at Congregation Bene Shalom in

Skokie, Ill., a synagogue for both hearing and
deaf members.
“I had the benefit of a rabbi who could
sign,” she said. “I learned how to speak
Hebrew phonetically, and I signed and spoke.”
She is in the midst of promoting her latest
film, CODA (child of a deaf adult), which
won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience
Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Matlin
portrays the mother in a family of four. It was
released in August and is now on Apple TV+.
The plot involves parents and a son depen-
dent on the daughter because only she is able
to hear. They all must deal with her interest
in leaving home to pursue a singing career.
A strong advocate for the deaf communi-
ty, Matlin was instrumental in pushing for
ensemble cast members who represented
the talents to be found in that community.
She recently discussed her activities on CBS
Sunday Morning, where she appeared with
award-winning actor Henry Winkler and his
wife, Stacey, valued mentors who even had
her as a houseguest for two years.
The Winklers became aware of Matlin after
he noticed her talents at an arts festival. Years
later, they helped her recover following her
hospitalization for substance abuse.
“Sobriety is the hardest thing,” she recently
told CBS Sunday Morning, explaining how
recovery remains one day at a time while
she is so grateful for the guidance of the
Winklers. She revealed life experiences in her
book I’ll Scream Later.
Matlin, 45, who won the Academy Award
at 21 for Children of a Lesser God, also has
been in many TV shows, including The West
Wing, Seinfeld and Dancing With the Stars.
Before and after the Matlin presentation,
visitors can shop at nearly 20 boutique sta-
tions offering unique purchases that include
clothing, jewelry and crystal.
Matlin told the Oregon Jewish publication:
“I am happy to have the opportunity to speak
in front of other members of the Jewish com-
munity and talk about my story and how I
basically wouldn’t be where I am today if it
weren’t for my Jewish upbringing.”

Like Hadassah, she wants to heal
the world one person at a time.
Matlin’s Message

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

40 | SEPTEMBER 30 • 2021




Details Hadassah Annual Meeting
programs offered Tuesday, Oct. 5, at
Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington
Hills: boutiques 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., boxed
lunches from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and
the speaker at 1 p.m. $75 in person, $30
boxed lunch and $54 virtual ticket. Raffle
tickets are available without attendance
starting at five for $25. The Sturman
dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. at Congregation
Beth Ahm in West Bloomfield. $136.
Proof of vaccination and masks are
required for in-person activities.
Reservations: hadassahmidwest.org/
GDannualmeeting. Questions: (248) 683-
5030, greaterdetroit@hadassah.org.

Actress/activist Marlee Matlin will
headline Hadassah’s Annual Meeting.

Hadassah
honorees
Elaine and
Stephen
Sturman

BRETT FREEDMAN
PAUL STOLOFF PHOTOGRAPHY