18 • JEWZ IN THE NEWZ
JEWZ
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By NATE BLOOM Contributing Columnist On Lauren Bacall Let me say at the top that BACALL was talented, smart and beautiful. Also, when most American Jewish film fans found out, sometime in the ‘50s, that this “A” list actress was Jewish–there was a little psychic “kvell” boost in the Jewish community. But let’s not make her more of a Jewish pioneer than she was. Her style and look was, perhaps, a bit more ‘urbane’ than most of her contemporary female film stars–but they provided no clue that she was Jewish and most Americans didn’t know she was Jewish. Also, while she met, by her own account, a touch of antiSemitism at the start of her career–it was usually bigoted remarks made by people who didn’t know she was Jewish. Let’s talk turkey: in Hollywood, Jewish actresses rarely had/have a problem with being Jewish. They had/have a problem if they “looked Jewish” and are thus viewed as less marketable— Bacall didn’t have this problem. She also had the career backing of Humphrey Bogart’s many powerful film industry friends (mostly non-Jewish). Bacall penned three memoirs. She mentions Israel once in passing: that she made a film there in 1987. Regarding her decision to raise her children in Bogart’s Episcopal faith; she writes that she and Bogart agreed “that they had to have some religious identity” and there was a good Episcopal school nearby, but the kids “had to be baptized as Episcopalians to go there”–so her children were baptized and raised Episcopal. She’s honest to a point–but let’s be frank–while not an anti-Semite, Bogart was from a fancy WASP background and if his kids were going to have a religion he wasn’t going to let them be raised Jewish. He was very much the senior member of the couple and his wishes easily prevailed. I think the desire to make Bacall “more Jewish” than she was is one reason that the tale of her being a “first cousin” of Israeli President SHIMON PERES became widespread. I don’t have the space here to go through the various stories and how they conflict. Suffice it to say that the two met in Israel in 1987 and probably discussed whether Bacall’s long-estranged father (WILLIAM PERSKE) and Peres (born Perske, or Persky) were related–neither claimed to be actually related to
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each other. As for “first cousins” well, that would mean that Peres’ father and Bacall’s father were brothers. Clear records (like the US census) prove they couldn’t be brothers. Her father, by the way, was actually born in New Jersey—not Poland, like all of Peres’ family. In sum, Bacall was Jewish and a big star–but BARBRA STREISAND was the first “A” list actress to be, in every way, out-and-proudly Jewish. Candid Camera Returns A new version of “Candid Camera” premiered on TVLand on August 11. You can view new episodes on Tuesday nights (8PM) and catch-up via ondemand and/or free website viewing. ALLEN FUNT (1914-1999), created the program in 1948 and it ran until 1992 (sometimes on air as a regular weekly series and sometimes as a special). Funt always appeared as the show’s co-host. The new version is co-hosted and produced by Allen’s son, PETER FUNT, 67. He has a separate distinguished career as a TV/print journalist. In a recent CBS “Sunday Morning” profile, Peter said that the program would be contemporary in that they would, now and again, address social issues in a funny way. The first episode included a very amusing and thought provoking segment in which customers seeking service at an Arizona tire store were told that the store only served gay people and were asked if they were gay. Peter’s co-host is the charming and “very Jewish” actress MAYIM BIALIK, 38. She looks much more stylish as a cohost than she appears in character on “Big Bang Theory.” World Cup Notes I didn’t tell you about any Jewish players at the recent World Cup because I didn’t know of any until very recently. Then, last week, I followed a lead and helped confirm that DeANDRE YEDLIN, 21, a defender on the American team who saw action in two World Cup Games, is Jewish. Born and raised in the Seattle area, he most recently played for the Sounders professional team and recently signed with a top British team. His mother, REBECCA, now a college sports instructor, had him when she was very young and he was raised by his maternal grandfather. DeANDRE is now “very close” to his mother–it doesn’t seem like the same is true of his father (who isn’t Jewish).
FROM THE PAGES 150 Y EARS A GO
women were togheter and safe in Scotland. The marriage of Miss Ann Henry, daughter of Mrs. George Henry, and Mr. Julius Frieberg, son of Mr. Julius W. Frieberg, will be solemnized Sunday evening, Sept. 17th, at the home of the bride’s mother, in the presence of the immediate family. Rabbi Victor E. Reichert officiating. – September 7, 1939
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125 Y EARS A GO The betrothal of Miss Jennie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. Mailender of 1355 Locust St., E. W.H., to Mr. Charles Scherer, a clothing merchant of Urbana, O., has been announced. Miss Hanna Loewenstein, of Fairfield Avenue, Walnut Hills, was tendered a very pleasant party Friday afternoon in honor of her return from Michigan and the Northern Lake resorts. The eight Jewish convincts in the Ohio Penitentiary were excused from work on September 5th and will also be excused on the 14th, having an opporunity to attend services. Special food has been provided for those days. – September 7, 1889
100 Y EARS A GO
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin W. Diamond, 6810 Meadow Ridge Lane, announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Steven Ira, Saturday, Sept. 12, at 9am, at Adath Israel Synagogue, Reading Road and Lexington Avenue. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family on this happy occasion and attend the Kiddush following the service. No cards. Steven is a grandson of Mrs. Jacob Diamond. Meyer Oscherwitz, 5448 Grafton Avenue, passed away Thrusday, Aug. 27. He was 55. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ethel Lowitz Oscherwitz; two daughters, Mrs. Selig O’Koon of Louisville and Miss Bernice Oscherwitz of this city; two sisters, Miss Gertrude of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Mrs. Jack Rinsky of Cincinnati; and five brothers Maurice and Louis Oscherwitz, both of Chillicothe, and Nathan, Bernard and William Oscherwitz, all of this city. Services were held at the Weil Funeral Home Sunday, Aug. 30, with interment in Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Cemetery. Rabbi David L. Indich officiated. – September 3, 1964
25 Y EARS A GO Julie and Barry Elkus announce the birth of a daughter, Hannah Judith, Aug. 29. Maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Fred Blazer of Colorado Springs, Colo. Paternal grandparents are Dr. Fred Elkus of Cincinnati and the late Judith Elkus. Harry and Dianne Schneider announce the birth of a daughter, Rachel Margalit, Aug. 19. Paternal grandparents are Ruth and Jerome Schneider of Cincinnati. Maternal grandparents are Hilda and Walter Goldsmith of Los Angeles. The wedding of Michelle Parrett and Edward Frank took place Aug. 20 at the Cincinnatian Hotel in the presence of the immediate family. Rabbi Sidney Zimmelman officiated. A dinner reception followed. The bride is the daughter of Genevieve Gabel of Ft. Mitchell, KY and Donald Parrett of Detroit. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Frank of Cincinnati. Michelle attended the University of Cincinnati. Edward is a graduate of Cornell University. After a honeymoon in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, the couple resides in Cincinnat. – September 7, 1989
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75 Y EARS A GO The many friends of Mrs. Mark G. Feder, 505 Forest Avenue, and Miss Alma M. Bloom, 975 Lenox Place, are gratified to learn of their rescue from the British liner, Athenia, sunk early Monday morning, Sept. 4th, 200 miles northwest of Ireland while en route from Liverpool to Montreal with 1,347 passengers and crew, including 311 U.S. citizens. The British blame a German torpedo and the Germans blame an Allied mine. Survivors verified the report that the boat was torpedoed by Germans. Reports said more than 100 were lost. Cincinnati relatives received a cable saying the two
Dr. Albert Weisbrot will be the cantor for Congregation B’nai Tzedek’s High Holiday services this year. Dr. Weisbrot’s love of Jewish liturgy began at age 13, when he participated in the High Holiday Choir at Adath Israel Synagogue. He continued to do so for more than 30 years. Dr. Weisbrot was also the High Holiday Cantor at Roselawn Syngogue for one year and has performed at many local Jewish community functions including Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron. He has served as cantor for High Holidays at the Jewish Community Center of Oyster Bay, New York, for the last three years. His voice has been polished over the years with professional voice training by Karl Resnick. Dr. Weisbrot, who recently moved his office to Cedar Village Drive in Mason, Ohio, has been practicing family medicine for the last 25 years. – September 16, 2004