Page 27 - Jewish News_February 2020

JEWISH INTEREST February 2020 27A

Stars of David Interested in Your

Etz – Tree By Nate Bloom, Contributing Columnist Family’s History?

Editor’s note: Persons in BOLD CAPS are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish
for the purpose of the column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jew-

appreciated and adored in the Hebraic ish parent and were not raised in a faith other than Judaism – and don’t identify Nate Bloom (see column at left) has become a family history expert in 10
culture. Not only were eitzim created with a faith other than Judaism as an adult. Converts to Judaism, of course, are years of doing his celebrity column, and he has expert friends who can help
by God to “bear fruit with the seed in also identified as Jewish. when called on. Most family history experts charge $1,000 or more to do a
it” (Gen 1:11), but they also were sym-Jewish Stars in New TV Shows – out more about her background. Over full family-tree search. However, Bloom knows that most people want to start
bols of life and wisdom, as exhibited in Catch-Up and Look Ahead time, family history sites revealed that with a limited search of one family line.
the story of the Garden of Eden where Starting on Friday, January 2 on her father is Jewish and her mother is
Etz Ha-chayim, the “Tree of Life,” Fox (9PM) was Deputy. STEPHEN not. I don’t know more because Levy So here’s the deal:
and Etz Ha-da-at, the “Tree of Knowl-DORFF, 48, plays Bill Hollister, a dep- just doesn’t talk about her family back-
edge,” were planted by God at its cen-uty who becomes the chief of the huge ground. Write Bloom at nteibloom@aol.com and enclose a phone number.
ter (Gen. 2:9). Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Depart- Broadway actor SKYLER ASTIN, Nate will then contact you about starting a limited search. If that
It is not surprising, then, that for ment when the elected Chief suddenly 32, plays Max, who is Zoe’s best friend
the writer of the Book of Proverbs, wis-dies. Hollister is more an old West guy at work. Astin, who was born Skyler goes well, additional and more extensive searches are possible.
dom was perceived as Etz Chayim, “a than a modern lawman. Dorff, who Lipstein, is best known to most people The first search fee is no more than $100. No upfront cost. Also,
tree of life” (Pro 3:18). But for the rab-identifies as Jewish, is a veteran action for playing Jesse Swanson in the films
bis, the Torah was an Etz Cha-yim for film actor. Dorff’s late mother wasn’t Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2. several of this newspaper’s readers have asked Bloom to locate
those who followed in her path. More-Jewish. His Jewish father is STEVE Also starting on January 7 was friends and family members from their past, and that’s worked out
over, people were also compared with DORFF, 70, a successful songwriter FBI: Most Wanted (CBS, 9PM). It’s a great for them. So contact him about this as well.
the beauty of trees. A righteous person, who also writes film scores. spin-off of the CBS series, FBI, which
for example, was compared to a “thriv- BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS, 25, has began in 2018. The five co-stars in-
ing cedar of Lebanon” (Ps. 92:14), and a supporting Deputy role as Breanna clude ROXY STERNBERG, 30. In his Next Gen role (“Data,” an android) to bring a musical version of The
a successful person was seen as an “etz Bishop, an investigator in the Sheriff’s 2016, she was profiled in the London in the new series. Nanny to Broadway. A five-star team
planted beside a stream of water, which office. This is her first role as a network Jewish Chronicle following her cast- Starting Thursday, February 6 of songwriters, producers, etc., are at-
yields fruit in season” (Ps. 1:3). series regular. She told the Windy City ing in Emerald City, an NBC series (NBC, 9:30PM) is the comedy series tached to the project.
On the other hand, etz is also used Times that “Bex” is short for Rebecca. that only lasted a couple of months. Indebted. Dave (ADAM PALLY, 37) Indebted was created by DAN
to point to the negative in the human When asked about her nationality, she Sternberg is the daughter of a black and and Rebecca (Abby Elliot) look for- LEVY, 38, a stand-up comedian and
condition. The prophet Isaiah, for ex-replied, “Wow, that is difficult. My Jewish Ugandan mother and an Eng- ward to some “down time” after their TV comedy series writer/producer. His
ample, described idol worshipers as family is from Spain, Cuba, Israel. The lish Jewish father. The Chronicle noted main parenting duties are behind them. wife is RACHEL SPECTER, 39, an
those who worshiped bul etz, namely family is Jewish and from all over the that when she is home in London, she Then Dave’s parents Linda (FRAN actress and comedy writer who has
“blocks of wood” (Isa 44:19). To this place.” teaches Hebrew School classes at her DRESCHER, 62) and Stew (STE- many credits. They wed before a rabbi
day, the words bul etz refer to a thick- Starting on Tuesday, January 7 synagogue (she’s fluent in Hebrew). VEN WEBER, 58) show up without in 2010 and have two children. Spec-
headed, dullard or foolish person. (NBC, 10PM) was Zoey’s Extraordi- Avenue 5 is a comedic science warning on Dave’s doorstep. They ter was born and raised in Tampa, and
We will end with the popular saying nary Playlist. JANE LEVY, 30, stars fiction series, set in the future, that are broke and Dave has to take them her mother (at last report) taught fourth
ha-ta-pu-ach lo nofel ra-chok me-ha-as Zoe, a computer code writer who started on HBO on Sunday, January in (he “owes” them). The two couples grade at the Tampa Hillel Day School.
etz, literally “the apple does not fall far begins to hear the thoughts of people 19 (10PM). Avenue 5 is the name of don’t get on that well. You might best Her father is an associate dean at the
from the tree,” referring to behavioral around her through popular songs. At the spaceship where most of the series remember Weber as the younger of the Tampa-based University of South Flor-
similarities of parents and children. first, she questions her sanity. Later, scenes take place. JOSH GAD, 38, is a two pilot brothers in the sit-com Wings. ida College of Medicine.
Unfortunately, the space is too short with the help of a friend, she comes to series regular. He plays Herman Judd, Pally has a host of recent credits, in-
to mention the many more usages of realize that this power is a gift – she the billionaire owner of Avenue 5. cluding co-starring roles in Happy Need to reach the editor
eitzim and ee-la-not, enriching the can connect better with everyone, in- Also in outer space is Captain Endings and The Mindy Project.
language landscape. We will continue cluding her ailing father. Picard, a CBS All-Access series that Everyone knows Drescher as the of The Jewish News?
with more on Arbor Day, which like Levy’s first big role (2011) was as began on Thursday, January 23. Pat- star of The Nanny, the hit ’90s sit-com. Send an email to
Tu Bishvat, is a day devoted to the rec-the co-star of the well-reviewed ABC rick Stewart returns in the title role he Last month, it was announced that
ognition of the importance of trees in series Suburgatory. When she was created in Star Trek: The Next Genera- RACHEL My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend jewishnews18@gmail.com.

nature. in that show, I tried and failed to find tion. BRENT SPINER, 70, reprises BLOOM, 32, will work with Drescher
Have a lovely Tu Bish-vat day.
Dr. Rachel Zohar Dulin is a professor
of biblical literature at Spertus Col-
lege in Chicago, and a retired adjunct
professor of Hebrew and Bible at New
College in Sarasota.

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