■I'lMiTilnns
Short on name, long on talent
By her teens, Leslie Hopps was working professionally as an actress.
ALEX KLINER SOCIAL COLUMNIST
Hopps? Jewish? "Most likely a shortened name," explains Leslie Hopps. "I've got lots of cousins in England named Hopps." England's from where her folks emigrated to Canada in the 1950s, but Leslie's Vancouver-bom and raised. She remembers her late dad speaking a combination cockney, slang and Yiddish.
Leslie, these days, is a highly regarded Canadian actress. Saw her first professional play at age seven at the Queen E... the musical Annie. "That was it," she tells me. "Theatre singing and dancing is what I was going to do." Inspired, Leslie convinced her first grade teacher to allow her to put on, direct and star in a classroom production of Annie. She hasn't looked back since!
By her teens, Leslie vras working professionally doing theatre, television, commercials and movies. "My first big film break was portra3ang a young Patti Duke in Fami/y of Strangers."
Should mention, Leslie teaches film acting for kids, nine to 13, at the Vancouver Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver's Dena Wosk School of Performing Arts. I'm betting she'll eventually direct a student production of, yes... Annie.
•kirk
Learned from Temple Sholom's Rabbi Philip Breg-man that Toronto has taken over from Vancouver as the number one dty in Canada with the bluest count of unaffiliated Jews. In the traditional east-west competition between Jewish communities, it's one time, I'd say, we don't mind relinquishing oiu" distinction, eh rabbi?
When it comes to women's bathing suits, you couldn't get wetter better than in a Gottex. Founded in 1956 by Lea Gottlieb and her late husband, the IsraeU swimsuit and beachwear finn was "near or at the summit of the world's fashion industry." Lea sold Gottex in 1997. Now, at 85, she's back and Gottex ain't got her. She's imder her own Lea GottUeb label. Original Gottex fans... Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Diana, Barbara Wal-
Leslle Hopps
ters, Nancy Kissinger and... my favorite celebrity, Elaine.
★★★
Some months ago, white supremacist and "vehement" anti-Semite Wolfgang Droege, 55, leader of the now-defimct neo-Nazi Heritage Front, was shot dead outside the door of his suburban Toronto apartment dressed in only his imderwear. Apparently, Wolfgang was buried more formally attired.
★★★
"If s my intention," says Bruce Leslie lliomas, "to inspire self-reflection and have my art as a springboard for the viewer's own creative expression." You may test Bruce's intention at the Vancouver JCC Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery until July 20. Bruce's work is represented in a number of private and corporate collections, notably the International Nickel Co. of Canada. I trust the corporate name does not reflect the price paid for the artist's work.
★★★
"Master" action photographer Hy Peskin took some of the "most arresting" sports images of the- 1940s, '50s and 'BOs. A Brooklyn native, Peskin took "some of his best" photos during Brooklyn Dodgers games at Ebbets Field, sometimes climbing on the roof or crouching in the aisles. Peskin, who recently died at age 89, was the first staflFpho-tographer that Sports Illustrated magazine hired.
★★★
Emanuel (Manny) Gluck
also died recently, at 65. He was a retired school principal who had a "rich alternate life" as Yankee Stadium's longest-working vendor. Began selling hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts in 1954, at age 14. Eventually "graduated" to selling souvenirs and programs, the "prestige assignment." Movie stars like Billy Crystal greeted Manny by name. Sure... nice to be greeted, but did Billy buy a program?
★★★
Come August, the Rolling Stones reportedly plan to visit Israel as part of their next tour. In that case, for that tour, fellas, why not call yourselves the Rolling Jerusalem Stones? Makes sense, eh?
Hard to believe that Hollywood star Tony Curtis, the curly headed kid fiom Brooklyn, turned 80 in June. Or that "Hollywood's wild child," who joined the IsraeU army in her teens before she became Debra Winger, tiuned 50 in May. Or that Paul Newman, in January, became "the sexiest octogenarian alive." Wait until I turn 80, Paul!
★★★
Leading Jewish policy-makers in the first George W. Bush administration who have since left the Pentagon... imdersecretfuy of defence Paul Wolfowitz, deputy secretary for poUtical affairs Douglas Feith and policy consultant and deputy secretary of defence Dov Zaldieim. Za-kheim, should mention, has taught at Yeshivah University and was considered for its presidency. What's more, he has ordination as an Orthodox rabbi. Hey! Maybe Zakheim and Democratic Sen. Joseph liebennan could start a bipartisan shul in Washington?
★★★
According to an Anti-Defamation League survey, a "plurality^ of Europeans beUeves Jews are more loyal to Israel than to their country of origin (43 per cent) and that Jews have "too much power" in business and finance (30 per cent). Nu... so what else is new?n
Alex Kliner has a varied background in theatre, education and community service.
YOUIHDEPARTMEKrOF Young Israel of MchinoiNl Synagogue
Invites you to our first annual
Family Barbeque
Great food on the aiU!
(bodlicfcetsavaOabie
FUN. GAMES&KRaSi
Experience the Han(Mo41and combat style developed by the IsraeG Defence Force
vmBE: King George Waterpark
No. 5 Road and Gamble
Sunday, July 10,2005
rail: 4:00-7:00 pm
UPDATE
your
I
If you have a regular event listed in our community calendar, please call us at 604-689-1520 with any changes, or; e-mail editor® jewishbulletin.ca.
What's happening at the JCCGV?
^|f|lf!!^^SSi
1. The Dena Wosk School of Perfotming Alls
presents ihe first session of DonceSlories, an afternoon summer dance camp witti Katie Murptiy. July 4lh - Sttv 3:30 - 6:30 pm. Performance at ttie end of tt>e session. The second session will take place July 11-15, same times.
Z Gotta SingI Gotta Doncel our annazing Musical TtTeatre summer program. Session 1 starts on July 4*1. Stay tuned for ttie stx3\A/s at ttie end of ttie monttil
3 "MeorcivYeiushalmi-SNrim
iCvokashcilcha'' Isreiefl Singalong. Saturday, July 9lh at 80) p.m. In ttie JCC L'ctxaim Lounge. Members: $5 - Non-fnembers: $7.
4. Summer Car Wash at the JCCGVl Hosted by ttie JCCGV MaccabI delegates of 2005. Come tKive your car washed, by donatioa between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 10 and 17 in ttie JCCGV parking fot.
JEWISH OMMUNnV CENIK OF GREATR VANCCXJVER
V50WEST41STAVENUE • VANCOUVER BCVa2N7
M 604 257 5111. taic 604 257-5119 • www.jccflv.com