Jews Making News: Connelly and Bialik
Mayim Bialik Blogs ‘Divorce’
Some people remain quiet about divorcing, while others choose to blog about it.
“Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik made headlines after publishing a month-long blog series detailing details of her divorce for Kveller.com, a resource site aimed at Jewish mothers.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, the actress and real-life neurobiologist said she wanted to shed light on “certain things [related] to Jewish divorce” which non-Jews might not be familiar.
In the blog, Bialik details receiving a “Get”, a religious document dissolving her marriage; her choice to cover her head during prayer; and forgoing the mikveh, a ritual bath.
Her divorce from Michael Stone was finalized in May of 2013 after Bialik filed for divorce in November 2012. The couple has two young sons together, Miles and Fred.
Stone and Bialik cite “irreconcilable differences” for the divorce.
Born to Barry Bialik and Beverly Winkelman, Bialik was raised as a Reform Jew. Her great-great grandfather’s uncle, Hayim Nahman Bialik, was, for a time, Israel’s national poet.
Bialik, by the way, isn’t just another pretty face in Hollywood. She’s earned degrees in neuroscience, Hebrew and Jewish studies, as well as a PhD from UCLA.
Jennifer Connelly Brings Bible to Hollywood
Jennifer Connelly is helping bring the Bible back to the big screen with her upcoming film,
“Noah.” The film stars Russell Crowe as Noah and Connelly as his wife Naameh, and is directed by “Black Swan” filmmaker, Darren Aronofsky.
But don’t expect “Noah” to match up entirely with the source material. The movie interpretation is reportedly more fantasy-action film than Torah study. Production photos were recently released, offering audiences a glimpse at the location sites and the characters.
Taking some time out from “Noah,” Connelly joined Jennifer Garner and other celebrity mothers to create a PSA recently for the Save the Children Fund. The video features actresses offering testimony that is juxtaposed with footage of mothers and mothers-to-be from developing nations.
Connelly, a mother of three, speaks about the importance of access to prenatal care to mothers no matter their financial resources. Save the Children is an international NGO dedicated to bettering the lives of young people.
Born in Cairo, N.Y., Connelly is the daughter of Gerard and Eileen Connelly. Her mother, the daughter of Polish and Russian Jewish immigrants, was educated at a yeshiva. As a child, Connelly began her career as a model for print and TV before her first leading role in 1985’s “Phenomena”.
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