Events
December 12, 2003
MorningStar Speaks to Temple Group in Orange County
Screenwriter, Stephanie Liss, and publicist, Beverly Magid, both MorningStar Board members, spoke to the congregation of Temple Beth Shalom of Orange County at a Cultural Shabbat. Over 50 congregants attended. Stephanie and Beverly spoke about the portrayal of Jewish women in the Media. A lively discussion followed their presentation.
December 8, 2003
MorningStar Presentation in Malibu
MorningStar Board member, filmmaker, Linda Shayne, presented a video program about MorningStars’ work and Mission to a Membership event for Malibu Hadassah.
November 18, 2003
MorningStar Fifth Anniversary Celebration
The MorningStar Commission celebrated our Fifth Anniversary with a special event at the Simon Weisenthal Museum of Tolerance. Socializing was followed by speeches and a private lecture and viewing of the art of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis and the Children of the Terezin Concentration Camp. Approximately 100 guests attended the evening. Board member Rabbi Debra Orenstein chair, Joan Hyler spoke and then Linda Shayne showed a short video about MorningStar’s working mentoring college students at UC Davis. Board member Susan Nanus, who organized the event, spoke and introduced Regina Seidman-Miller, the curator of the world famous exhibit about the extraordinary life and art of Freidl Dicker-Brandeis. It was a moving, meaningful event recognizing the MorningStar’s fifth anniversary.
November 7-9, 2003
MorningStar Speaks to Leaders Conference
The SUN Co-op Prime Leaders Group of Hadassah invited MorningStar Board member, Olivia Cohen-Cutler, to address them at Leaders conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Around 80 Hadassah leaders heard her presentation.
October 22, 2003
MorningStar Speaks to Cleveland Regional Conference
MorningStar Board member, Olivia Cohen-Cutler, spoke to over 100 women at a Hadassah Regional Conference in Cleveland. Olivia's presentation was covered by the local Cleveland press and both she and MorningStar received excellent press coverage. Olivia is currently a senior vice-president with ABC and she spoke about the changing image of Jewish women in television. The Greater Cleveland Chapter of Hadassah very much enjoyed Olivia's outstanding presentation.
September 23, 2003
Breakfast with Pulitzer Prize Winner Wendy Wasserstein
MorningStar Board members hosted a breakfast with their 2003 awardee, Wendy Wasserstein. MSC Chair Joan Hyler opened a discussion about the portrayal of women in the media. Wendy Wasserstein and MSC Board members discussed many issues facing women in the entertainment business, both in front of and behind the cameras. The breakfast was at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and new Board member, actress Caroline Aaron, was in attendance as well as 16 other Board members.
September 22, 2003
MorningStar "Marlene Adler Marks" Woman of Inspiration Award
The Third Annual Jewish Image Awards sponsored by the National Foundation of Jewish Culture (NFJC) and co-sponsored by The MorningStar Commission was a huge success. The yearly event honors producers, directors and performers that create and portray Jewish characters in film and tv. The MorningStar Commission presents their annual Woman Of Inspiration Award at this event also. MSC chair Joan Hyler and Howard Bragman co-chair this prestigious event.
The award has been newly named the Marlene Adler Marks MorningStar Woman of Inspiration Award and this year it was presented to Pulitzer Prize winning Wendy Wasserstein. Wendy has created many positive and diverse roles of Jewish women in theater and on the big and small screens. The event was held at 6:30 pm at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. A buffet was followed by a sit down dessert and formal award ceremony. Board member Beverly Magid handled MSC publicity.
Presenters included actors Robert Klein, Alicia Silverstone, Steven Weber, Caroline Aaron, Alfred Molina, Laraine Newman and Robert Garland. Awardees included performers and creators of "Will and Grace," "Sex and the City," "Everwood" and "Eight Crazy Nights." It was a glamorous, star-studded, fun and heartfelt event attended by approximately 380 people.
September 5, 2003
MorningStar Shabbat Dinner in Los Angeles
MorningStar Board member Patti Felker hosted the first of several MorningStar Shabbat dinners. Board members invited professional young women in the entertainment community for a traditional Shabbat dinner. Patti Felker and Joan Hyler welcomed the women, introduced the board and our mission. Board member Shelly Goldstein spoke as well. The event was attended by 30 women.
July 11, 2003
MorningStar Speaks to Hadassah National Board Members in New York
MorningStar Board members Molly Novak, Olivia Cohen-Cutler, Paula Silver, Linda Shayne and Sigma Sorority alumni Becca Ballon speak to the Hadassah National Board to report on MorningStar’s work promoting the positive and diverse images of Jewish women in the media. MorningStar speaks to the approximately 220 Hadassah Board members the day before Hadassah begins their annual convention.
April 27, 2003
MorningStar Bring MTV’s "Sorority Life" Sigma Sisters to UCLA Hillel
MorningStar and UCLA Hillel sponsored a panel for over 125 students at UCLA featuring four of the young college women featured in the MTV reality tv series about a sorority at UC Davis that happened to be a Jewish-values interest sorority. MSC Board members Joan Hyler, Olivia Cohen-Cutler spoke about MorningStar’s involvement with the Sorority Life stars. MSC Board member Linda Shayne moderated a question and answer session with the four Sorority women, Becca, Pauli, Stacey and Jessie. The young women spoke about maintaining their Jewish identity in college and their controversial and learning experiences of appearing in a "reality" tv show. Before the event, MorningStar hosted a reception for the young women. The reception was attended by Hillel representatives, MorningStar Board members, including Laraine Newman, Molly Novak, Sharon Krischer and Beverly Magid.
March 29, 2003
Havdalah and New Board Member Installation of Laraine Newman
New MorningStar Board member Laraine Newman was installed at a tea in Los Angeles. Our new board member is a talented actress, comedienne and strong supporter of Jewish causes. Laraine was part of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live" and probably best remembered on the show for her humorous portrayal as a Conehead. She later co-starred in Woody Allen’s "Stardust Memories" and in THE FLINTSTONES. The installation was attended by MorningStar Board members and an additional twenty women who are influential in the entertainment and media professions. Joan Hyler, Olivia Cohen-Cutler and Laraine all spoke. After the tea, MSC Board member Rabbi Debra Orenstein led the group in a short Havdalah celebration. We look forward to Laraine Newman being a member of our MorningStar Board.
February 6, 2003
Conference of Jewish Film Festivals in San Diego
MorningStar Board members Arlene Sarner and Linda Shayne spoke on a panel at the NFJC sponsored Conference of Jewish Film Festival organizers. The conference preceded the San Diego Jewish Film Festival. The panel was about the portrayal of Jewish women in film. The audience of 75 was filled with the organizers and top programmers of Jewish Film Festivals from all over North America.
January, 2003
MTV Sorority Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi and MorningStar T-Shirt Fundraiser
MorningStar Board members Molly Novak and Linda Shayne organized a t-shirt fundraiser with the sisters of the Jewish values interest sorority of UC Davis. T-shirts which carry a message of pride in being a Jewish women are now being sold on both the Sigma website
and the MorningStar website. All proceeds of the t-shirt sales will be donated to Hadassah.