Last weekend an Emmy Award-winning actor, and this weekend it’s an Academy Award-nominated actress. The Obama campaign’s Jewish Community Leadership Committee in Washington, D.C. is using some well-known Jewish celebrities to fire up Jewish supporters in the hotly contested swing state of Virginia.
Actress Debra Winger will be appearing at Obama JCLC campaign events in McLean and Alexandria, as well as canvassing and phone-banking with a group of JCLC activists on Sunday. Winger, best known for her roles in “An Officer and a Gentleman” and “Terms of Endearment,” was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, spent some time as a student on a kibbutz and was part of an Israel Defense Forces youth program.
Last weekend, actor and singer Mandy Patinkin was in Northern Virginia and, among other appearances, had Shabbat dinner with about 40 Obama Jewish supporters — and a few undecideds — at a JCLC-sponsored event in McLean. Known for his roles in “The Princess Bride” and “Chicago Hope,” Patinkin spoke to the group about why he backs Obama — and even sang a song.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
