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June 25, 2004/Tamuz 6 5764, Vol. 56, No. 40
Billy Crystal pens bookSORIYA DANIELSFor the award-winning actor, director, comedian, and Oscar host, the recent birth of his first grandchild, Ella, has been Billy Crystal's greatest source of joy and inspiration. So much so that he decided to put his thoughts into creating a beautiful pastel picture book that children, parents and grandparents could enjoy together, while celebrating the continuity of their lineage. Crystal's book, "I Already Know I Love You" (Harper Collins, $16.99 hardcover) is more than a tale of unconditional love. With a heartwarming demeanor, it imparts some of the Jewish values that have been passed on from Crystal's own parents and grandparents."I want to teach you about our family with pictures from long ago," writes Crystal in his children's book. Janice, Crystal's wife of more than 30 years, recently hired New York-based genealogist Rafael Gruber to explore the histories of Crystal's Jewish roots. This inspired the couple to later assume responsibility for producing a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles called "Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves." For Crystal, the continuation of the Jewish people is a priority. "You're the new twig on our tree and I can't wait to watch you grow," he writes to his granddaughter in his book long before he knew the sex of the baby. "I wrote that I don't know if I'm buying ballet shoes or hockey skates. I think that line summed it up," he says. News of impending grandfatherhood came on the first anniversary of his mother's death, which had been a traumatic loss of the entire Crystal clan. The good news helped propel Crystal out of the sadness that surrounded his mother's death. "The baby has filled up a great place for me that had been sad for a couple of years now because of the loss of my mom. When you see how life works - someone has to leave to make room for the new - it changes your whole point of view about life. I've been smiling ever since," he says. To him, having a grandchild reaffirms the legacy of being a family. And not surprisingly, his daughter, Jenny, and son-in law, Mike, named their daughter Ella Ryan after Crystal's mother, Helen Eleanor. The quintessential Jewish comedian, who was close to his grandparents as a child growing up in Brooklyn and then Long Beach, N.Y., believes that the older generation has a lot to offer children. "It's important to understand that grandparents were here first and someone was here before them," he says. "I grew up in a house where a grandfather would greet you every day with "Whatta ya gonna do with your life?" Crystal has certainly done a lot with his life and he gives credit to his Jewish upbringing on Long Island, and in particular, to his own grandfather, who had been a Yiddish actor. "If it wasn't for the laughs and loves of my relatives and friends when I was a little kid, I don't think I would have ended up being a comedian," he says. Crystal's career recently took him in a new direction with the debut of his new children's book. "I'm just incredibly moved about this whole new period of my life," says the star of "City Slickers" and "When Harry Met Sally," with an air of comfort associated with this next stage of life. In his newfound role as grandfather, Crystal examines his own values and stresses the importance of honesty. "I want to show you that lying is never as good as true," he writes in his book. He also emphasizes the importance of being actively involved in the upbringing of children. Crystal foresees helping his granddaughter study for tests, showing her how to fly a kite, and just doing the simple things that make a child happy. "The most important thing," he says, "is to be with your kids, listen to them, and love them." Soriya Daniels is a Florida-based free-lance writer. |
