Nothing overtly scandalous about this ‘nice Jewish boy’ … and he’s OK with that

Joshua Malina

We’ve all heard the term “nice Jewish boy.” Joshua Malina officially puts a face to that phrase. It is without a doubt the first thing that now comes to mind when we hear the name Joshua Malina.

On Dec. 7, he will be the featured speaker at “A Scandalous Campaign Finale,” a celebration of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s 2015 Annual Campaign. Malina is best known for portraying Will Bailey on “The West Wing,” Jeremy Goodwin on “Sports Night” and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rosen on “Scandal,” though he should add “nice Jewish boy” to his portfolio.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent Alliance interview with Malina himself:

Alliance: We’re really excited for you to be joining us come December. Your message on the importance of being a positive Jewish role model is certainly admirable. Do you consider yourself a role model?

Malina: I would like to think so though I don’t want to pat myself on the back too hard. But I would certainly like to be. I don’t think of myself as particularly well-known enough to be a role model for anyone. But the one upside that I can say of having a higher profile is that sometimes I feel like there is a relative lack of visible Jewish role models. There are a lot of Jewish actors, actresses, musicians and comedians, but we don’t seem to have many with a message about the beauty of Judaism and the worth of living a substantive Jewish life.

Alliance: What  does it mean to you?

Malina: I would say it’s not an add-on to my life in any way. It’s not an extra-curricular. It is the cornerstone of my identity. If I had to define myself in a few words, “daddy” would be one of them. “Jew” would be another. It’s a gift I feel my parents gave to me, raising me in a household that honored Jewish traditions and sending me to yeshiva. It’s one of the things I am trying to do as a Jewish dad myself, and that’s part of what I will be sharing with the community when I visit Rhode Island.

Alliance: Very commendable and you’re absolutely right. Tell us more about your family.

Malina: I grew up in a Conservative household. I went to an Orthodox yeshiva. I married a woman who converted to Judaism, and we now attend a Reconstructionist synagogue so I’m like a Jewish mutt. I’ve seen different traditions, and it’s had a very positive effect on me. It’s incredible for me to see my wife become someone who sings in the choir at our synagogue. She’s sat on the board of the synagogue and keeps a kosher home.

Alliance: Has your professional path to Hollywood ever been in conflict with your Judaism in other ways?

Malina: I would say that I have been very lucky. Occasionally there are conflicts. I find that my employers have been understanding. On “Scandal,” some of my cast mates are like, what? They’re like, what’s next? Stop making up Jewish holidays! If you don’t want to work, tell us you don’t want to work! I assure them they’re real holidays!

Alliance: You’ve been quoted as saying that it can be lonely work trying to support Israel in Hollywood. What do you mean by that?

Malina: It started with a rally in 2001 when I was invited by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. It was a rally in support of Israel, although its entire mission statement was supporting the concept that Israel has the right to exist, which is sort of sad to think that you need to have a rally to make that point.

My message isn’t one of blind support of Israel. I’m all for debate and conversation and, yes, seeing a situation, all the issues, evolve from both sides and maybe not even thinking of it as sides and hoping there is some way, a path toward peace. I’m all about showing the gray area instead of having everything stand as either black or white. I think sometimes that mistake is made of us typecasting everything as “us” and “them” or “we’re right” and “they’re wrong.” It’s obvious that things are much more complicated and nuanced than that.

Exceptionally level-headed and grateful, Malina is held in high esteem by his peers, though you would never hear that from him. He truly is a mensch, and he will be speaking about how to make it in Hollywood while remaining a mensch at the annual campaign event, which will be held at Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence, at 7 p.m. A dessert reception will follow, and you never know – you may even have the opportunity to meet this “nice Jewish boy.”

JENNIFER ZWIRN is in grants and planning and HILLARY SCHULMAN is a development association in Philanthropy for the Jewish Alliance.