Nina Hartley: Talked In A Holy Place.

December 05, 2006
Bring Nina Hartley Home for Hanukkah

Looking for a perfect Hanukkah gift for that special someone? Look no further than my pick for the most exciting book by a Jewish author this season: "Nina Hartley's Guide to Total Sex," by Jewish registered nurse-turned-porn-actress Nina Hartley. I learned of the book in Tristan Taormino's column about Hartley in the Village Voice. Taormino writes that the book is

"is honest, thoughtful, direct, and jam-packed with useful tips. She articulately describes her life as a porn star in an unlikely way: as a personal journey of sexual experimentation, self-discovery, and acceptance."

Well -- it sounds like Nina is livin' la vida blogger to me!

Born Marie Louise Hartman in 1959 with a Jewish mother, Hartley calls herself an atheist. Her Jewish background often surfaces in profiles, and she has spoken at synagogues, such as this Purim 2002 appearance at Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita, Calif. with her husband Iral Levine. Rabbi Mark Blazer invited the couple to the temple. The Jewish Journal picks up the story:


The rabbi believes his monthly seminars give congregants access to relevant topics that otherwise remain unexplored in a Jewish setting. Blazer says the oft-taboo sex education class is a timely Purim lesson. "Purim is a sexualized tale. I want people to read the Megillah not as they teach it to young children, but as the adult story it is," Blazer said. "Esther really pushes the limits of what a Jewish woman can do. So we’re presenting Nina Hartley, who does the same. She’s a passionate Jewish hero for sexuality," he adds.

Hartley, who stars in over 570 adult films, produces an adult video series and lectures at college campuses across the United States, said she is looking forward to bringing her seminar to a Los Angeles synagogue. "I want to share my sexual knowledge and experience with a Jewish audience. While Ira and I are nonpracticing Jews, we both identify with the religion and our history," Hartley says.

That establishes a least a baseline. Who knows -- maybe Nina will do a book signing in Crown Heights and she could elevate herself to slightly practicing. And as she knows from other activities, practice makes perfect.

Taken from http://www.keshertalk.com/archives/2006/12/home_for_hanukk.php