PJ Grisar is a Forward culture reporter. He can be reached at [email protected] and @pjgrisar on Twitter.
PJ Grisar
By PJ Grisar
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Culture On William Shatner’s 90th birthday, a reminder of when he could laugh at himself
William Shatner AKA Captain Kirk Turns 90
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Culture Was the Last Supper a ‘Seder?’ And 3 other vital Passover questions, asked and answered.
When we ask at our Seders why this night is different from all other nights, there are the stock responses and the ones we take for granted. We receive explainers on slouching, unleavened bread and why we dip our herbs. We don’t get into what Jesus’ Passover plans were in Jerusalem. In our Haggadot, we…
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Culture After vandalism, ‘Soup Nazi Kitchen’ in Washington paints over provocative sign
For one, brief, bizarre moment a Soup Nazi restaurant was coming to Everett, Washington. Redditters were quick to note the storefront of “The Soup Nazi Kitchen” in the downtown area, advertised with a sexualized female Nazi mascot in SS-like uniform — not the mustachioed visage of the Soup Nazi of “Seinfeld” fame or his real…
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Culture On ‘Soul of a Nation’ Nick Cannon talks teshuva — but Black Jews don’t get equal time
Nick Cannon addressed his journey of teshuva following a summer of professional setbacks due to antisemitic comments — but he may have misrepresented what exactly he needs to atone for. On ABC’s “Soul of a Nation,” Cannon spoke with anchor Linsey Davis about the infamous episode of his “Cannon’s Class” podcast in July, where he…
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Culture Artists confront the new plagues of Passover
Jews are uniquely equipped to ruminate on a year of plagues — from time immemorial, plagues have been our dinner conversation. But the pandemic is different. At your Seder, it may not be wise to sprinkle wine for the Makot Mitzrayim (those drips could themselves hold COVID droplets). God’s mighty hand and outstretched arm have…
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Culture This year’s Oscar nominees prove the Academy is more devoted to itself than to diversity
For the Academy, there was only room for one, wigged, weird-accented performance from Sacha Baron Cohen. Naturally, it went to the one scripted by Aaron Sorkin and dripping with sanctimony. The Oscars announced the full roster of nominees Monday morning, marking nearly a year without cinemas, exempting many of the top contenders from a theatrical…
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Culture The Grammys highlighted Jews of color — but picked a strange champion for racial justice
In real life, Taylor Swift dates a Brit known for playing Nazis. But in the fantasy realm of the Grammys, she shacked up in an astroturf-peated A-Frame with boychik producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff; they went on to win Album of the Year for “Folklore.” This was just one vision in a strange, socially…
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Culture In this experimental drone film, ‘The Big Lebowski’s Jesus rolls again
Jesus. He shows up on toast. He appears on dental X-rays. He manifests in Lane 5 of a bowling alley in a viral drone video. Sorry, we don’t mean that itinerant Jewish preacher from the first century. We mean the John Turturro character from “The Big Lebowski.” In a 90 second short, directed by Anthony…
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