The Schmooze lies at the intersection of high and low culture. Here, the latest developments and trends in Jewish art, books, dance, film, music, media, television and theater are all assimilated into one handy pop culture blog.
The Schmooze
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Ex-New York Knicks Player Converts To Judaism — Joins Israeli Team
The Jewish people have added an unlikely new member to the team — a pro basketball player whose journey took him from Catholic prep school to a cameo stint with the New York Knicks to Israel. Chris Smith, the younger brother of Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith, converted to Judaism earlier this year, and made…
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The Results Are In: Manischewitz Tried To Settle ‘Hanukkah’ Spelling Debate With A National Poll
It was a tough year for the polling industry. Since the presidential election Nate Silver has been persona non grata north of the Mason-Dixon line and no one born after 1995 knows what a landline is. Nevertheless, the iconic Manischewitz Company, sponsor of so many of our first drinking experiences, put a nation’s raging debate…
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Hanukkah Underwear Is Miraculously Here
At last! A pair of seasonal Jewish underwear that will make you seem like the kind of classy person who listens to podcasts. Famed indie underwear brand MeUndies has debuted a limited edition Hanukkah print, “Joy Vey” underwear studded with gelt, menorahs and dreidels. The underwear is made out of (seriously if you have ever…
The Latest
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Need To Phone A Friend? Tommy Wiseau Is On The Line
James Franco and Tommy Wiseau. Who can even tell the difference anymore? One’s a Jewish artiste, and one’s a European of indeterminate origin. But these days they’re looking very similar. Years ago, Wiseau rented a Los Angeles billboard advertising his movie “The Room”, fated to go down in history as the worst best movie ever…
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Kate McKinnon Does The Definitive Impression Of Gal Gadot
To paraphrase a quote from last week’s Torah portion, “To see Kate McKinnon do an impression of Gal Gadot is to see the face of God. McKinnon told Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday she and fellow Saturday Night Live cast member Aidy Bryant chatted with Gal Gadot frequently during their week together preparing for the “Wonder…
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Feminist Icon Pink Is Raising Her Children Without Gender Labels
The celebrated singer-songwriter Pink may be named after a traditionally feminine color, but she won’t be raising her children with gender labels. In an interview about her success and raising children in the Trump era, the performer explained that she and racer Cary Hart run a “very label-less household”. The couple believes in sending their…
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The Santa Claus Dreidel: Peaceful Compromise Or Assimilation Nightmare?
I had a little dreidel, I made it out of the fusing of two diametrically opposed religious traditions! It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. But with the intermarriage debate continuing to spin Jews of every denomination into a tizzy, can spinning a wooden top hurt? Could a great miracle happen here, in America, where…
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Bryan Singer Fired From Freddie Mercury Biopic
Director Bryan Singer is caught in a landslide with no escape from reality — he was fired on Monday as director of the upcoming Queen biopic by 20th Century Fox, the studio told the Hollywood Reporter. But is the “X-Men” director just a poor boy who needs no sympathy for the reported chaos he caused…
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JSwipe: The Founder Of ‘Jewish Tinder’ Gives Us Dating Tips
If you’re a Jewish woman who wants a tall doctor, a short lawyer, a startup founder of average height, or just a man who can really rock a hamsa necklace at family gatherings, JSwipe is the app for you. The definitive Jewish dating app has nearly one million users and is responsible for countless relationships…
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Are Men Scum? Not On Facebook.
Ironic misandry in the form of “ban men!” and “I want to take a nice long soak in male tears!” has become pretty popular lately. Yet, as a new piece in The Daily Beast revealed, women can be banned for calling men scum on Facebook. ProPublica’s investigation into Facebook’s algorithm revealed that white men are,…
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No, Virginia, The ‘Santa’s Life Is Empty’ Kid Isn’t Jewish
Jews don’t have Santa Claus. We don’t have something called “Hanukkah Harry.” We don’t have an Easter bunny. All we have is a book with 613 rules about how to decapitate a heifer. And you know what? We love it! We love beautiful, shining displays of Christmas cheer, and we also love that we have…
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News Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s selection as JTS commencement speaker roils graduating class
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News Analysis: As Democrats unite behind Platner, Schumer’s future as leader faces tests
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Culture An Israeli genocide scholar looks to Israel’s history to understand ‘what went wrong’
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News Protesters picket Manhattan synagogue over Israel real estate sale, testing Mamdani and new law
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Israeli man indicted in attack on Catholic nun in Jerusalem’s Old City
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Fast Forward Jewish real estate magnate Steven Roth likens Mamdani’s ‘tax the rich’ rhetoric to ‘from the river to the sea’
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Fast Forward Man who firebombed Boulder Israeli hostage march sentenced to life in prison
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News LA Orthodox school’s former guidance counselor will avoid jail time in sex abuse case