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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U.S. Holocaust Museum NY Dinner Honors Rwanda Genocide Humanitarian Gen. Dallaire
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Annual New York Tribute Dinner at Cipriani 42nd Street on November 7th showcased a Q & A between Elie Wiesel Award recipient Canadian Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire (Ret) and Katie Couric. Dallaire who commanded the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Rwanda prior to— and during— the 1994 genocide was honored…
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WATCH: When 4,000 Rabbis Epically Fail To Stand Still for the #MannequinChallenge
4,000 rabbis attempted the #MannequinChallenge in Brooklyn, NY this week — to varying degrees of success. For those who’ve missed this whole viral phenomenon, the challenge involves a group of people standing frozen in one position while a camera pans across the scene. The rabbis, gathered together for the annual Chabad-Lubavitch conference, stood in a…
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WATCH: Samantha Bee Plays Most Depressing Jewish Board Game Of All Time
Politics getting you down? In a recent segment, Samantha Bee suggested an answer: game night with her staff! Except, well, when the game is “Expulsion,” and “fun” sounds like “Jewish books are being burned; anybody in the game who is an author gets one token for Torah.” That’s right, there is no escape, and yes,…
The Latest
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Eagerly Awaiting Adam Sandler’s Next Version of “The Chanukah Song”
While we eagerly await the next version of Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song,” here’s a video of the previous iteration, released around this time last year. The last list of people is presented here in full: Jesus Olaf (the snowman from “Frozen”)/Josh Gad Punky Brewster/Soleil Moon Frye Scott Rudin Joseph Gordon Levitt Stan Lee Jake…
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The ‘War on Christmas’ May Have Inspired Donald Trump’s Political Career
A million, zillion years ago, before trans issues entered the mainstream, and before anyone had any idea how Mark Lilla felt about gender-neutral bathrooms, there was another anti-‘political-correctness’ topic-du-jour: the so-called War on Christmas. Much as society is now splitting down the lines of those who think it’s just basic human decency to call people…
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James Deen Scores 20 Nominations at ‘Porn Oscars’ — Despite Rape Accusations
XBIZ and AVN awards, two of the adult film industry’s biggest award shows, doled out 20 nominations to porn star James Deen this year. The news comes one year after a string of sexual assault and rape allegations were lodged against the actor. 13 women came forward with their stories, including former adult star Tori…
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That Time No One Showed Up To Trevor Noah’s Bar Mitzvah
(JTA) — It’s hard to imagine that “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah would have a problem getting people to come to his party. But that is precisely what happened to him as a 13 year old when his Jewish mom insisted he have a bar mitzvah. In an interview with NPR’s Terry Gross, Noah…
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An Orthodox Lesbian Character — and Other Reasons to Watch ‘Younger’
(JTA) — TV Land’s “Younger” is a fun sitcom about Liza (Sutton Foster), a recently divorced 40-year-old mother who passes herself off as 26 after having a tough time landing a job in the publishing industry. The show — created by Darren Star, of “Sex and the City” and “Beverly Hills, 90210” fame — has…
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Ivanka Trump’s Memoir Reeks of Privilege
Ivanka Trump’s been coming even more into the harsh glare of the spotlight now that her father is headed to the Oval Office. Her personal brand has taken a hit, and now her 2009 memoir “The Trump Card” is attracting negative attention from The New Yorker. Jia Tolentino writes in the magazine that Trump’s attempt…
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John L. Goldwater’s ‘Archie Comics’ Gets a Darker, Sexier Makeover
Beloved comic book characters Archie, Betty and Veronica are staging a comeback—just not quite in the way John L. Goldwater, the Jewish creator of the “Archie and Pals” series, may have intended. The CW released a trailer for the new series “Riverdale” yesterday, which features an eerie spin on the comic book’s world, complete with…
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Conversation With Steve Okazaki Director of “Mifune: The Last Samurai”
In “Mifune: The Last Samurai” a new documentary by director/producer Steven Okazaki [at the IFC Center through December 1] he cites Steven Spielberg: “Without Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune, there would be no “Magnificent Seven”, Clint Eastwood wouldn’t have “A Fistful of Dollars” and Darth Vader wouldn’t be a Samurai…. Toshiro played a wild character…from…
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Most Popular
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
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Opinion A Holocaust perpetrator was just celebrated on US soil. I think I know why no one objected.
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward A Jewish city attorney is going after pro-Palestinian protesters. Her Oct. 7 tweets are making it complicated.
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Fast Forward Kehlani responds to Cornell concert cancellation: ‘I am not antisemitic’
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Fast Forward David Horowitz, ’60s radical turned right-wing firebrand and critic of Islam, dies at 86
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News Pro-Nazi singer sells out Zagreb arena as Croatia’s collaborationist past sheds its taboo
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