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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5 Inspiring Moments From Lena Dunham’s Interview With Sheryl Sandberg
In a touching tribute to female empowerment and camaraderie, Lena Dunham shared a personal anecdote of the late-night frozen yogurt and conversation she shared with Sheryl Sandberg, curled up on the couch of the woman who had become the global face of the wage equality Lean In movement. Prefacing the interview with Sandberg for her…
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Interview With Anne Fontaine, Director Of ‘The Innocents’
“The Innocents” is a riveting film inspired by a little-known true event that occurred in Poland in 1945. According to notes taken by a French Red Cross doctor, 25 nuns had been raped by Soviet soldiers—some as many as 40 times. Twenty had been killed. Of the survivors—five became pregnant. This remarkable Polish-French film (with…
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Man Accused of Jew Hatred by ‘Million Dollar Listing’ Star Jewish Himself
A Jewish “Million Dollar Listing” star got a restraining order against someone he says is a Jew hater — but the man he accused now says he is also Jewish. Matt Altman is a Los Angeles-based luxury real estate agent and one of the stars of Bravo network’s “Million Dollar Listing,” a reality show that…
The Latest
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Joan Rivers’ Dog Bowl Sells for Over $13,000
The private collection of Joan Rivers raked in almost $2.5 million in live and online auctions this week at Christie’s, with 96% of the lot sold and several extravagant purchases made. The silver Tiffany & Co. dog bowl engraved with Rivers’ famous dog’s name “Spike,” a Yorkshire terrier that appeared with her on The Tonight…
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What a Mad World When Philip Roth Mixes With Tears for Fears
No one does dystopia quite like the Jews. We claim no monopoly but, after Hitler (and to paraphrase Walter Pater), all dystopias all aspire to the condition of Jewish tragedy. And it seems that the official anthem for dystopias is 1982’s “Mad World,” by Tears for Fears. It’s not always used for obvious sadness. Here…
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Virtuoso Pianist Martha Argerich Joins The Eagles and James Taylor for Kennedy Center Honors
This year’s list of Kennedy Center Honors winners mostly contains some familiar and not-all-that-surprising names. Among them, James Taylor, Al Pacino, Mavis Staples, and — for better or worse — The Eagles. But the most intriguing name on that list is 75-year-old Argentine pianist Martha Argerich. Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter told the Washington Post…
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Idina Menzel and Other Broadway Stars Record Song for Orlando Victims
Idina Menzel, Carole King and Fran Drescher were just a few of the Hollywood heavy hitters who came together to record “What the World Needs Now is Love” in wake of the mass shooting in Orlando. “Broadway for Orlando”: The Exclusive Music Video from Playbill on Vimeo. “Love must prevail.” a few of the stars…
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‘Million Dollar Listing’ Star Gets Anti-Semitic Death Threats
Reality television star and high powered real estate agent, Matt Altman, filed for — and received — a restraining order against a man he says claimed to “hate all Jews” and threatened to kill him. TMZ reports that court documents indicate Altman was granted a restraining order against leading Los Angeles-based dermatologist Alex Khadavi, who…
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Michael Ian Black Trolled By Neo-Nazis for His Donald Trump Children’s book
(JTA) — Where do babies come from? Are we there yet? What should I make of the Donald Trump phenomenon? Jewish comedian Michael Ian Black tackles the Trump question in his forthcoming children’s book, “A Child’s First Book of Trump.” Though it doesn’t come out until July 4, the Dr. Seuss-like book is already on…
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Actress Selma Blair Apologizes Following Emotional Public Outburst on Plane
Actress Selma Blair apologized after being taken off a plane on a stretcher following a mid-air outburst on a trip home from a family getaway. A source told People Magazinethat Blair, who was heading back to Los Angeles from a vacation in Cancun, Mexico with her 4-year-old son Arthur Saint, had allegedly started screaming and…
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Donald or Hillary? 6 Jewish Ways to Flaunt Your Support
Whether you’re “with her” or want to “make America great again,” there are plenty of ways to flaunt your political beliefs — and your Judaism too. Here’s our curated list of the best Jewish-themed campaign gear on the market: In shul They say not to bring politics into the synagogue, but these kippot allow you…
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Most Popular
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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 Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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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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Yiddish מחשבֿות פֿון אַן אַהיים־געקומענעם (אַ מלחמה־טאָגגבוך)Reflections of a soldier after returning home (a wartime diary)
דער מחבר איז אַ סטודענט אינעם ירושלימער העברעיִשן אוניווערסיטעט, אינעם צווייטן יאָר ייִדיש־לימוד
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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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News At Harvard, reports on antisemitism and anti-Palestinian bias reflect campus conflict over Israel
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Opinion Is JB Pritzker’s very Jewish toughness the key to fighting Trump?
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