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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J.J. Abrams’ ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Destroys Box Office Records
LOS ANGELES — “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” shattered box office records with an estimated $529 million in worldwide ticket sales through Sunday, a staggering debut that re-established the celebrated space saga as a global phenomenon under Walt Disney Co. The first “Star Wars” film in a decade, directed by J.J. Abrams, recorded the biggest…
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Two Holocaust-Themed Films Make the Oscar Cut
Alexander Fehling in the German film “Labyrinth of Lies,” Germany’s entry to the 2016 Academy Awards. LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Two films about the Holocaust and its aftermath have made the cut to compete for best foreign-language film. They were selected from among entries from 80 countries vying for Oscar honors, according to an announcement…
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Enjoy ‘Star Wars’ Mania With This Catchy Darth Vader Niggun
Happy Star Wars Shabbat! In case you’ve been living under a rock, the seventh movie in the celebrated franchise opened on Friday (we already have our tickets). For those of you about to brave the movie theater lines this weekend to get that prime middle or back row seat, here’s something to get you in…
The Latest
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Evgeny Kissin Wows at Carnegie in Double Header of Piano and Yiddish
At Evgeny Kissin’s December 16 “Jewish Music and Poetry” Concert at Carnegie Hall, the Moscow-born virtuoso masterfully sailed through Ernest Bloch’s (1880-1959) 24-minute 1945 Piano Sonata Op. 40, Alexander Veprik’s (1899-1958) Piano Sonata No 2. Op 5 (1924), and Alexander Krein’s (1883-1951) Suite dansee, Op. 44 (1928). But between keyboard magic, it was his recitation…
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Choosing When to Fly Home and 10 Other Things That Aren’t a ‘Sophie’s Choice’
In analyzing the presidential race, former Mitt Romney strategist Stuart Stevens was quoted in today’s New York Times as saying, “Every day in a campaign is ‘Sophie’s Choice,’ And that’s the hardest thing. You’ve got to decide where you’re going to live and where you’re going to die.”
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Bar Refaeli Questioned for 12 Hours in Tax Case
Supermodel Bar Refaeli was reportedly questioned for 12 hours by authorities under suspicion of failing to pay millions of shekels in taxes. Refaeli, 30, was identified by Israeli media on Thursday as the unnamed supermodel who was questioned on Wednesday until midnight. She is suspected of failing to report gifts and discounts on luxury goods,…
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Eleanor Reissa and Klezmer Brass All-Stars Whoop it Up for Hanukkah Finale
T’was the last night of Hanukkah and the concert hall at the Center for Jewish History was packed for the Annual Chanukah Concert starring the inimitable actor-director-singer Eleanor Reissa who performed both solo and backed up by the ear-shattering, kishke churning pyrotechnics of Klezmatics founder Frank London and the Klezmer Brass All Stars. Sponsored by…
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First Look: Natalie Portman Is the Spitting Image of Jackie Kennedy
Natalie Portman is about to steal our hearts. Again. The first still from the actress’ upcoming Jackie Kennedy biopic Jackie was and Portman is stunning in her eerie resemblance to the most famous First Lady of the 20th century. Produced by Darren Aronofsky in partnership with Protozoa Pictures, the film follows Jacqueline Kennedy after the…
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Honoring Hollywood’s Last Remaining Holocaust Survivors
As the year for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust draws to an end, The Hollywood Reporter has marked the occasion by honoring some of Hollywood’s last survivors by gathering their stories in their own words. The includes video interviews with the survivors, wistful photographs that survived the ravages of war and,…
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Adam Sandler Drops F-Bombs On Boycott Israel Movement
Adam Sandler criticized Pink Floyd front man Roger Waters and movement to boycott Israel in an appearance on the Howard Stern Show. “I’m disgusted they single out Israel,” Sandler said Tuesday on Stern’s Sirius satellite radio show. “That [they say], ‘We can’t play Israel.’ All these f—king nice Israeli people are getting a ‘f—k you’…
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‘Star Wars’ vs. ‘Star Trek’ — a Jewish Celebrity Smackdown
With “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” set to open in theaters on December 18 (!!!), the age-old — or, you know, 38 years old — ”Star Wars” vs. “Star Trek” debate is raging more strongly than ever. The Millenium Falcon or the Enterprise? Luke Skywalker or Captain Kirk? Han Solo or Spock? Darth Vader or Kahn? Droids…
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In Case You Missed It
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Culture Sitting shiva for his wife, an overcaffeinated academic is scalded by grief
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Opinion Why Jewish voter turnout matters in this election
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Yiddish ווידעאָ: דאָס סאַטמערער מיידל וואָס איז געוואָרן אַ ראָקשטערןVIDEO: The Satmar girl who became a rock star
ריקי רויז איז אַ קאָמפּאָזיטאָרין און זינגערין פֿון ייִדישע לידער, אַ קאָמיקערין און אַ בעל־משפּיע אין דער סאָציאַלער מעדיע.
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Fast Forward 11 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at U of Minnesota for occupying and damaging administration building
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