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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Have a Very Funky Hanukkah With Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
(JTA) — Aside from “Dreidel, Dreidel” and Adam Sandler’s humorous tune, there are very few Hanukkah songs in the pop culture lexicon. But a group of modern soul enthusiasts seeks to change that — and make the Festival of Lights a little bit funky, too. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings — a retro-sounding band that’s…
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WATCH: Katniss Everdeen Trades Peeta for Pita in ‘Hunger Games’ Mashup
Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re like me, you’ll be spending the weekend watching the latest installment of the “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” and weeping at having to part with our favorite characters: Effie played by amazing Jewish actress Elizabeth Banks, the ever-so-handsome Gale, Jennifer Lawrence as the fiercest of the fierce Katniss Everdeen, and Josh…
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Jane Fonda Presents Salma Hayek’s Husband With ADL Award
Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering and husband of film star Salma Hayek, was honored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at its November 18 Gala. Addressing a stellar American and French audience at the Waldorf-Astoria’s Empire Room Ashley Judd paid tribute to the tragedy in Paris — asked for a moment of silence for France,…
The Latest
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Barack Obama Gets All ‘Verklempt’ at Barbra Streisand Medal of Freedom Ceremony
Barack Obama got his Yiddish on during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony for Barbra Streisand. Honoring the iconic singer/actress, Obama noted her “chutzpah” as a young Jewish-American Broadway star and for selling more albums in the United States than any other woman. “I’m getting all verklempt just thinking about it,” the president said, using…
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Rosanne Barr Blasts ‘Stay in France’ Call to Jews
Roseanne Barr took to Twitter to blast an Israeli writer’s call for Jews to stay in France. The comedian called Rogel Alpher a “skinhead” and urged him to “STFU,” meaning “shut the f*** up,” after he urged French Jews not to immigrate to Israel. On Sunday, hours earlier, he tweeted: “Jews of France, stay in…
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Police Defend Crackdown on Jewish Bubbes’ Mahjong Game
Who needs Sin City when you’ve got Altamonte Springs, Florida? The mystery of the elderly Jewish mahjong gamblers is slowly unraveling. You might recall that a group of Jewish bubbes saw their regular mahjong get together had been busted by the police for gambling. Following up on that story, The Orlando Weekly reached out the…
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Rapper Killer Mike Takes Bernie Sanders Out for Soul Food
Killer Mike (a.k.a. Michael Render), is The Atlanta rapper and activist has wholeheartedly endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president. On Monday, the two spent the day together talking politics, social justice and even went out for some good old southern soul food at Busy Bee, where, according to the Fader, the 74-year-old had some fried…
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The Maccabeats Are Back With a New Hanukkah Hit
Your favorite Jewish a cappella boys are back — and they’ve brought a frying pan. The former Yeshiva University students that brought you such hits as and “Cups (D’ror Yikra)” have released a new hit, just in time for Hanukkah. “Latke Recipe,” which premiered on Time.com on Monday, is a parody of Walk the Moon’s…
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Jews Dominate ‘Most Valuable Comedians’ List
Four comedians with Jewish roots – Amy Schumer, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Jason Segel – have been named to Vulture’s list of . The list was released Thursday as a follow-up list to Vulture’s annual ranking of the 100 most valuable Hollywood stars, published last week. Stars who made the list were ranked based…
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Jewish Bubbes Busted for Mahjong ‘Gambling Den’
Quiet Jewish mahjong group or illicit gambling den? That is now a very real question for Lee Delnick, Bernice Diamond, Helen Greenspan and Zelda King (ages 87 to 95) after their weekly game of mahjong was interrupted by a police raid. The women were told to pack up their dominos and leave the Escondido Condominium…
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FIAF Gala Honores Picasso Muse Francoise Gilot
“We’re in black tie and festive dress and not surrendering… We and France must go on!” said Robert Wilmers Chairman of the Board of FIAF [French Institute Alliance Francaise] to the glamorous crowd at its November 19 Trophee Des Arts Gala at the Plaza. Following a somber emotional singing of “La Marseillaise” by the guests…
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