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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How ‘Bas Kol’ Became a Viral Hasidic Hit
A version of this article first appeared in Yiddish in the Forverts It’s rare today for a Yiddish song to become a sensation. It’s even more rare for one to go viral on Facebook and Twitter. But that’s just what happened recently with the new music video for Chaim Shlomo Mayes (Mayesz)’s dance-hit “Bas-Kol” (Divine…
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Paul Rudd Is the Happiest Jewish Royals Fan Alive
Sorry, Mets fans, the Royals won the World Series. Actually, just kidding, I’m not sorry. Because I, an Israeli who grew up not watching any baseball at all, am a Royals fan. Yes, that’s what happens when you marry into a Jewish Kansas City family. My Kansas City family was elated last night. As a…
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You Call That a Halloween Costume, Bernie?
Bernie Sanders took a break from the campaign trail this weekend to go trick or treating. The Democratic candidate was walking alongside three of his grandchildren in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Per ABC News: “Sunnee, 12, was dressed as the White Witch from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Ryleigh, 10, wore a blue and…
The Latest
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Kenny G Is China’s Favorite Jew
Can the liquid velvet sounds of Kenny G halt an impending conflict between China and the United States? John Oliver thinks so. On Sunday night, the “Last Week Tonight” host described increasing tensions between China and the U.S. over the former’s efforts to claim a disputed region near Vietnam in the South China Sea. Enter…
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‘Grindr Rabbi’ Matthew Green’s Most Unusual Shabbat for LGBTQ Millennials
If there’s a line in The Talmud about using the geolocation technology on an iPhone app to expand the reach of Judaism, we’ve not seen it. But that is exactly what an aspiring rabbi is doing — and he’s even won an award for it. Using the GPS services of the gay pickup app Grindr,…
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You Can Dance With Mensch on a Bench for Hanukkah
Toymaker Neal Hoffman has four words for Jewish parents facing the “December Dilemma” of Christmas envy: Mensch on a Bench! Hoffman, the man behind the Mensch on a Bench, has partnered with Office Depot’s popular Elf Yourself app to “put some Funakkah in Hanukkah.” The app allows users to input their face onto that of…
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Leonard Nimoy’s Son Appears on ‘Big Bang Theory’
“The Bang Bang Theory” will continue to honor the legendary television star Leonard Nimoy in an upcoming episode with a guest appearance from the actor’s son, Adam. The younger Nimoy will play himself and be paying a visit to Jim Parson’s “Star Trek”-obsessed Sheldon in an episode titled “The Spock’s Resonance.” In the episode, his…
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Kansas City Jewish Conductor Bets Barbecue on Royals
(JTA) — Kansas City Royals fans are two World Series wins away from a taste of greatness. Yes, the first Major League Baseball championship in a generation. But also, New York bagels. That’s part of what’s at stake in a wager on the World Series made Sunday between Kansas City Symphony music director Michael Stern, son…
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Jewish Owned Demo-Cat Has Some Frisky Competition
Disappointed with last night’s GOP debate (not to mention the Mets loss)? Have no fear, quality feline entertainment is here. Jewish owned Demo-Cat Limberbutt McCubbins has some tough and furry competition for the 2016 cat-race. Let’s just hope his owner has enough catnip to keep this fellow going because his new competitors have their claws…
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Dead Woman Shipped From Russia to Israel in Cardboard Box
Giving a new meaning to “next year in Jerusalem,” the body of a 80-year-old deceased woman who wished to be buried in Israel was packed and shipped from Moscow to Tel Aviv. In a cardboard box. The Foreign Ministry said the woman had been dead for 11 days when her body arrived at Ben Gurion…
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My First Halloween After Escaping the Nazis
My mother and I arrived in Montreal, Canada in September 1941 following a death-defying escape that took us from bombed-out German-occupied Warsaw in the winter of 1940 to surviving a Nazi firing squad, to Lithuania’s Vilno (which in June 1940 was occupied by the Soviets). Then a 12-14-day Trans-Siberian train ride to Vladivostok and the…
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Fast Forward Rep. Max Miller says driver called him a ‘dirty Jew’ and threatened to kill his family. A local doctor turned himself in.
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News An Alabama millionaire offered Jews $50,000 to move to his town. 16 years later, what’s left?
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Culture Why is Israel’s attack on Iran called ‘Rising Lion’ — and what does the Bible have to do with it?
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News As Israel attacks, what is life like for Jews in Iran?
In Case You Missed It
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Culture How a Jewish reporter like me got addicted to Christian media
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Opinion Israeli leaders are using Holocaust comparisons to justify attacks on Iran. Is that kosher?
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Fast Forward Over half of Jewish students at Columbia experienced discrimination and exclusion after Oct. 7, survey shows
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Fast Forward Journalist board of Shtetl, news site covering haredi Orthodoxy, resigns after founder renounces mission
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