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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James Franco Was Officially Bar Mitzvahed
Mazel tov! James Franco is officially a man. Seth Rogen announced some months ago that he was throwing fellow man-child Franco an coming-of-age party as part of his benefit to raise funds for Alzheimer’s. Though the event won’t take place until later this month, Vulture has found out that the legit ceremony has already occurred….
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IBM Showcases a Different Side of Bob Dylan
It’s no longer news when Bob Dylan shows up in a commercial. Since 2004, he has appeared in spots for Victoria’s Secret, the Apple iPod, Cadillac, and Chrysler. But Dylan’s latest shill-ing, for an IBM “cognitive computing system” called Outthink, personified by a talking computer named Watson, introduces another side of Dylan the pitchman. Until…
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For Banned Books Week, Celebrating Judy Blume’s ‘Forever…’
In college, I liked to share the story of how my mom introduced me to the idea of sex: by slipping me a copy of Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey’s “A Woman of Independent Means.” It was, in some ways, the perfect approach. Hailey’s heroine, Bess, was self-assured and self-confident, and she happened to have sex, and…
The Latest
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At Jewish Museum, Remembering My Letter to Liz Taylor
At the Jewish Museum’s “Becoming Jewish: Warhol’s Liz & Marilyn” exhibit September 24 pre-opening reception a woman looking at Monroe’s conversion document exclaimed: “I knew Elizabeth converted but I didn’t know Marilyn Monroe did too!” For Taylor and Monroe fans this show is a nostalgic treat. Struck by a huge display of 40 movie magazine…
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10 Most Jewish Hurricanes in History
As Hurricane Joaquin menaces, we at the Forward want to delay running in fear and buying emergency supplies. In the name of such procrastination, here are the ten most Jewish hurricanes to torment the globe since the United States officially began naming hurricanes in 1953. A note on terminology: this list includes cyclones and typhoons,…
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Lena Dunham Calling It Quits With ‘Girls’
“Girls” creator and star Lena Dunham says Season 6 is like the Millennial queen’s last for the award-winning HBO series. “Never say never, but that is the way that we’re thinking about it right now and we’re starting to think about sort of how to wrap up the story lines of these particular young women,”…
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Alicia Silverstone Honored as PETA Humanitarian
When it comes to animal cruelty, actress Alicia Silverstone says she’s not clueless. The 38-year-old still-stunning Hollywood beauty, who grew up in a conservative Jewish family, was one of several big-name vegetarians and vegans of the year Wednesday night. It was a star-studded bash celebrating People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ 35th year —…
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With Hurricane Joaquin Looming, Should Jews Take Down Their Sukkahs?
(JTA) — As Hurricane Joaquin gains steam off the southeastern coast of the United States, the question has begun to circulate online: Are Jews allowed to take down their sukkahs in the case of a storm? The holiday of Sukkot, which began last Sunday, runs through this Sunday evening. Hurricane Joaquin, the first large tropical storm…
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Why Are Non-Jewish Celebs Buying Israel Real-Estate?
After Kanye West performed in Israel on Wednesday night, he presumably had to sleep in a bed that he didn’t own. may not have to suffer that indignity on his next trip to the Holy Land. The Kardashian family, into which he is married, is among a number of non-Jewish American celebrities reportedly shopping for…
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Clint Eastwood Shoots ‘Sully’ on Upper West Side, Asks Jews to Move Cars on Sukkot
If you’re a car-owning Jew on the Upper West Side, beware! Rosh Hashanah brought a shakeup over filming of the new “Ghostbusters” movie, which came to the neighborhood over the holiday. Residents on the closed-off streets were asked to move their cars during the holiday, when anyone observing it would be unable to drive. A…
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Bar Refaeli Is Hitched — and Here’s the Pic To Prove It!
Yes, my friends, the day has come, and one of Israel’s national treasures has tied the knot. Now that the photographic evidence has been provided, it can now longer be denied – super model Bar Refaeli is married. This is the second wedding for the Sports Illustrated model, who for many years dated Leonardo DiCaprio….
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