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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The Onion Launches VICE Parody With Israel-Palestine Video
Satirical news source The Onion has selected a new target for mockery: the documentary journalism of boundary-pusher VICE News. And its first installment of the “EDGE” web series is centered on the Palestinian territories. “Beyond The Brink: How The Israeli Occupation Has Made It Impossible For Palestinians To Score Drugs” opens with an exaggerated take…
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Israeli Couple’s Big Day Saved By Crowdsourced Wedding Crashers
(JTA) — An Israeli couple’s wedding day went from depressing to uplifting thanks to social media. At first, just a handful of guests showed up Sunday for the wedding of Annette and Lior Solomon at the Harmonia Bagan event venue near Gadera Junction in south-central Israel. Apparently, according to Ynet, most of the invited guests…
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Another Donald Trump Aide Courts Controversy
So, another Trump aid turned out to be a racist. Surprise, surprise. Brad Nagel, senior political advisor for Trump’s presidential exploratory committee in Iowa, shared several inflammatory (and racist) photos on Facebook in the lead-up and aftermath to Obama’s reelection in 2012. Apart from the usual Islamophobia and hatred towards Latinos, he also posted images…
The Latest
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Amazon’s Wishy-Washy Response to Woody Allen Accusations
You may remember that back in January, to write and direct a new TV series, which will be streaming online on Amazon Prime Instant Video in the US, UK, and Germany. This week, Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios, spoke out about Allen’s upcoming project. When asked about whether allegations of sexual assault impacted Amazon’s…
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Enjoy Fun Lady Science With Megan Amram
I almost failed physics in high school. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to hook up a circuit. (I still can’t — and honestly, I still have never faced a situation in which I wished I could.) If only I’d had to make me see the light (get it?). The new…
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Chuck Schumer and Cousin Amy Schumer Team Up Against Gun Violence
So, am I the only one who hadn’t realized that Amy Schumer and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer were related? Apparently, the two are . Which is great, because they’re reportedly teaming up to try and get politicians interested in curbing gun violence. It all started when Schumer (Amy) received an open letter from Sarah Clements,…
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A Chat With Nadav Lapid, Director of ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’
I looked forward to the interview with ”The Kindergarten Teacher”’s Israeli filmmaker writer/director Nadav Lapid when he arrived the day before the July 31st opening of his somewhat autobiographical film. I had so many questions about the 5-year-old poet savant Yoav (intensely portrayed by Avi Shnaidman) and the obsessed-with-his-genius kindergarten teacher the sensitive, seductive Nira…
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An Epic List of Jon Stewart’s Jewiest Moments
This week is momentous. As you all know (or should know), Jon Stewart, king of the Jewish talk show hosts, is stepping down from “The Daily Show” after an epic 16-year run. South African comedian Trevor Noah will replace him as host — but never in our hearts. Jon’s imminent departure, combined with the end of…
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J.J. Abrams Stakes Claim to ‘Most Nebbishy Jewish Director’ Title
Writer, director, and producer J.J. Abrams visited the Daily Show on Thursday — and owned up to being the “most nebbishy Jewish director ever.” His new film, “Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation,” the fifth film in the Mission Impossible franchise hit theaters on July 31. So naturally Jon immediately quipped: “let’s talk about Star Wars.” For…
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Judy Blume Saves Marriage After Man Gives Away Keepsake Book
Who knows if God is listening, but Judy Blume sure is. Leonard Lasek, a newly married Brooklynite, accidentally gave away a priceless copy of Blume’s “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” that belonged to his wife, Katie. The book had been a gift from Katie’s mother and holds great sentimental value. Lasek all over…
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Jason Segel Talks to Marc Maron About Growing Up Half-Jewish
(JTA) — Actor Jason Segel — best known as the star of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “How I Met Your Mother” — opened up on Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast this week about growing up half-Jewish and complete outsider. Segel sat down for the Monday podcast ahead of the release of film in which he plays tortured…
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Opinion The dangerous Nazi legend behind Trump’s ruthless grab for power
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Opinion I first met Netanyahu in 1988. Here’s how he became the most destructive leader in Israel’s history.
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Culture Did this Jewish literary titan have the right idea about Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling after all?
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Opinion Yes, the attack on Gov. Shapiro was antisemitic. Here’s what the left should learn from it
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to a Jewish society at Yale exposed deep rifts between US Jews
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Fast Forward On his first trip to Auschwitz, New Jersey governor urges vigilance against rising antisemitism
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Fast Forward Survivors of the Holocaust and Oct. 7 embrace at Auschwitz, marking annual March of the Living
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Fast Forward Could changes at the FDA call the kosher status of milk into question? Many are asking.
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