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 Jewish Photograph That Changed Everything
When the international photographic agency Magnum Photos asked its members to select one of their works which they felt “changed everything,” the hope, according to Magnum’s website, was for the photographers to “reflect on their careers and identify a single picture that represents a turning point in their lives as image makers.” Among the 51…
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Art Class Meets Torah Study
Some of the students are in their 20s, and others are just shy of 80. They’re men, women, Jews and non-Jews. Some are art aficionados and others have never picked up a paintbrush. But one night each week, when the students gather at the Temple Emanu-El Skirball Center on the Upper East Side for Artists’…
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The Secret Jewish History of Ornette Coleman
Ornette Coleman, one of the greatest musical innovators of the 20th century and the man who coined the term “free jazz,” died this morning in Manhattan of cardiac arrest. He was 85. A saxophonist, composer and bandleader, Coleman, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2007 for his album, “Sound Grammar,” began playing jazz…
The Latest
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When Christopher Lee Hunted Nazis
Sir Christopher Lee, who died on Sunday at 93, was an amazing actor. Over the course of his half-century career, he played Count Dracula nine times. He starred as a villain in a Bond film (“The Man With the Golden Gun”). Younger audiences may remember him as Saruman from “Lord of the Rings.” (Or, Count…
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5 Jewish Moments From Jill Kargman’s ‘Odd Mom Out’
(JTA) — Bravo’s newest sitcom, which premiered Monday evening, stars Jill Kargman as Jill Weber, a sassy Jewish woman who marries into a blue-blooded Upper East Side family. The show, which is based on Kargman’s 2007 book, “Momzillas,” is hitting the airwaves just as another book about wealthy Upper East Side moms, “Primates of Park…
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Is Lena Dunham Breaking Up Homer and Marge?
Sorry, “Simpsons” fans — it looks like your favorite family is about to go through some tough times. , Homer and Marge will be seperating in the upcoming season premiere. In the premiere, it’s discovered after all the years Homer has narcolepsy and it’s an incredible strain on the marriage,” Al Jean told Variety. “Homer and…
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Is Porn Queen Jenna Jameson Joining the Tribe?
Jenna Jameson may soon go from ‘The Queen of Porn’ to the queen of Shabbat. The twice-divorced entrepreneur and (mostly retired) adult film star has been cooking up a kosher storm on social media. Could she be joining the Tribe? When a Twitter follower asked her when she started cooking Kosher, she wrote: I started…
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Forget American Pharoah — This Yiddish Horse Made Me Win Big
I have always been intrigued by the inventive and unusual names of racing horses. A few years ago, I wanted to bet on what was supposed to be a sure winner — Rachel Alexandra — because my two youngest granddaughters are sisters Rachel and Alexandra. The horse lost. Unable to attend the 147th Running of the…
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Joel Grey and Harvey Weinstein Honored at Fred and Adele Astaire Awards
“I’ve always been in love with dance and always will be,” honoree Joel Grey told the audience at the 33rd Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards 2015 held at NYU Skirball Center of the Performing Arts. Recipient of the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award, Grey lauded a roster of Broadway choreographers noting: “My life was…
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Andi Dorfman Warns New Bachelorette To ‘Run Away’ From Slut-Shaming Ex
If anyone knows to stay away from Nick Viall, it’s Andi Dorfman. The former “Bachelorette” at her successor, current Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, during a surprise appearance by Viall on this season of the ABC reality show. (For those of you who aren’t avid “Bachelorette” fans, Viall was one of the men vying for Andi’s affections…
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Books 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Judd Apatow, Book Lover
When one thinks of Judd Apatow, books aren’t the first thing that come to mind. Bro-medies? Sure. Seth Rogen? Definitely. Weed? Duh. But books? And yet, the man behind “Pineapple Express” and “Knocked Up” apparently owns a lot of books. As he recently told : “I have actually convinced myself that buying books is the…
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