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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There’s an Uptown Funk Pesach Video
There is yet another Jewish holiday ‘Uptown Funk’ video. This time it’s called ‘Uptown Passover’ (wow, clever) and it’s by Six13, the Jewish a cappella group who brought you the ‘Chanukah (Shake It Off)’ video. The video is… Ok. Watch it up above and make of it what you will. As someone who has worked…
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Jean Shafiroff Hosts Surgeons of Hope Gala Kickoff Party
Were one to dub someone “Philanthropist -on-the -go”, it would have to be Jean Shafiroff who has been honored by and supports a wide range of charitable enterprises. The most recent was the “kick off” reception for the upcoming May 1 Surgeons of Hope Gala Dinner that she and husband Martin Shafiroff hosted at their…
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The Man Behind the Madness: Matthew Weiner
Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC America’s love affair with the sixties dates back to July 19, 2007. That’s the day an unknown show made its debut on an obscure network known for John Wayne western reruns. Seven and a half years later, “Mad Men” has become a cultural touchstone while AMC has been home base for landmark…
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How Italy Saved Its Jews
The vagaries of international film distribution may produce the impression that the French have created a more significant body of work examining their nation’s moral failings under Nazi Occupation than any other European country. We have, for example, feature films like Louis Malle’s “Au revoir, les enfants,” Truffaut’s “Le Dernier Metro,” or Rose Bosch’s recent…
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This Boca Shul Just Created the Biggest Prayer Shawl in the World
Facebook Jewish tradition: it’s beautiful and comforting but a bit too constricting, right? Well, not anymore. The bookkeepers at Guinness just awarded the world record for “largest tallit (prayer shawl)”— measuring 1,471.74 square feet — to Boca Raton Synagogue, a Modern Orthodox shul. The Facebook post by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg announcing this amazing feat was…
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8 Israeli Bands to Listen to Right Now
Vaadat Charigim // Photo by: Goni Riskin Israel has never been known for producing breakthrough musical acts, but if the first few months of 2015 are anything to go by, that may soon change. With Israeli groups traveling to Austin, Texas for South by Southwest and gaining recognition at a number of European festivals, the…
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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian To Visit Israel
Getty Images Kanye West and Kim Kardashian reportedly are planning to visit Israel next month. The celebrity power couple booked rooms at Jerusalem’s high-end Waldorf Astoria Hotel for themselves and their entourage for April 12, the Israeli daily Yediot Acharonot reported Wednesday. The hotel declined to comment to Yediot, which reported that everyone involved in…
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How Jerry Adler Became Hollywood’s Go-To Jew
Photo: Joan Marcus Jerry Adler is probably best known for his role as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, Jewish adviser to Tony Soprano on the worldwide HBO hit “The Sopranos.” Adler, 86, currently appears in “Fish in the Dark,” the Larry David comedy on Broadway. It’s a small but pivotal role as Sidney Drexel, father to David’s…
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10 Other Passover Ice Cream Ideas For Ben and Jerry’s
Getty Images (JTA) — A few weeks after Ben & Jerry’s founders indicated that marijuana-infused ice cream may one day join its product line, the company’s kosher-for-Passover charoset flavor has been generating buzz. In case your memories of last year’s seder are blurred by too many cups of wine, charoset is the fruit-and-nut puree that symbolizes…
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How Ziggy Gruber Became a ‘Deli Man’
Photo courtesy Cohen Media Group A version of this post appeared in Yiddish here. Like many other aspects of Ashkenazi Jewish culture, old-time Jewish delicacies are becoming harder and harder to find. In 1931 there were more than 2,500 delis and 150 kosher dairy restaurants in New York City alone; today there are only 21…
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Charoset-Flavored Ice Cream is a Thing. And It’s Kosher for Passover
It’s T-minus 12 days until Passover. So, while you’re getting your bread-binge on, consider this: There is a charoset-flavored Ben & Jerry’s pint waiting for you on the other side. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, charoset-flavored. And what’s more, it’s kosher for Passover (but only available in Israel — sorry guys!) Because there are about as many…
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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Culture Cardinals are Catholic, not Jewish — so why do they all wear yarmulkes?
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Music After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet
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