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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Jon Stewart Takes on Miss Israel’s Photobomb
Once again, Jon Stewart showed us that he can take on anything, even the Miss Universe pageant, in a hilarious segment called “War of the Poses”. The late-night comic opened his second segment in the show by talking about the other images that have been shaking the world. The images of Muhammad that caused the…
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Books Book Critics Nods to Roz Chast, Gary Shteyngart
Photo: Martyna Starosta Forward 50 members Roz Chast and Gary Shteyngart are among the 30 nominees for the 2014 National Book Critics Circle Awards. The award, given to books in the areas of autobiography, biography, criticism, fiction, nonfiction and poetry, is given by the book critics and book review editors of the National Book Critics…
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Art World Pariah Is Unlikely Star at 92
Jonah Kinigstein, ‘Coney Island.’ Courtesy the artist and Society of Illustrators. A certain Jewish weekly rejected one of Jonah Kinigstein’s scathing cartoons back in 2004; responding to the furor over Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ,” Kinigstein had drawn Jesus tossing the movie into a bonfire in front of the White House. “I’d sent it…
The Latest
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Pamela Adlon Gets Her Own Pilot, Directed By Louis C.K.
Getty Images “Louie” wouldn’t be “Louie” without Pamela Adlon. Which is why I’m thrilled by the news that the comedian is getting her own pilot. FX has picked up “Better Things,” a comedy created by and starring Adlon and directed by Louis C.K. The Hollywood Reporter describes the show as the tale of “Sam, a…
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6 Things You Didn’t Know About Miss Israel Doron Matalon
Photo Credit: Doron Matalon Instagram Miss Universe’s Miss Israel made some internet waves this weekend when she allegedly jumped into Miss Lebanon’s selfie. Who knew that a photobomb could be a political statement? 21-year-old Doron Matalon will be competing in the Miss Universe pageant on January 25 in Miami. And so, in anticipation, we’ve compiled…
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A History of the Holocaust — With Lego
John Denno One John Denno, of Liverpool U.K., was given a pretty standard high school history assignment: to illustrate the events of the Holocaust. Denno took the project to the next level. Instead of drawing the usual stick figure Hitler or putting together a run-of-the-mill bristol board poster (ah, good times), he used pieces from…
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‘The Goldbergs’ Were Even Crazier in Real Life
Photo courtesy ABC/Tony Rivetti The family portrayed in the ABC sitcom, “The Goldbergs” — which finished its second season January 14 — spends a lot of time yelling and screaming. Mom is a busybody. Dad comes home from work and drops his trousers for comfort. Though Adam F. Goldberg, creator, writer and executive producer, based…
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4 Latin Jewish Movies at Miami Film Festival
Miami — It’s the “Gateway to the Americas,” both North and South. It’s called “the capital of Latin America” and it’s the most populous tropical metropolis in the United States. But Miami also home to one of the country’s most welcoming Jewish communities, a diverse population of Cubans, Brazilians, Colombians, and others from South and…
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JDate Hooks You Up With Your Old Camp Flame
Kurt Hoffman (JTA) — Beth and Jeff Kopin are one of an estimated 700 married couples to have met at one of the Conservative movement’s Ramah camps. The Kopins, who fell in love at Ramah Wisconsin in the 1970s, went on to raise a flock of “Ramahniks.” “There’s this family feeling if you meet another…
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YIVO Vilna Project: Archives Go Digital
“YIVO is not only for the Jews,” declared Fiana Kukliansky recipient of the YIVO’s Community Service Award, at its 89th Annual Benefit held at the Center for Jewish History. Chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community and advisor to the Lithuanian government on Jewish matters, a feisty Kukliansky joshed: “English is not my native language, therefore…
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Idina Menzel to Sing at Superbowl
Getty Images Idina Menzel is finally getting the recognition she deserves. It’s been almost two decades since the Jewish diva made her broadway debut. She originated some of our favorite broadway roles, like Rent’s Maureen Johnson and Wicked’s Elphaba. But it was Disney’s record breaking “Frozen” that catapulted Menzel to rockstar-level fame. Many of us…
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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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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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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
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward These Jewish arts organizations have been defunded by the Trump administration
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Fast Forward Dave Portnoy revokes Auschwitz trip for student who said ‘F– the Jews’
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Fast Forward Mosab Abu Toha, Palestinian writer targeted by far-right pro-Israel activists, wins Pulitzer for commentary
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Fast Forward A Jewish nonprofit may have accidentally caused Michigan to drop charges against pro-Palestinian activists
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