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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Could Teacher’s Star of David Be Illegal?
(JTA) — Here’s a tough question: Where might it break the law to wear a Star of David around your neck? (Hint, the answer is not Nazi Germany.) Give up? The correct response is the Township of East Pennsboro, Pa., where one man has a filed a formal complaint with the school district after his son’s…
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POEM: ‘Shabbat’
this morning i am at rest hidden beneath a prayer shawl draped over my head i am chanting your name the un pronounceable one something indistinct whispering through my lips ruach the breath you gave me
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Bono Likes To Bike Around Dressed as A Hasidic Jew
Getty Images I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I hate Bono. And now, he’s just given me another reason. In an interview with CBS radio station KROQ’s Kevin & Bean Show, fellow U2 band-member The Edge mentioned that the lead singer casually dresses up as a Hasidic Jew while cycling around New York…
The Latest
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‘Spaceballs: The Schwartz Awakens’ Is Spoof of Your Dreams
With all the excitement over the release of the new “Star Wars” teaser, it was only a matter of time before the spoofs started rolling in. Well, look no further. This is the best one. Behold “Spaceballs: The Schwartz Awakens.” Take that J.J. Abrams. And if, unlike me, you haven’t been obsessively re-watching the original…
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8 Best (and Worst) Mel Brooks Movies
Melvin James Kaminsky is finally getting the tribute he deserves. A monthlong retrospective at the Bell Lightbox, home of the Toronto International Film Festival, is honoring the director better known as Mel Brooks. “It’s Good to Be the King” salutes the 88-year-old’s “triumphant bad taste and transcendently-awful-cum-pricelessly-hilarious jokery,” according to program notes. Though Brooks hasn’t…
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Times Names Best Jewish Books of Year
Photo: Martyna Starosta (JTA) — The New York Times Book Review published its “100 Notable Books of 2014” on its website Tuesday and, not surprisingly, given the whole People of the Book moniker, a number of the fiction and nonfiction books highlighted this year are of Jewish interest. (The number of Jewish authors on general…
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‘Zero Motivation’ and 7 IDF Movies You Should See
“Zero Motivation,” which won the best narrative feature award at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, is an IDF version of “M* A* S* H.” Apparently, not everyone in the Israeli military is a gung-ho paratrooper. They also serve who push pencils around in boring circles. In this film, two women stationed at a military base…
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Paris Hilton Threatened by Man Who Thinks She’s Jewish
American actress (using the term loosely here) and socialite Paris Hilton has been threatened on social media by a man who believes she is Jewish. “I know ur Jew family gives nothing” and “KILL JEWS FOR FUN” are among the threats that have been left on the Instagram account of Hilton and her father, Rick,…
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Bibi’s Youngest Son Joins the IDF
Benjamin Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu with sons Avner and Yair on election day in 2013 // Getty Images Avner Netanyahu waved goodbye to mommy and daddy Netanyahu on Monday, as he began his military service in the Israel Defense Forces. Proud papa Bibi was there to see his youngest son off, along with wife Sarah and…
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Maccabee on the Mantel, For Jewish Tyke Who Has Everything
Move over “Elf on the Shelf” — the “Maccabee on the Mantel” may be just the ticket for the Jewish child aged three to eight who has everything. The 10-inch plush depicting a smiling, bearded, robe-, sandal- and helmet-clad ancient Maccabean warrior bearing a Star of David-emblazoned shield comes with an illustrated storybook that briefly…
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Ted Cruz and Alan Dershowitz Talk Tough at ZOA Dinner
At the annual ZOA (Zionist Organization of America) dinner honoree Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was greeted by the record 1,100 guests including 261 activist students from U.S. universities as though “a favorite son.” Dinner chair Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus’ welcomed the guests at the Grand Hyatt with “If you shopped at other stores —…
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In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Devices tagged ‘Free Gaza’ found at ballot drop box fires in Oregon, Washington state
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Yiddish צוויי אויסצוגן פֿון ייִדישער ליטעראַטור וועגן אַ צעשטערטן שׂימחת־תּורהTwo excerpts of Yiddish literature about devastation on Simchat Torah
די צוויי ווערק דריקן אױס װײטיק, פּנים־אל־פּנים מיט חורבן און בראָך אין פֿריִערדיקע תּקופֿות.
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Fast Forward ADL takes flak for failing to tie bigotry at Madison Square Garden rally to Trump
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Theater For ‘Ragtime’ star Brandon Uranowitz, to be Jewish is to be hopeful
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