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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Solo Would Prefer That You Not Make Swastikas With Their Cups
In the grand tradition of the Tiki Brand and the makers of Skittles, the company that produces Solo cups would like you to please not use their product for racist or Nazi activity. “Our brand is all about helping our fans celebrate food, fun and family responsibly by bringing people together, not tearing them apart,”…
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WATCH: SNL Had John Mulaney Play Alan Dershowitz Counseling Robert Kraft
Like a Jewish edition of the murder mystery game Clue, John Mulaney was on Saturday Night Live, playing Alan Dershowitz, giving legal advice to Robert Kraft. In a sketch patterned on the ABC reality investment show “Shark Tank,” comedian Mulaney (Jewish in our hearts) played lawyer Alan Dershowitz, offering his possible services as a legal…
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‘Broad City’ Had A Holocaust Survivor Get High At Drag Brunch
In the first season of “Broad City,” a Comedy Central series from Amy Poehler, we meet Abbi and Ilana, two ambition-lite New York millennials whose make occasional references to their cultural Judaism. In the final season of “Broad City,” in the sixth episode “Lost & Found,” we get the following: discussions of Ashkenazi epigenetics, IBS,…
The Latest
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Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Middle-Aged Women Aren’t Taken Seriously. It’s Infuriating.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, triumphant on the cover of Time Magazine after wrapping the final season of her hit HBO show “Veep,” not to mention her cancer treatment, says she likes being unlikeable. “I’ve made a career of playing unlikable people,” the 58-year-old told the magazine. “I don’t cotton to likability.” It’s funny, because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is…
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An Orthodox Bride Sparks Ire Of Haredi Rabbis — For Playing The Drums At Her Own Wedding
In the Haredi city of Bnei Brak, Israel, at the Ahuzat Wagshel wedding hall, one spunky Orthodox bride has caused a stir. The newlywed, nineteen years old and high on the joy of her own wedding celebrations, approached the wedding band after the guests had left and only family members were left, Haredi news source…
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Netflix’s ‘Russian Doll’ Has Big Talmud Energy
It wasn’t until the third episode of Netflix’s hit Russian Doll that I was able to put my finger on it. Natasha Lyonne’s protagonist Nadia goes looking for answers at a synagogue associated with the old yeshiva that serves as the site of her character’s recurring resurrections. And as she poked around the rabbi’s waiting…
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Watch A Jewish Youth Group Pelt Rapper T-Pain With A Beach Ball
Pour one out for rapper T-Pain’s relationship with the national Jewish youth movement BBYO. Teachers everywhere nodded in understanding this weekend, hearing that international rap and R&B phenomenon T-Pain walked off the stage before the end of his concert, unwilling to spend even one more minute attempting to entertain teenagers. “Disrespectful,” the legendary rapper said…
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Selma Blair Made Glowing First Appearance After MS Diagnosis At Oscars Party
Resplendent in a floor-length chiffon gown, cape, and bejeweled choker necklace, actress Selma Blair walked the red carpet on Sunday night after the 91st Academy Awards, using a cane for balance. The 46-year-old actress appeared to float down the carpet at the storied Vanity Fair Oscars party, her sherbet-colored Ralph & Russo cape trailing behind…
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All Of The Jewish Wins And Woes Of The 2019 Oscars
For the first time in years, a key component of the Academy Awards ceremony was missing on Sunday night — a person without whom, it was widely believed, the night could hardly function. I am referring, of course, to Natalie Portman, whose life-of-a-pop-star movie “Vox Lux” was unjustly snubbed by Academy voters (she sang, people!)…
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Robert Kraft Was Charged For Soliciting A Prostitute. What Does Judaism Say About Prostitution?
Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the Patriots and a major Jewish philanthropist, was charged on Friday in a prostitution sting in South Florida. Kraft, who is 77, was charged on two counts of soliciting prostitution along with 24 other people. Police say that incidents in which Kraft solicited prostitution were caught on hidden cameras….
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How Did Rafi Gavron — On Probation After Domestic Violence Plea — Slip Into ‘A Star Is Born’?
In “A Star Is Born,” the third, and flashiest remake of “the story Hollywood can’t stop telling,” has enjoyed glowing attention. Writers have profiled nearly everyone in the movie, from director-star Bradley Cooper, to Cooper’s real life ear doctor, who has a cameo in the film. Lady Gaga’s relentless repetition during the movie’s press tour…
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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 Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
In Case You Missed It
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Yiddish צווישן טרער און מוט — צווישן געדענקען און אומאָפּהענגיקייטBetween tears and courage — between memory and resilience
הירהורים צום 77סטן געבוירן־טאָג פֿון מדינת־ישׂראל
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Opinion Ireland’s prime minister gave condolences for Hitler’s death — here’s why that’s a contemporary problem
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Fast Forward The fires in Israel are under control — but debate is raging over their cause
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Fast Forward Argentina declassifies more than 1,800 files on Nazi escape via ‘rat-lines’ to South America
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