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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Jewish Athletes Bumped from ’36 Olympics — A Chat With Samuel Bernstein
Having known John Slade (ne Hans Schlessinger) — once senior managing director of Bear, Sears & Co. who died at 97 in 2005 — a German Jew barred from Germany’s field hockey team in the 1936 Olympics, I looked forward to “Olympics Uber Alles,” a new play by Samuel Bernstein and Marguerite Krupp which deals with the…
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Monica Lewinsky on #CelebGate
Getty Images Monica Lewinsky knows a thing or two about having her privacy violated. In an essay written for Vanity Fair called “Nude Traffic: When Have We Crossed the Double Yellow Line?” the woman of little blue dress fame shares her perspective on the hacking scandal that saw scores of private nude photos of celebrities…
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Here’s What Dr. Ruth Thinks of The Apple Watch
No one is immune to the lure of the Apple Watch. Not even Dr. Ruth. The Jewish sex therapist took to Twitter to give potential customers a valuable piece of advice: The Apple Watch can do a lot of things & so will be big distraction. Take it off before having sex! — Dr. Ruth…
The Latest
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POEM: ‘Bind Me’
From Salome Libretto When to cut is to bind, take me and as you come to the tenet of my house. In the bed that is spread across this lexicon bind me in the splendor of our haunting bind me to your wrists to your forearms, your fingers bind me with your leather strapped heritage…
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WATCH: Bubbe Schools You in Yiddish
You will laugh. You will cry. You will kvell. The Los Angeles Jewish Home has put together a cute video of some of their best bubbes and zaydes explaining the meaning of Yiddish words. “Yiddish: Part One” (implying, we hope, a “Part Two”) enlightens viewers on how to use the usual suspects — mentsh, shvitz, shmuck…
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READ: Melissa Rivers’ Letter To Her Mother
Getty Images Joan Rivers got the kind of glamorous send-off that only she could inspire. And like the best dramatic productions, it was a tear-jerker. As we reported, the invitation-only service, held at New York City’s Emanu-El Temple on Sunday saw a procession of stars — including Hugh Jackman (who sang — of course.), Sarah Jessica Parker,…
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Clearing Hurdles at the Nazi Olympics
Photo: Carol Rosegg I’m certain everyone involved in “Olympics Uber Alles,” currently running off-Broadway, had good intentions. But as we all know, the road to Hell was paved with them. And while the play won’t lead audiences to the netherworld, it won’t leave them feeling a heavenly embrace, either. History Professor Steve Feinstein (Tim Dowd)…
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Sarah Silverman To Host ‘SNL’ — On Yom Kippur?
Sarah Silverman, looking like she’s hungry for an Emmy // Getty Images By now, you may have heard that Chris Pratt will host the “Saturday Night Live” premiere on September 27. Now, I loved “Guardians of the Galaxy,” as much as the next gal, but there’s another name on that host list that’s worth mentioning….
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Watch Leon Wieseltier Throw Out The First Pitch of a Nationals Game
Leon Wieseltier, the Literary Editor of The New Republic, does not exactly look like an athlete. That’s exactly why you should watch him throw out the first pitch of a Nationals baseball game — and then leave the field as quickly as he can.
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Mel Brooks’s 11-Finger Hollywood Handprint
Getty Images When he’s not watching “Downton Abbey” with Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks keeps busy by pranking future generations. The comedian finally cemented his Hollywood legacy on Monday afternoon during the Hollywood Cement Ceremony outside Mann’s Chinese Theater (“Blazing Saddles!”). The event also marked the 40th anniversary of “Young Frankenstein.” Dressed as only Mel Brooks…
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Israel Horovitz on Paris and the Movies
Israel Horovitz is the author of over 70 produced plays, most famously “Lebensraum,” his “Fountain Pen” trilogy, and “The Indian Wants the Bronx.” But, as he explains, “I was turning 75 and I thought that would scare the hell out of me.” The “that” that he refers to is directing the film version of “My…
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Most Popular
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News Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s selection as JTS commencement speaker roils graduating class
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Film & TV A new documentary challenges stereotypes about Orthodox Jewish women — and their wigs
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Sports NBA coach Steve Kerr: ‘Israel sought revenge for Oct. 7 and now 72,000 Palestinians have been killed’
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News Analysis: As Democrats unite behind Platner, Schumer’s future as leader faces tests
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward A best-selling novelist identified a minor character as Israeli. Some fans are canceling their orders.
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Fast Forward Boulder hostage-march firebombing suspect to plead guilty to state charges
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News Her body has been unidentified for decades. Her Ashkenazi DNA may explain why
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News Indiana synagogue that shaped Reform movement is sold — and will become a coffee shop, event space