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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Why Is Ezra Miller, A White Actor, Starring As ‘Sakachiku Shizuto’ In ‘The Mourner’?
Note: This article has been updated to reflect comments made by by the screenwriter. In Japanese writer Arata Tendo’s novel “The Mourner,” a young man named Sakachiku Shizuto commits to traveling Japan, mourning for those who have no one else to mourn for them. The novel, which won the prestigious Japanese Naoki Prize in 2008,…
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Trump Family Slams Jewish Artist For ‘Sexist’ Piece, ‘Ivanka Vacuuming’
Will Ivanka Trump’s role in her father’s administration merely leave crumbs for other women? Or will she be instrumental in draining — nay, vacuuming — the swamp? A participatory performance art piece in Washington DC’s Flashpoint Gallery, “Ivanka Vacuums,” asks viewers to throw breadcrumbs at a tall, blonde woman, a doppelgänger for Ivanka Trump. The…
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A Band Of Musicians With Disabilities Is Being Barred From Israel’s Eurovision – Because Auditions Are On Shabbat
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Shalva Band, a group of musicians with various disabilities, didn’t expect to advance so far in the competition to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest in May. But they made it all the way to the finals — and won’t find out if they could have won. The band has…
The Latest
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Netta Barzilai’s New Single Is Even More Feminist Than ‘Toy’
JERUSALEM (JTA) — For all those who thought she was just a one-hit wonder, Israeli singer Netta Barzilai has released a new single since winning the Eurovision contest last May. And it’s already generating plenty of buzz. “Bassa Sababa,” Arabic for “Bummer, That’s Awesome,” dropped on Friday. The song is a celebration of her life…
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‘Don’t ‘All Lives Matter’ My Zionism’: Meet Young Gravy, The Next Great Jewish Rapper
In 1939, Zionism was a grand adventure, water to parched lands, philosophy and dancing under the stars. In 1948, it was a matter of life-and-death. In 1967, Zionism was nothing short of miraculous. In 1976, it was defiant. In 1982, it was defensive. In 1993, it was hopeful. In 2000, it was deadly. And for…
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Julian Edelman Is The First Jew To Become Super Bowl MVP
“Jews are bad at sports” is one of the last remaining anti-Semitic stereotypes that’s considered okay to say. After Sunday night, when Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was presented with the Super Bowl MVP award, it simply sounds like nonsense. Edelman helped the New England Patriots cruise to a 13-3 victory against the Los Angeles…
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Adam Levine Can Tear Off His Shirt At Super Bowl Halftime — What About Janet Jackson?
Adam Levine performed shirtless during the halftime show at the Super Bowl on Sunday night, prompting this Jewish publication to ask — how many rabbis are going to use this image as the introductory anecdote for their sermons this Shabbat? During their performance, the frontman of pop band Maroon Five peeled off his skintight tanktop…
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Julian Edelman Gifts Super Bowl Tickets To A Teen Girl Bullied For Playing Football
We don’t want to get too carried away by saccharine gestures made to stoke goodwill for a hated sports team which ultimately seeks to generate as much revenue as possible, but… dang! Watching Jewish wide receiver Julian Edelman validate a tween girl who was bullied for loving football is pretty heartwarming. Ahead of the Patriots’…
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Nah, Kween: Abbi & Ilana Of ‘Broad City’ Will Star In Amazon Super Bowl Ad
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the stars and creators of the beloved comedy “Broad City,” will feature in a Super Bowl commercial for Amazon. A commercial. During the Super Bowl. For Amazon. via GIPHY Friends, enemies, business associates, we are of many minds about this: -We are positively sweating with pleasure at the fact that…
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A Fake Concentration Camp Was Recreated On A Turkish Movie Premiere’s Red Carpet
Red carpet movie premieres can be so formulaic — glamorous starlets walk on a rug as lightbulbs flash — yawn. What better way to break up the uniformity of a red carpet event than with men dressed in Nazi uniforms? Not to mention a simulated concentration camp, a few German Shepherds, and a pile of…
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Jewish Actor Hospitalized After Anti-Gay, Racist Attack: ‘This Is MAGA Country’
Actor Jussie Smollett is in the hospital after being brutally attacked in Chicago in what police are treating as a likely hate crime. The 35-year-old star of the hit show “Empire” was reportedly approached by two people who yelled racist and homophobic slurs, then physically beat him and poured an “unknown chemical substance” onto him,…
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