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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Dana International Uses Orthodox Children in Gay Pride Video
Dana International, Israel’s most famous transgender pop star, has managed once again to draw International media attention. Her latest video for “Yeladim Ze Simcha” (‘Children are Joy’) is causing controversy in Israel and beyond, after parents of the religious Jewish children featured in the video claimed they didn’t know their kids were shooting a music…
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POEM: ‘Carlisle Street (The Last Ghetto)’
You and me on Carlisle Street feels so illegitimate, holding hands strolling along stands of Tasmanian fruits and music stores two bars, more urbane than urban where the Jewish kids meet. flirt. buy each other drinks. but always go home alone. A rabbi once told us always have guests for Shabbos dinner. It’s a segulah…
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When an Economic Crisis Hits Home
There are times when Tom Shoval’s debut film, “Youth,” is deeply uncomfortable to watch. Set in an unnamed central Israeli suburb the film shows two teenage brothers who kidnap a wealthy girl in order to solve their family’s growing financial crisis. Tense, foreboding and menacing from the opening frame, the film, which won best feature…
The Latest
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Should Jewish Chatbot Count in Minyan?
(JTA) — Robots can hold a conversation, but should they count in a minyan? A chatbot at Britain’s University of Reading was heralded this week as passing the Turing test, showing a conversational ability that managed to fool people into thinking it was human. Using the fictional identity of 13-year-old Ukrainian boy with the name…
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All Aboard the Anat Hoffman Wedding ‘Love Boat’
Are you Jewish, Israeli and worried you won’t be able to marry under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate? Anat Hoffman has a solution for you. The Women of the Wall leader has put out a call for a cruise ship that would allow Israelis to have extraterritorial weddings. “I am seeking a large used…
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‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ and the Future of Television
Summer is the cruelest cultural season. With that in mind, ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) is a new occasional series highlighting movies, TV shows, books, comics and everything else we might have missed in the past few months that we can catch up on in the next few. “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” was last year’s best…
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There Could Have Been an Anti-Semitism Scene in ‘D3: The Mighty Ducks’
(JTA) — If you feel Disney’s “The Mighty Ducks” trilogy could have ended better, you’re not alone. Producer Jordan Kerner recently told Time that part of his original plot line for D3 — the Ducks failing to defend their title at the international Goodwill Games — would have featured an off-the-ice fight triggered by an anti-Semitic…
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Should Drake Go on JDate?
Drake wants to be loved. Drake is Jewish. Ergo, why not go on JDate? At least, that’s what Drizzy’s media coach tells him to do in this awesome skit from Above Average’s “Sound Advice.” Not a real media coach, obviously. Just Vanessa Bayer of “Saturday Night Live” as “Janessa Slater” a “media coach who’s helped…
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Meet Dave Goldblatt, New ‘Game of Thrones’ Character
How do you say Goldblatt in Dothraki? When author George R.R. Martin, creator of the “Game of Thrones” series which led to the hit HBO show by the same name, announced that he would introduce a new character in one of his books thanks to a $20,000 charity auction prize, the Internet went wild. Now,…
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Jason Biggs Gets in Bed With Joan Rivers
For the last time: No, Jason Biggs is not Jewish (though he is married to Jenny Mollen, who definitely is). The “Orange is the New Black” actor stopped by “In Bed With Joan” to promote the hit show’s second season, and joan Rivers launched the interview with the elephant in the room: “I was told…
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‘Magic Schoolbus’ Returns — Welcome Back Arnold!
“Bus, do your stuff!” Those words — music to any 90s child’s ears — will once again ring out. But this time, Ms. Frizzle’s voice will be coming from your Netflix account. Yes, it’s true. “The Magic Schoolbus” is getting a re-boot. Netflix and Scholastic Media have announced they will be joining forces to launch a…
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