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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Sneak Peek at Lena Dunham’s Book
During a panel at the Book Expo America — held at the Jacob Javits center this weekend— Lena Dunham shared a sneak peek from her upcoming book, “Not That Kind of Girl.” On stage with Alan Cumming, Martin Short, and Cólm Toibín, Dunham admitted that she loosely based her essays on the mother-of-all-memoirs/advice/general commiserator guide,…
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Why Jason Biggs Is Always Jewish
(Haaretz) — Entering the set of “Orange is the New Black” at Astoria Studios in Queens, New York, is reminiscent of main character Piper Chapman’s entrance into prison. First you enter the shower room – where the photo for the promotional poster for the series was taken, then you continue to the dining hall and…
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Samuel L. Jackson Celebrates Israel Day
Remember that time Samuel L. Jackson celebrated Israel Day and broke the Internet? Celebrate Israel Parade in NY today pic.twitter.com/AIUVMRYou5 — Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) June 1, 2014 The actor posted a selfie of himself in front of the Israel Day festivities on Fifth Avenue on Sunday, casually causing the Internet to implode. Amidst the…
The Latest
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Palestinian Artists Pull Out of Pittsburgh Show
An art exhibition in Pittsburgh featuring the work of Israeli, Palestinian and American artists was canceled after the Palestinian artists withdrew from the show. “Sites of Passage: Borders, Walls & Citizenship,” scheduled to run at Pittsburgh’s Mattress Factory museum from June 1 to July 27, was the culmination of a joint multimedia project begun a…
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‘Mad Men’ in Land of the Dead
Images courtesy of AMC Watching “Mad Men” is like watching shades dance. The undead and the dying slouch at every corner. This one was born in a concentration camp. Never sane, this season brought a self-immolating insanity. This one stole a dead man’s identity, legally killing his true self in the process. Now he works…
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Auschwitz Survivor Roman Kent Honored by Germany
Witnessing Germany’s Consul General in New York, Busso von Alvensleben, pin the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on Holocaust survivor Roman Kent, I thought back to the first time I met businessman philanthropist Kent. It was at the November 11, 1984 Inaugural Dinner of the Holocaust Survivors…
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A Mandolin Orchestra’s Labor Roots
Photo courtesy New York Mandolin orchestra On June 1 the New York Mandolin Orchestra will celebrate its 90th anniversary at a concert in Manhattan. The repertoire ranges from a Vivaldi concerto to St. Louis Blues. Founded in 1924 by a Russian Jew named Samuel Firstman, the orchestra was initially affiliated with the Jewish communist newspaper…
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Justin Timberlake in Tel Aviv, A Love Letter
Dear JT, No one — not even the Biebz — has ever made me feel what you did the other night. And you know I have a thing for baby-faced blondes. I have to admit that I worried when you turned up late. I was really afraid you were going to pull a Rihanna on me. But…
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POEM: ‘Hebrew, My Love’
Translated by Rachel Tzvia Back It’s been a lifetime together. Fifty years? Sixty? How many? We were never like that coiled knot only the slash of the sword could undo. I turned my back on you. You turned your back on me though still we pulled toward each other like magnets to the pole like…
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Frankie Valli, Paul Williams at Caron Gala
Caron New York 20th Annual Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street was launched by NYU’s “Ani v’Ata” Jewish acapella group. There was a serving of laughter courtesy of comedian Stewie Stone, vice-president of NYC Friars Club and self-described “recovering alcoholic” as was Paul Williams president and CEO ASCAP and the award presenter to the evening’s honoree…
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A Dutch Monastery’s Jewish Prayer Books
Photo: Menachem Wecker For the past three years, mid-March has meant for me a pilgrimage to the southern Dutch town of Maastricht to cover The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). Undoubtedly one of the world’s finest, the fair offers (for a hefty price) everything from Greco-Roman antiquities and Rembrandts to Warhols, photography and modern sculpture….
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