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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POEM: ‘The Robe: Improvisation on a Theme’
This poem’s “head” (first three lines) are attributed to Rabbi Menachem Nachum Twerski of Chernobyl (1730-1798).
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Jewish Newspaper Confuses Actor With Drug Lord
What is it with the name confusion this week? Hot on the heels of John Travolta’s Oscars-night blunder, when he referred to Broadway star Idina Menzel as Adela Dazeem (next Disney princess, anyone?), we now have an Orthodox newspaper confusing actor Luis Guzman with Mexican cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. The Lakewood Shopper correctly…
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Netanyahu Plays Tour Guide
Peter Greenberg has what may be the world’s best job. He is travel editor of CBS News, a post he’s held for the last 13 years. Before that he spent a combined 21 years in the same job at the Today Show and Good Morning America. He also has a syndicated radio show on travel…
The Latest
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Andrew Garfield Ruined Batkid’s Oscar Moment
(JTA) — Today in handsome Jews acting badly, actor Andrew Garfield has reportedly let down a 5-year-old cancer survivor. The “Spider-Man” star was supposed to take the stage at the Academy Awards on Sunday and introduce Miles “Batkid” Scott as “the world’s next superhero,” according to Mashable. In November the city of San Francisco, with the…
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Books The Author as Therapist for her Characters
Literature is in Zeruya Shalev’s genes. Born in Kvutzat Kinneret in 1959 — a kibbutz by the shores of the Galilee where the songwriter Naomi Shemer was also born — Shalev grew up with a father who was a literary critic and an uncle who was a poet. Her cousin is the acclaimed novelist Meir…
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When a Toy Is More Than Child’s Play
Toronto isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of Pharrell Williams, the peripatetic Grammy winner and Daft Punk collaborator. But this spring, Williams’ name adorns the marquee of the city’s Design Exchange museum. And it’s Shauna Levy, the museum’s new director, who’s responsible for the coup. “THIS IS NOT A TOY,”…
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AIPAC’s Case of Scarlett Fever
(JTA) — Scarlett Johansson, fresh out of her SodaStream battles, declined to attend this year’s annual American Israel Political Affairs Committee policy conference. She’s in Paris, picking up an honorary Celeste award and promoting her latest releases,. She kept appearing at the conference though, after a fashion. Johansson featured prominently in AIPAC’s showcase of Israel’s…
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John Travolta Sorry for ‘Travolta-izing’ Idina Menzel’s Name
John Travolta is sorry for pulling a ‘Travolta’ on Idina Menzel at the Oscars. The chagrined Hollywood star apologized for mangling Tony winner Idina Menzel’s name as he introduced her performance of the song “Let It Go” at the Oscars. Travolta, 60, said he’s been “beating myself up” over the gaffe during Sunday night’s broadcast….
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Digging Up Washington D.C.’s Jewish Past
Washington Hebrew Congregation Flag-Raising, April 8, 1917. // JHSGW Collections. Zachary Levine may have just landed a curator’s dream job: Conceiving a museum from scratch. The former associate curator at Yeshiva University Museum in Manhattan, Levine this month joined a team that will expand the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington from a smallish non-profit…
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Lena Dunham Plans ‘Archie’ Comic Books
Fantasies do come true — if you’re Lena Dunham. The “Girls” creator will reportedly be writing a story four-issue for “Archie,” the iconic comic featuring everyone’s favorite carrot-top. Dunham has previously spoken of her love for the comic and her desire to be involved in its production. From the New York Times: Sometimes, opportunities will…
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‘Reich Friends’ Re-Casts Sitcom With Hitler and Goebbels
I was once of the mind that there is no such thing as a bad “Friends” mashup. I was wrong. Behold “Reich Friends”, a spoof of the much-loved sitcom brought you by Spanish-language comedy collective Marca Blanca. Using historic footage of Adolf Hitler and his besties, Himmler, Goebbels, Göring and Eva Braun, the group recreates…
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