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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Young Philanthropists Text for UJA-Federation
Outside it felt like the Arctic tundra, but on January 23, inside Tribeca’s Capitale, it was hot, hot, hot and festive as some 700 young 20’-30’ish Jewish philanthropists sipped Generositinis — the evening’s signature drink. They mobbed the sushi bar, and made repeat trips to the decadent “I’ll –start-my- diet-tomorrow”candy table groaning under the weight…
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Justin Bieber and the Most Jewish Drag Race
Unless you lost power during the recent snowstorm, there was no escaping the recent story of Justin Bieber’s arrest, which flooded the airwaves with a barrage of breaking updates and speculation about the troubled (and possible retired) pop star. An MSNBC anchor even preempted an interview with a California congresswoman about NSA domestic spying to…
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Yair Netanyahu’s Norwegian Girlfriend
(JTA) — The Israeli media is abuzz over the revelation that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 23-year-old son, Yair, is dating a non-Jewish Norwegian woman. The pair met while they were both studying at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. Netanyahu reportedly chatted with Norway’s prime minister about his son’s relationship at the recent World Economic Forum…
The Latest
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‘Gimme Shelter’ and the Face of Homelessness
On January 21, at Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria hotel, the Forward caught up with Ronald Krauss, writer and director of “Gimme Shelter,” which opened in theaters January 24. The movie stars Vanessa Hudgens as Apple Bailey, a desperate pregnant teenager who runs away from a cruel drug-addicted mother (Rosario Dawson). Apple tries to connect to her…
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How to Sing Like a Real Folk Singer
A version of this post appeared in Yiddish here Can you say with certainty that someone sings in an authentic Yiddish style? Fortunately, we have materials to help us figure it out — the records and CDs of folksingers, the recorded compilations from Ruth Rubin, Sofia Magid, Ben Stonehill and others; the recordings in the…
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Haredi TV Drama Poised as Breakout Hit
“Shtisel,” the Israeli television drama about a Haredi family in Jerusalem, is a breakout hit not only in Israel, but now also internationally. It was announced this week that foreign broadcast and distribution rights for the series have been acquired by Pretty Pictures in France and Axess TV in Sweden. The deal was carried out…
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Jewish Poets in the Woods
This is our second feature of poetry written at KlezKanada Poetry Retreat. See the original feature here. Ezra Pound once stated that poets are the antennas of the race. At this year’s KlezKanada Poetry Retreat, which I was privileged to co-coordinate with Jake Marmer, poets composed alongside the timbres and textures of Yiddish music. Traveling…
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Pamela Anderson Asks Bibi to Support Fur Ban
Pamela Anderson came back from her honeymoon Israel with some serious business on her mind. The actress/activist, who recently honeymooned in the Holy Land, sent a letter to Benjamin Netanyahu urging him to support a proposed ban on the sale of clothing made with fur. If passed, the bill would make Israel the first country…
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The Jewish Cardinal Who Spoke Yiddish
“The Jewish Cardinal” (“Le Metis de Dieu”), the 2012 French film shown at the New York Film Festival, is a fascinating puzzler. “To become a Christian I did not reject my Judaism” is the mantra of Jewish-born Aaron Lustiger — intelligently portrayed by Laurent Lucas — who converted at 14, and as Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, almost…
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Rabbi Yossi Eilfort, Mixed Martial Arts Star
Rabbi Yossi Eilfort recently threw his first punch to the face — and knocked out his opponent. The 22-year-old California based rabbi was competing in an amateur Mixed Martial Arts bout and won with a TKO in the second round, according to The Algemeiner. Eilfort started training just six months ago under former UFC fighter…
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Hollywood Hillbillies: ‘Jews Are Too Smart For Manual Labor’
(JTA) — This week saw the premiere of cable network REELZ’s new reality show, “Hollywood Hillbillies.” Not included in the episode — but available thanks to the generosity of the folks at TMZ — is this clip in which Mema, transplanted to LaLa Land (LA) from small-town Georgia, shares her feelings about Jews. “I love Jews….
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