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
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
The Latest
-
‘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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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….
-
Stephen Harper Serenades Bibi With ‘Hey Jude’
(JTA) — On his first trip to Israel this week, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hit all the expected stops for visiting dignitaries. He went to Yad Vashem and the Western Wall, picked up an honorary degree from Tel Aviv University, and laid the cornerstone for a bird sanctuary that will soon bear his name….
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
- 2
Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
- 3
Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
- 4
Opinion A Holocaust perpetrator was just celebrated on US soil. I think I know why no one objected.
In Case You Missed It
-
Opinion The secret cost of Israel’s wars ravaged my family. It’s only getting worse
-
Yiddish מחשבֿות פֿון אַן אַהיים־געקומענעם (אַ מלחמה־טאָגגבוך)Reflections of a soldier after returning home (a wartime diary)
דער מחבר איז אַ סטודענט אינעם ירושלימער העברעיִשן אוניווערסיטעט, אינעם צווייטן יאָר ייִדיש־לימוד
-
Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
-
News At Harvard, reports on antisemitism and anti-Palestinian bias reflect campus conflict over Israel
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
