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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Lena Dunham Announces ‘Girls’ Premiere Date
Attention “Girls” fans! It’s official — the mascot series of the broke-Brooklyn-twenty-something that lives in all of us has a return date: January 12, 2014. Really, Lena Dunham instagrammed so. In the meantime, hop the G train, pay a visit to Grumpy’s, dance frenetically to Robin — whatever one does to celebrate, “Girls”-style.
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The Ballad of Thanksgivukkah
When Rabbi David Paskin, a congregational rabbi outside of Boston and the co-head of Kehillat Schechter Academy, heard that Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah would fall on the same day this year, he knew it was a chance for families to have fun. But he also saw it as a moment to shine…
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What’s Behind Israel’s Zombie Outbreak?
Nothing brings people together — or rips them apart — like zombies. In the recent Hollywood blockbuster “World War Z,” Israelis and Palestinians band together against swarming hordes of the undead. But this unlikely coalition is short lived. The noise of their joint celebration attracts thousands of flesh-eaters who hurl themselves over a massive security…
The Latest
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Natalie Portman Is Back!
After two years off-screen, the tribe’s pride and joy (a Harvard graduate!) is back in the limelight. Natalie Portman shines on the November cover of Marie-Claire, and dishes about her love for Los Angeles, her upcoming move to Paris and how, really, she’s just like you and me. She even has bad habits! “I bite…
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Stephen Colbert Hates Thanksgivukkah
With Thanksgivukkah madness on the rise, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include Stephen Colbert’s angry rant in the mix. Stephen Colbert loves Thanksgiving. So it’s no wonder he gets mad when “American sacred day of family, and hearing Nana’s unvarnished opinion of Filipinos, is in danger.” Why is his glorious holiday in such peril?…
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Choir! Choir! Choir! Brings Pop to the People
Bryan Adams Tweeted about them. Patti Smith shared a stage with them. And pop-star siblings Tegan and Sara number among their famous fans. They’re Choir! Choir! Choir!, and after three years of wildly popular “interactive singing nights” in Toronto, founders Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman are bringing their ad-hoc musical community to New York for…
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6 Crazy Things for Thanksgivukkah
We’re two weeks from Halloween folks, which means while the rest of the country is already in the full swing Christmas kitsch, we of the tribal persuasion get to celebrate something much more special this year. And why shouldn’t we go all out? It’s going to be another 70,000 years, or approximately 2,800 generations, before…
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Is Woody Allen Headed to Israel?
His most recent films may be based in just about every (almost) Western European capital, but Woody Allen says he’s not a big tourist. But in an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 on the eve of “Blue Jasmine“‘s European release, everyone’s favorite neurotic admitted to considering bending the rules for a trip to the Holy…
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Ivanka Trump Gives Birth to Baby Boy
Mazel Tov to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner on their new little bundle of joy. The couple announced the birth of their son last night via — what else? — Twitter: We just welcomed a beautiful & healthy son into the world. Jared, Arabella and I couldn’t be happier! ampmdash; Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) October 15,…
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Casting Call: Michael Douglas Plays Rabin
“Why Sandra Bullock as the voice of Golda Meir?” I asked Richard Trank, director of the documentary “The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers” which opens October 18 at The Quad, in New York City. Bullock, now starring in the mega-hit “Gravity” may leave filmgoers speechless, but as the voice of prime minister Meir, she lacks the…
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IMAX ‘Jerusalem’ Closer to Heaven Than Earth
National Geographic Entertainment’s cinematographically beautiful new 3D IMAX movie “Jerusalem” is closer to the heavenly Jerusalem than to the earthly one. But even devoid of contemporary political context, the film provides an informative and visually stunning introduction to the Old City of Jerusalem and its fundamental importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For those unfamiliar…
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