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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A Comedy by, About and Starring Lawyers
“I got my show business through a needle,” Myron Cohen, a former litigator [no relation to legendary comic-raconteur and Ed Sullivan regular Myron Cohen] told me following the August 28 launch at The Lambs of his most recent production —“The Ghost Writer—A Comedy.“ Presented by the New York City Bar Association’s Entertainment Committee, it was…
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Meet the World’s Sassiest Jewish Mother
Every winter, Joshua Seftel faced a recurring problem. With his mother migrating to Sarasota, he found it hard to keep in touch. Email was cumbersome and phone conversations were sparse and stunted. And then came the iPad. When his father passed away a little over three years ago, Seftel bought his mother a shiny new…
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High Holy Days vs. Fashion Week
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree It so happened this year that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, coincided with New York’s Fashion Week, prompting some eagle-eyed observers to trumpet the possibility of a showdown between the “shofar and the shows,” a clash between the “Goddess of Fashion” and the God of the patriarchs and…
The Latest
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Gwyneth Paltrow’s Vespa Mishap
Gwyneth Paltrow, America’s most love-hated celebrity, has done it again. People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful Woman 2013” — and Star Magazine’s most hated celebrity — draws the spotlight to her once again after she was filmed cutting off a school bus while on her Vespa. Taking advantage of a slight opening between two vehicles, Gwyneth slithered through…
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Iddo Goldberg Gets His Big Break
The reason Iddo Goldberg is chatting with The Arty Semite is ostensibly his new film, “And While We Were Here,” opening September 13. But the conversation is less about his co-star Kate Bosworth than about his grandma Luba, who represents Judaism to him. In the film, the Israeli star plays Leonard, a concert musician booked…
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Natalie Portman Wants French Citizenship
For Natalie Portman, living life en francais just isn’t enough. Now that she and her husband, Benjamin Millepied are moving to Paris — he just accepted a job with the Paris Opera Ballet — the “Black Swan” star told Madame Figaro magazine she’s considering applying for French citizenship. “We’re looking for an apartment! Benjamin and I…
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Nazi Joke Gets Russell Brand Banned From GQ Party
Note to GQ: Don’t invite Russell Brand to your party if you don’t want your sponsors Nazi ties exposed. The troublemaking British comedian was banned from the GQ Men of the Year Awards festivities last week after bringing up the great taboo: sponsor Hugo Boss’ past as a Nazi tailor. Brand, onstage at London’s Royal…
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‘Music Man Murray’ Gershenz Dies at 91
If you saw Richard Parks’ 2011 documentary short, “Music Man Murray,” then you’ll know that Murray Gershenz was looking for a long time to sell his famous used record business (also called Music Man Murray) and its collection of more than 300,000 records. Gershenz, who opened his landmark store on Los Angeles’ Santa Monica Boulevard…
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‘Still Jewish’: Avi Hoffman’s Yiddish-American Fest
“Still Jewish After All These Years — A Meshugene/Crazy Life in the Theatre” is really a misnomer for Avi Hoffman’s delicious one-man, two-hour bravura autobiographical recitative at Upper West Side’s Stage 72 (formerly the Triad), which delighted the audience. Spiffy in a well-tailored pin-stripe suit, and a blue silk tie with a Star of David…
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Images of Ontario 40 Years Past
For 40 years, the Ontario Jewish Archives has chronicled one of North America’s most vibrant Jewish communities. Now, the Archives is raiding its vault with an anniversary exhibit of 30 rarely seen images that focus on historically Jewish neighborhoods, local political activism, and society portraits — a field dominated by Jewish photographers. Once a staid…
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Joan Rivers Knows How It’s Done
Joan Rivers knows how to do things. She can dress, she can walk and she can definitely talk. But just like other humans, Joan Rivers has to eat. Only, as always, she does it better. Great New York moment! Ordering a frankfurter from a street vendor, through the tinted window of my limo. pic.twitter.com/zJbHXHUM1q ampmdash;…
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Music Can 6 hours of Billy Joel turn critics into believers?
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Opinion What exactly is going on between Israel and Syria — and is the prospect of peace dead?
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Fast Forward Antisemitic assaults and vandalism are down on campuses but online bullying is up, Hillel finds
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