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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Remembering James Gandolfini’s Jewish Side
Of the events and occasions at which I ran into James Gandolfini — who died at 51 on July 19th — most memorable were the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding Award galas held at the United Nations Headquarters. At the June 4, 2008, gala, Gandolfini was seated at the table with honoree Madeleine Albright, former…
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Two Choreographers Interpret the Shoah
“It is always controversial when someone makes a work about the Holocaust, especially when that person is not Jewish. It can bring up a lot of emotion and anger,” said Jonathan Hollander, director of Battery Dance Company, in an interview with The Arty Semite. This week two dance performances explore the experience of the Holocaust…
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Herring, Puns and Michael Chabon at Jewish Cultural Awards
“Do you know why the sea is salty?” I asked Mark Russ Federman, third generation owner of Russ & Daughters during the champagne reception at the June 10 Foundation for Jewish Culture’s 2013 Jewish Cultural Achievement Awards at The TimesCenter. Without missing a beat, he gave the classic shtetl wisdom answer: “Because herrings swim in…
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James Gandolfini’s Israeli Ad
In the outpouring of obituaries and appreciations of actor James Gandolfini, who died yesterday at age 51, there’s been a tendency to confuse the man with his most famous character, Tony Soprano. That’s a pretty obvious mistake — an actor isn’t the same as the role he plays — but it’s also kind of understandable. When Jason…
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The Time Mila Kunis Spurned Russell Brand
Russell Brand may have many notches above his bedpost, but one name definitely doesn’t appear. In an interview with The Sun, the actor and comedian recalled how he failed to seduce Mila Kunis while on the set of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008. Kunis was dating former child-star Macaulay Culkin at the time. “I was…
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Younger Than That Now
Earlier this week, Kathy Ebel wrote about her German-Jewish family and Nice Jewish Girl protagonists from New York City. Her first novel, “Claudia Silver to the Rescue” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), is now available. Her blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog Series….
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Stars Mourn James Gandolfini
Nothing makes the Twittersphere explode like the death of a beloved star, and no exception was made for James Gandolfini, who died last night at age 51. After news broke of “The Sopranos” star sudden heart attack in Italy, Hollywood rushed to express its shock and grief in 140 characters. Bye, bye Tony. We’ll miss…
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100 Years of Kibbutz Quilting
An exhibition of 21 quilts showing until July 3 at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center in Palo Alto, Calif., stitches together a century of kibbutz life. Some of the quilts, full of colorful fields and small houses, celebrate the 100th anniversary of Israel’s kibbutz movement, while others are embroidered with a more critical eye…
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When You’re a Jew You Stay a Jew
Earlier this week, Kathy Ebel wrote about Nice Jewish Girl protagonists from New York City. Her first novel, “Claudia Silver to the Rescue” (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), is now available. Her blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog Series. For more information on…
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James Franco Needs You!
Move over, Zach Braff! James Franco has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to rustle up funds for his latest project: a film trilogy based on “Palo Alto Stories,” his 2011 fiction-writing debut. The 35-year-old jack-of-all-trades will not be directing the films himself, Mashable reported, opting instead to recruit three of his “favorite directors at [New York…
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Marc Mezvinsky’s Apartment For Sale
If you can’t keep up with the Clintons, you can at least try and live like them. Marc Mezvinsky, Chelsea Clinton’s banker hubby, is unloading his $4.5 million apartment at the Grand Madison, a 12-story, 191-unit building at 225 Fifth Avenue, the Real Deal reported. Mezvinsky, 35, had reportedly purchased the three-bedroom, 2 1/2 -bath…
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