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
-
Lou Reed Recovers After Life-Saving Transplant
Rock legend Lou Reed is reportedly recovering from a life-saving liver transplant. Reed’s wife Laurie Anderson told the Times of London that the musician “was dying” before undergoing the operation at Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic some weeks ago. According to the AP, Anderson praised the clinic’s work, saying that hospitals in her and Reed’s native New…
-
Amanda Bynes Evicted From New York Apartment
Anyone looking for a roommate? Amanda Bynes has reportedly been evicted from her New York apartment following her arrest on May 23 for smoking pot in the lobby of her building. A source told In Touch magazine that the actress “was notified that she is no longer welcome as a tenant in the building in…
-
New York According to Creator of ‘Spy vs. Spy’
Drawn to New York: An Illustrated Chronicle of Three Decades in New York City By Peter Kuper, Introduction by Eric Drooker PM Press, 208 pages, $29.95 This oversized, four-color 30-year compendium of comics, magazine illustrations, painting and sketchbook work by the artist best known for his “Spy vs Spy” pages in Mad Magazine, is stunning…
The Latest
-
All About 5 Jewish Drag Queens
There is no shortage of Jewish contributions to the arts, even in the world of drag. Drag dates back to the days of Shakespeare, if not before, when women were not allowed to perform onstage and men would appear on their behalf in drag, or “dressed as girl.” Today, of course, women perform onstage and…
-
Introducing Inspector Avraham Avraham
Today D. A. Mishani continues with his series “The Mystery of the Hebrew Detective,” where he has been investigating why it’s so difficult to write a detective in Israel. His first detective novel, “The Missing File,” was published by Harper. The second novel in the series, “A Possibility of Violence,” will be published in the…
-
He Can Spell Knaidel, How About Farblondzhet?
Arvind Mahankali won a spelling bee with his “knaidel” (or should that be “kneydl”?) but could he, or you, correctly spell and define these fun Yiddish concepts? Take our quiz! babka, in Yiddish, is spelled babke. Bobke really are sheep droppings. Sorry to trick you. But mmmmm, babke!
-
Prince Edward and Dr. Ruth Toast the Queen
“Quick! Put down your drink! The prince is coming!” I called out to Ruth Westheimer during the pre-dinner mingling at the May 22 Red, White & Blue Duke of Edinburgh International Award Gala held at the Essex House. During my chat with Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the gala’s pre-dinner’s private reception, I recalled…
-
Woody Allen’s New Movie is About the Madoff Scandal
Film critics have finally gotten an idea of what Woody Allen’s new film, “Blue Jasmine,” is really all about. After obtaining a screening of the film, the Wall Street Journal reports the film is a fictional recount of the family life and ponzi scheme of Jewish fraudster Bernie Madoff. The film tells of a high-society…
-
Gold Rush Synagogue Went From Bust to Boom
It’s all because he looked up one day during services and noticed a crack in the ceiling of Congregation Emanu-El that Major General (ret.) Ed Fitch, an engineer with the Canadian Forces, ended up spearheading the 150th anniversary celebrations for the Victoria, British Columbia synagogue. Emanu-El is Canada’s oldest synagogue building still standing and still…
-
Stars Are Pressuring Alicia Keys to Cancel Israel Tour
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and “The Color Purple” author Alice Walker have written open letters to R&B star Alicia Keys urging her to cancel her Tel Aviv concert. “Dear Alicia Keys, I have learned today that you are due to perform in Israel very soon. We have never met, though I believe we are mutually…
-
Can a Policeman Be an Israeli Hero?
Today D. A. Mishani continues with his series “The Mystery of the Hebrew Detective,” where he has been investigating why it’s so difficult to write a detective in Israel. His first detective novel, “The Missing File,” was published by Harper. His blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
News Your complete guide to Trump’s Jewish advisers and pro-Israel cabinet
- 2
Fast Forward Trump AG nominee Matt Gaetz has left a trail of antisemitic comments
- 3
Opinion Trump’s first picks are die-hard Israel supporters, mocking the pro-Palestinian protest vote
- 4
News What a Secretary of State Marco Rubio would mean for American Jews and Israel
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward Sam Salz is likely the first Orthodox Jew to appear in a Division I college football game
-
Fast Forward In a federation official’s remark about resettling Gaza, signs of tension among Jewish groups in the new Trump era
-
Fast Forward Biden administration sanctions Israeli settler group, in move that Trump could reverse
-
Culture Is RFK about to ban goyslop — and what on earth is that?
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
