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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Books
The Future of Jewish Institutions
Dr. Ron Wolfson is Fingerhut Professor of Education at American Jewish University in Los Angeles and a cofounder of Synagogue 3000. His most recent book, “Relational Judaism: Using the Power of Relationships to Transform the Jewish Community” (Jewish Lights Publishing), is now available. His blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the…
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Farrah Abraham Patches Up Sex Tape Feud With Mom
Ex-Teen Mom Farrah Abraham has reportedly patched things up with her mother, Debra Danielson. The two had been estranged since news broke of the existence of a sex tape featuring the reality TV star’s sex and porn star James Deen. Tuns out, the sex tape was actually a professionally produced skin flick purchased by porn…
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Will London Have ‘Amy Winehouse Way’?
Beatles fans in London have Abbey Road, to cross. Now, admirers of the late Amy Winehouse might also have somewhere special for walking. The Sun reports that there are efforts underway to have a street named after the singer, who died in 2011 at age 27. A new area in King’s Cross is being redeveloped…
The Latest
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Lena Dunham Eyes $4.5M Williamsburg Penthouse
Lena Dunham is moving up — literally. The writer/actress/director/voice-of-her-generation has apparently been eyeing a $4.45 million penthouse apartment in Williamsburg’s Gretsch Building, a far cry from her character’s Greenpoint apartment on “Girls.” The three-bedroom pad has twin walk-in closets, a 1,900 squre-foot-terrace with views of the Manhattan skyline and the Williamsburg Bridge, and a cavernous…
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Ephron and Greenberg Pick Up Tony Nominations
It’s that time of year again. Tony Award nominations were announced this morning, with Best Play nods going to “The Assembled Parties” by Richard Greenberg, and “Lucky Guy,” the last play by the late Nora Ephron. Although Greenberg’s play is set on Christmas Day — two Christmas Days, actually — it’s about the Bascovs, a…
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Jewish Sports Is Not an Oxymoron
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree I try to follow and keep abreast of a lot of things: the news, for starters, as well as fashion and film and arts and culture. But I give baseball and basketball, much less soccer, a pass. You will rarely, if ever, catch me reading the sports section of…
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Mel Brooks’ First Tweet
In case you missed it. Mel Brooks has joined Twitter! This is my 1st tweet – watch me with @carlreiner & @juddapatow live at 5E/2P for #comedyfest P.S. Carl made me do it. ampmdash; Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) April 29, 2013 The comedy genius hopped on the blue birdie train during a Comedy Central chat with…
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Israeli Diversity at Tribeca Film Fest
The three Israeli films at this year’s Tribeca Film Festiva, which ended April 28, reflect an eclectic mix of genres, visions, and views about Israeli culture and the world at large. Two of the films deal with victimization, abuse and culpability. “Big Bad Wolves” starts out promisingly, with a suspenseful slow-motion opening sequence, as three…
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James Deen and Farrah Abraham Sex Tape Sold For Six Figures
Let’s see Farrah Abraham claim that her professionally produced porn flick was for personal use now. The former “Teen Mom” star has struck a deal with Vivid Entertainment for a sex tape featuring herself and porn star James Deen for close to a million dollars, TMZ reported Monday. After news first broke of the sex…
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D.C. Synagogue Competes for Preservation Grant
Washington D.C.’s Sixth & I Historic Synagogue is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim by winning a coveted Partners in Preservation grant to repair its century-old stained glass windows. Sixth & I has been chosen to be among 24 finalists competing for a portion of $1 million. Since 2006, Partners…
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Is Anne Frank’s Diary Too Graphic for School?
A mother in Northville, Michigan has filed a formal complaint with her daugher’s school district, claiming that passages in Anne Frank’s diary are too graphic for a seventh grade class. Parent Gail Horalek told the Northville Patch that the school should have asked for the parents’ permission before assigning the book, or at least sent…
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