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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New Homes for Rare Maimonides Manuscript
A rare handwritten copy of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides has been jointly acquired by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The manuscript was purchased from the collection of Judy and Michael Steinhardt, according to a statement put out by both parties. “The Mishneh Torah is a rare treasure that…
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Eli Roth’s Octopus Encounter
Eli Roth should just stay away from the ocean. In 2010, the famed gore director almost died after he was stung over 200 times on his feet and palms by a sea urchin, while kayaking off the coast of Mexico. Rather than learning his lesson and sticking to the pool, Roth has reportedly suffered another…
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Jean Shafiroff Feted at JBFCS Benefit
It was wall-to-wall photo-op smiles as Jean Shafiroff, stunning in an azure blue strapless above the knee silk dress, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg faced the Red Carpet photo blitz at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services 2013 Spring Benefit on April 24. Proceeding from The Plaza’s Palm Court, past its “Great…
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Books Jewish Novels of Jewish Hollywood
American Dream Machine By Matthew Specktor Tin House Books, 464 pages, $25.95 Some people will always believe that the Jews run Hollywood. But even if Spielberg, Katzenberg, Weinstein, Bruckheimer, Zucker and the rest of their pals could comfortably form a minyan, the number of Americans who believe that Jews control the film industry has dropped…
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Books Author Blog: Statues and Golems
Earlier this week, Helene Wecker shared a golem-centric reading list and wrote about writing a novel in two cultures and Dorkdom. Enter to win a copy of her debut novel, “The Golem and the Jinni,” here. Her blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s…
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Watch Gwyneth Paltrow Imitate Jay-Z and Beyonce
Oh, Gwynnie. America’s most hated/loved celebrity made a splash during her appearance on “The Ellen Show” on Thursday when she was asked to impersonate singers based on a game that the actress often plays with her husband, singer Chris Martin. On the list? Jay-z, followed by Macklemore & Lewis, Kanye West and Beyonce. Watch below,…
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The Greatest Living Magician
Ricky Jay is a polymath of the dark arts. A master of sleight-of-hand and considered by some to be one of the greatest magician living today, he is also a historian of magic, a collector of rare books, a lecturer, a film and television actor, and a co-creator of the firm Deceptive Practices, which supplies…
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Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet’ Bombing Donation
Neil Diamond will donate royalties from his hit song “Sweet Caroline” to help victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. The song, which has become the unofficial anthem of healing for the city of Boston in the wake of the attacks, has been played during the eighth inning of every Boston Red Sox home game for…
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Matthew Weiner: ‘Mad Men’ Are Us
The Mad Men are us. That was the message “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner offered from the stage at a 92d Street Y talk last night, sitting in between Don Draper’s wives — January Jones who plays Betty Draper, now Betty Francis, and Jessica Paré who plays Megan Draper. Caryn James moderated a discussion and…
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Books Under the Influence of Golems
Earlier this week, Helene Wecker wrote about writing a novel in two cultures and dorkdom. Enter to win a copy of her debut novel, The Golem and the Jinni, here. 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…
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Cornell Aquires Leopold Zunz Collection
The Cornell University Library has acquired a collection of works by the 19th-century German-Jewish scholar Leopold Zunz for its Rare and Manuscript Collections, according to a recent press release. More than 100 works by Zunz, in German and English translation, were donated by Rabbi Steven M. Glazer, a longtime Zunz scholar and enthusiast. In addition…
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