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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Jewish Films Win German Oscars
Two Jewish-themed films fared well at the 2013 German Film Awards, known as the Lolas were handed out April 26 in Berlin. “Hannah Arendt,” famed German director Margarethe von Tratta’s film focusing on four years (1960-1964) in the political theorist’s life, won the Silver Lola for best film. The film deals with the period during…
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Documentary Profiles Mamas Who Rock
Jackie Weissman’s documentary film, “Rock N Roll Mamas” premiered the same week that Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” was published. It was interesting timing. While Sandberg’s book sparked debate across the nation about working mothers in white-collar settings, Weissman’s film highlighted the very different challenges of struggling female indie…
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Books The Nuts and Bolts of Writing
Earlier this week, Jessica Soffer wrote about learning to breathe and a precious treat from the Passover seder plate. 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 the series, please visit: Quite recently, someone asked me about…
The Latest
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Books Author Blog: Learning to Breathe
Earlier this week, Jessica Soffer wrote about a precious treat from the Passover seder plate. 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 the series, please visit: I needed something. Everyone was dying. Or at least a…
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Pesach Extends Its Shelf Life
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree What’s striking about the holiday of Pesach isn’t its historicity so much as its contemporaneity. There, I’ve said it. You would think that I would be most quick to praise the festival’s biblical origins, the ninth-century roots of the haggadah, or, at the very least, great grandma’s Depression-era dishes….
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Barbara Walters Interviews The Tribe
TV journalism matriarch Barbara Walters will be hanging up her mic in May 2014. Over her 52-year career, she’s interviewed every US President and First Lady since Richard and Pat Nixon, Hollywood icons, world leaders, dictators, Justin Bieber, and even a member of the tribe or two. Here’s a look back at some of her…
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s HitRECord Moves to TV
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is fast on his way to becoming Hollywood’s most endearing celebrity. He’s cute, funny, enthusiastic, and just so darn-likeable. Between a booming film career and his own production company, HitRECord, J-Gor-Lev’s a pretty busy guy. Regardless, he’s is adding another project to the list. The actor has announced a new project for fans,…
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‘Twilight’ Screenwriter Has Rabbis in the Family
Melissa Rosenberg is sizzling right now. She was the screenwriter of the megahit “Twilight” movies, and a writer and executive producer of Showtime’s “Dexter,” More recently, she helped create the new ABC series “Red Widow,” which is off to a slower start. It airs on Sunday nights at 10 p.m. The show is about Marta…
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Barbara Walters Is Retiring
39 years after she first got behind an anchor’s desk at “The Today Show,” sources have confirmed that Barbara Walters will be retiring in May 2014. A number of specials and send-offs are in the works to celebrate the grande dame of television’s 52-year-career. Walters will also be leaving her show “The View,” along with…
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Books Author Blog: Precious Haroset
Jessica Soffer’s debut novel, “Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots,” will be published on April 16. Win a signed copy 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 on the series, please visit: I am bored to death,…
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Woody Allen Stammers for 45 Minutes
Is this supposed to be some kind of metaphor for his career? (Alright, that was a bit cheap.) Yesterday the Huffington Post put together a clip of every single Woody Allen stammer from every single one of his movies. The whole thing is almost 45 minutes long, and watchable for about 45 seconds. Enjoy for…
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