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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Josh Brolin and Diane Lane Head to Splitsville
Hollywood couple Diane Lane and Josh Brolin are divorcing after more than eight years, their representatives said on Thursday. “I can confirm Diane Lane and Josh Brolin have decided to end their marriage,” said Lane’s spokeswoman, Kelly Bush. A source close to the couple termed the split as “amicable” and said it was a mutual…
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Purim’s Greatest Videos
Here we are just a couple of days before the Megillah reading, and we’re not joking when we say it’s slim pickings when it comes to good new Purim videos. Some of the best Hanukkah videos last December were posted right under the wire before the first candle was lit, so let’s hope this could…
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Books Ben Katchor and Hand-Drying in America
In today’s installment of the Visiting Scribe, Eddy Portnoy sat down with Ben Katchor to discuss his newest book, “Hand-Drying in America: And Other Stories,” which will be published by Pantheon Books on March 5. Their blog posts are featured on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author…
The Latest
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Jews Scoop Up Juno Nominations
The nominees for the 2013 Juno Awards have been announced, and among them are Jewish musicians Drake, Leonard Cohen, Adam Cohen and Toronto group Jaffa Road, which was nominated for Best World Music Album for “Where The Light Gets In.” The Juno Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys, will be given out on April…
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‘Glengarry Glen Ross,’ Now With Estrogen
If one were to think back to “Glengarry Glen Ross,” the 1992 film with an all-male cast based on the award-winning 1984 David Mamet play about desperate real estate salesmen, what words would come to mind? Probably ones like “profanity” and “testosterone” — never “femininity” or “estrogen.” But what is it they say? Never say…
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‘Hairspray’ in the Holy City
The original “Hairspray” (1988) was a weird little movie made by cult director John Waters about rock and roll and race relations in 1960s Baltimore. Then it became a smash musical on Broadway, then a 2007 film adaptation of that Broadway hit. Now, the show is coming to Jerusalem, with a community theater production featuring…
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Clive Davis Comes Out in New Memoir
Twice-married music executive Clive Davis has come out as bisexual in his new memoir titled, “The Soundtrack of My Life.” He also revealed that has been in a monogamous relationship with a man for the past seven years. Change is good, right? Well, at least a couple of big-name celebs think so. Gwyneth Paltrow is…
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Books Author Blog: A Rabbi’s Tale
Earlier, Jay Neugeboren wrote about the art of silence. His 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: Some years ago, when I was president of Congregation B’nai Israel, in Northampton, Massachusetts, I wrote…
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Polish Jewry Index To Go Online
Researchers of Polish Jewry are set to gain online access to one million new documents following a new agreement signed by the Polish State Archives. Under the agreement, signed on February 15, Jewish Records Indexing-Poland, an online database, will receive indices to more than one million documents from the Polish archives authority and then place…
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Books Author Blog: The Art of Silence
Jay Neugeboren is the author of 20 books, including two prize winning novels, two prize-winning non-fiction books, and four collections of award-winning stories. His most recent books are “The American Sun & Wind Moving Picture Company” (March 2013) and “The Other Side of the World” (December 2012). His blog posts are featured on The Arty…
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Hasidic and In Style
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree This past week New York had its knickers in a twist when fashion designer John Galliano was spotted wearing an ensemble and sporting a hairdo that, at first blush, summoned up the external appearance of the Hasidim: oversized black hat, long black frockcoat, black knickers and payes. Some cried…
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