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
-
Which Celeb Do You Want to Smooch on Valentine’s?
Is anyone surprised that the kiss seen round the world on Super Bowl Sunday catapulted Bar Refaeli to first place in Jewcier.com’s Valentine’s Day poll? Of course not. The Israeli supermodel has gotten a whole lot of traction from the pucker power generated by her sexy smooch with nerdy actor Jesse Heiman in the Go…
-
Books I Am Writer. Are You Chopped Liver?
Earlier this week, Michael Lavigne wrote about writing the “Radical Other.” 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: Is it possible to take the ego out of writing? I ask this question…
-
Watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Sesame Street
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has recently been on the big screen with roles in such grown-up fare as “Lincoln,” “Looper” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” recently took a turn on children’s television with an appearance on Sesame Street. Watch below to see him talk about the word “reinforce” with Murray:
The Latest
-
Holocaust Archive To Be Commemorated in Warsaw
A monument commemorating the Ringelblum Archive will be built on Nowolipki Street in Warsaw, where it was hidden during the war. Emanuel Ringelblum led a secret operation code-named Oyneg Shabbos while living in the Warsaw Ghetto, in the basement of the building at 68 Nowolipki St., between August 1942 and February 1943. Ringelblum, along with…
-
Why Simon & Garfunkel Split
Mike Nichols is to Simon & Garfunkel as Yoko Ono is to The Beatles. Art Garfunkel revealed at a recent panel discussion in New York that when the film director hired the duo to act in his 1970 film version of Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22,” — but then dropped Simon from the project — he did…
-
Dispute Settled Over Yiddish Literary Trove
The dispute over the papers of the late Yiddish writer Chaim Grade has been settled in favor of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research and the National Library of Israel, according to a recent press release. The two organizations have also gained control over copyright to Grade’s published work. Grade was one of the most…
-
Brooklyn School Named After Maurice Sendak
An elementary school in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood is renaming itself after late children’s author Maurice Sendak. PS 118 announced February 8 that it will now be called the Maurice Sendak Community School, after the author of “Where the Wild Things Are,” “In the Night Kitchen” and “Chicken Soup With Rice,” among other classics. “We…
-
A Guide To Upcoming Classical Concerts In New York
For Manhattan classical concertgoers in search of Yiddishkeit, the upcoming month will offer a tasty mix of melodies, Mahler, and modernism. On February 17 at the 92nd street Y, the scintillating Taiwan-born pianist Jenny Lin performs arrangements of music by Gershwin, Rodgers, and Arlen. Selections may be previewed on Lin’s latest CD, “Get Happy.” (Steinway…
-
Italian Pop Star Won’t Sing on Shabbat
The lead singer of an Italian pop group reportedly will skip a live performance at Italy’s most famous popular song festival because he observes Shabbat. Singer Raiz (Gennaro Della Volpe), of the Neapolitan reggae-dub group Almamegretta, will not sing live on stage during Friday night’s broadcast of the annual San Remo song festival, according to…
-
Grammys Jewish Highlights
All eyes and ears were on the Grammys on Sunday night. Here are some Jewish highlights: Jack Antonoff and his band fun. won for Best New Artist and for Best Song of the Year for “We Are Young,” and Drake’s “Take Care” won for best rap album. Watch Lena Dunham, who was hard to miss…
-
Books Writing the Radical Other
Michael Lavigne’s first novel, “Not Me,” was the recipient of the Sami Rohr Prize Choice Award. His newest novel, “The Wanting,” will be published by Schocken Books on February 26. Win a free copy of “The Wanting” here, visit Michael on Facebook, and visit his official website here. His blog posts are featured on The…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
News No Jews allowed: White supremacists are building a segregated community in Arkansas, but is it legal?
- 2
News Zohran Mamdani has represented Astoria’s Jews for 4 years. What do they think of him?
- 3
News Curtis Sliwa has a plan to beat Zohran Mamdani in NYC mayor’s race — and it starts with apologizing to Jews
- 4
Culture Barbra Streisand’s brand-new duet with Bob Dylan is a whole lot different than you might think
In Case You Missed It
-
Yiddish דאָקטוירים פֿון אַן אַנדער שניטDoctors of a different sort
די ווילנער דאָקטוירים יעקבֿ וויגאָדסקי און צמח שאַבאַד זענען אויך געווען געזעלשאַפֿטלעכע טוער.
-
Yiddish ווידעאָ: ווען ייִדיש האָט געקלונגען אין די גאַסן פֿון מעקסיקע VIDEO: When Yiddish rang throughout the streets of Mexico
יעקבֿ פֿינקלמאַן באַשרײַבט אויך זײַן לאַנגיאָריקן פֿאַך — ווי ער האָט צוגעשטעלט וויסן אין טעלעקאָמוניקאַציע איבער דער וועלט
-
Opinion Want to understand what’s wrong with the ‘pro-Palestine’ movement? This Palestinian can help
-
Fast Forward Boulder firebombing suspect’s family can be deported, court says
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
