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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Grandmother Who Duels With Darth Vader
Most grandmothers start to slow down when they hit their golden years, but not Frederika Goldberger. At 93, she’s faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Outfitted in her spandex suit, cape, helmet and high-top sneakers, she’s ready for any challenge —…
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Books What Is That Song Playing in My Ear?
Earlier this week, Joshua Eli Plaut wrote about Hanukkah events in the New York City area. 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: Jews have played a crucial role in popularizing Christmas….
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Tavi Gevinson Adds Author to Resume
Tavi Gevinson has accomplished more in her 16 years than most people double her age. The style blogger, writer and darling of the fashion set launched a fashion blog from her suburban Chicago home before she turned 12. Two years later it was getting 50,000 hits a day and she was a fixture in the…
The Latest
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Why The Organ Is The Most Jewish Instrument
To some lovers of classical sounds, organ music seems irremediably goyish, despite outstanding achievements by such Jewish composers as Aaron Copland and Arnold Schoenberg in writing for the so-called “king of instruments.” For these, “The Organ and Its Music in German-Jewish Culture,” recently published in paperback, will be a real ear-opener. Its author, musicologist Tina…
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Jami Gertz on ‘The Neighbors’
If it weren’t for Nicholas Ressler, Jennifer Aniston might still be waiting tables. A slight exaggeration, perhaps. But Nick’s mom is the actress Jami Gertz, who was originally offered the role of Rachel Green on “Friends.” Rachel became an iconic character on one of the grandest comedy hits in television history. “I wanted another child,”…
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Snoop Lion as Moses
Move over Charlton Heston, Snoop Lion (formerly Dogg) is the new Moses. The rapper plays the greatest of Jewish prophets as he faces off against Santa Claus in the latest episode of Epic Rap Battles of History. The Daily Show without Jon Stewart? Believe it or not, Stewart almost quit the show early on. The…
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Suddenly Suzman
The South African Jewish actress Janet Suzman, who last year was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama, has rabble-rousing in her genes. She was born in Johannesburg in 1939, niece of the heroic anti-Apartheid activist Helen Suzman (née Gavronsky; 1917-2009) and granddaughter of Max Sonnenberg, a…
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Books Author Blog: What Is Fair Taxation?
Yesterday Shmuly Yanklowitz wrote about Hurricane Sandy, FEMA, and the Need for Big Government. 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: If one listened only to the avalanche of political ads during…
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Books Women Helped Jewish Lit Evolve in 2012
On December 6, the Center for the Humanities at The Graduate Center of The City University of New York hosted a panel with an intriguing title: “Contemporary Jewish-American Writing: What Has Changed?” Equally interesting, especially when attention is being paid to gender (in)equities in publishing, the panel proposed to discuss how women writers, in particular,…
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Barbara Walters Dishes on Sex
Barbara Walters got a little candid about her sexual preferences as she told her “The View” co-hosts about her interview with E.L. James, “Fifty Shads of Grey” author. Lena Dunham may be all lovey-dovey with her indie rocker boyfriend Jack Antonoff (the paps caught the two smooching in public in Hollywood this past weekend), but…
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Books It’s Hanukkah Time! Where’s the Party?
Last week, Joshua Eli Plaut wrote about Festivus and Jewish Santas. 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: Every December, I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of Jewish celebrations taking place across…
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