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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Ben Shapiro says real men don’t wear dresses. History begs to differ (and so does Harry Styles)
Professional heartthrob Harry Styles rocked several stylish ensembles during his recent Vogue cover shoot. Among them were a tartan skirt, a lacy ball gown, and a tulle hoop skirt that looks like it was ripped from my grandmother’s wedding dress. Some readers likely experienced surprise while leafing through this spread: After all, it’s still rare…
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No one wants Jon Ossoff to win more than TikTok
“HE’S SO FINE LMAO.” “I don’t think you understand. I’m obsessed.” “Who is this man i’m in love.” “Y’ALL CALM DOWN HE IS MARRIED.” The man who inspired this lustfest in the TikTok comments section isn’t a celebrity. He’s never penned a hit love song or starred in a rom-com or flashed his abs in…
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After ‘Unorthodox,’ Shira Haas is headed to the Oscars
Over the summer, “Unorthodox” star Shira Haas went viral for her jubilant reaction to the miniseries’ multiple Emmy nominations. Now the actress, who snagged a nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Limited Series, is headed to the Oscars. On Friday, “Asia,” a mother-daughter drama starring Haas and fellow Israeli actress Alena Yiv, won Best…
The Latest
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In “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” Jewish girls thrive in the Mormon world
“The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” chronicles the lives of a small subset of plastic-surgery prone women in the capital of the Mormon world. It may not seem like a very Jewish show, but there’s only one word to describe our feelings about it: dayenu. It would have been enough to watch one housewife,…
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Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff is our hot Jewish dad crush
Editor’s note: We’re republishing this story, first published in July, 2019, after Kamala Harris was named vice president-elect on Nov. 7, 2020 — and Doug Emhoff, her hot Jewish lawyer husband, was standing right next to her to celebrate. If you’re not confused, you’re not paying attention: We’re living at the near-height of anti-Semitic incidents in…
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Kamala Harris and Douglas Emhoff made history for interfaith families. All Jews should celebrate that
When Kamala Harris becomes Vice President in January, she’ll have the privilege and burden of representing many “firsts.” She’ll be the first female, first Black, and first South Asian person to serve in the position. As if that’s not enough, Douglas Emhoff, Harris’s infamously infatuated husband and a Forward-certified “hot Jewish dad,” is making history…
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If Jared Kushner enlisted Kanye as a third-party spoiler, it didn’t work
In August, just a month after announcing he was “walking” for president, rapper Kanye West met with Trump family scion-in-law Kushner in Colorado. The purpose of the meeting was unknown: Kanye later tweeted that the two had discussed “Powernomics,” a book by Claud Anderson on Black economic empowerment, but provided no more substantive information. Combined…
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Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost threw a pandemic-era wedding without offending anybody
“Black Widow” star Scarlett Johannson and “SNL” pundit Colin Jost got married over the weekend, providing a definitive answer to the question people have been asking since they started dating: “Really? That guy?” Though the wedding took place last weekend, the couple broke the news on Thursday as part of a fundraiser for Meals on…
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A special delivery from Paul Rudd helps Brooklyn voters brave the rain
This election season, the wait to vote can make midsummer Disneyworld lines look like a picnic. So by now, you probably know to bring a snack (or a meal, or several) if you’re planning to cast your ballot in person. But if you forget, Paul Rudd might have one for you. On Thursday, the ‘Ant…
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‘Very nice:’ Kazakhstan is using Borat’s signature catchphrase to seduce tourists
Fourteen years ago, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” made a misogynistic, antisemitic and entirely backward version of its titular nation infamous. In response, the Kazakh government banned the film and threatened to sue its creator, Sacha Baron Cohen. Now, as the long-awaited “Borat” sequel beams into American homes,…
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Jeff Goldblum and the ‘Saturday Night Seder’ crew really want young Jews to vote
For the past several months, actress Beanie Feldstein has been hunkering down with her parents and phonebanking up a storm. Songwriter Hannah Friedman has been composing ditties at the behest of the Biden campaign. “Queer Eye” star Tan France, when he’s not cyber-stalking Beanie Feldstein, has been telling everyone he knows to vote. All three…
Most Popular
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News Dutch Jews grapple with ‘weaponization’ of their fear following attack on Israelis
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Opinion Almost all voting groups shifted toward Trump, except American Jews. Why?
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News What a Secretary of State Marco Rubio would mean for American Jews and Israel
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Fast Forward ‘Antisemitic hit-and-run squads’: Amsterdam temporarily bans demonstrations after Israeli soccer fans attacked by street mobs
In Case You Missed It
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Fast Forward Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf buddy, appointed special envoy to the Middle East
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Yiddish וואָס איז געווען דאָס ערשטע לשון אויף דער גאָרער וועלט?What was the first language on earth?
דער רוימישער אימפּעראַטאָר פֿרעדעריק דער צווייטער האָט געזוכט אַן ענטפֿער צו דער פֿראַגע אויף אַ וויסנשאַפֿטלעכן אופֿן.
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Fast Forward Federal judge temporarily blocks Louisiana’s law requiring classrooms to display Ten Commandments
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Theater They created a musical about the 2011 Egyptian Revolution. Today’s activists are listening
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