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
-
Gilberto Gil’s Party in the Park
Crossposted from Haaretz One of Gilberto Gil’s first hits is called “Domingo no Parque” — Sunday in the park. Gil sang it in 1967 during a televised music festival with the fabulous Os Mutantes, and although another song won first place, “Domingo no Parque” launched the Brazilian’s career and became the signature tune of Tropicalia,…
-
Did a Jewish Actor Come Between Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony?
Is a Cuban-Jewish actor responsible for breaking up Jennifer Lopez’s marriage? That’s just one of the rumors swirling around William Levy, a Cuban-born telenovela star currently making a splash in the U.S. as the featured male beefcake in “I’m Into You,” J.Lo’s latest music video (see below). Speculation about a marriage-ending affair with J.Lo last…
-
How Lucian Freud Found His Faith in Realism
In 1993, Lucian Freud, the painter known for his sharp psychological portraits of friends and family often sprawled nude in his studio, painted his own portrait. “Now the very least I can do is paint myself naked,” the artist said. Called “Painter Working, Reflection,” the work shows the artist, then 71, facing the viewer with…
The Latest
-
Majority of Israeli 18-Year-Olds Not Drafted Into Army
It is common knowledge that all 18-year-old Israeli males serve in the Israel Defense Forces for three years, and all females for two years. Only that common knowledge is wrong. Israel’s Channel 2 News reports that in an interview with Israel Defense magazine, the IDF’s top human resources commander, Brigadier General Amir Rogovsky, said that…
-
Did Jews Invent the Question Mark?
Somehow, it’s not surprising that Jews, who are known to answer a question with a question, may have invented the question mark. Reuters reports that manuscript specialist Chip Coakley of Cambridge University was studying biblical manuscripts at the British Museum in London when he determined that the “zagwa elaya” (two dots resembling a the modern…
-
Facebook-Like Site FaceGlat To Serve Gender-Segregated Haredi Population
The term “Glatt kosher” doesn’t just refer to meat anymore. It’s now for social networking, too — at a website that is specifically designed to avoid the meat market aspects of the online world. Ynet reports that there is now a Facebook-type site, aimed at the gender-segregated Haredi population, called FaceGlat. If you are a…
-
Monday Music: Traveling the ‘Czechgrass’ Trail
Courtesy of Druha Trava I’ve just spent two days in a Prague studio helping record the vocal tracks for a new CD by the Czech country/bluegrass/fusion group Druha Trava. Founded 20 years ago, DT has brought out more than a dozen albums, including several in English. The new CD is the first that will primarily…
-
Bloomberg Officiates at Same-Sex Nuptials of Two Jewish Staff Members
New York’s weekend of marriage equality launched with a joyous Jewish twist. Mayor Michael Bloomberg last night officiated at the wedding of two Semitic members of his staff at a Gracie Mansion ceremony. Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jonathan Mintz and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt tied the knot after being together for 14 years, according to…
-
Mourning Amy Winehouse’s Lost Jewish Future
On July 23, London police were called to Amy Winehouse’s Camden apartment where they found the bluesy singer-songwriter dead. In addition to the sadness of losing such a talented musician early in her career, there’s a more prosaic tragedy as well. Talking to a Perth newspaper in 2007, the troubled Winehouse said that she dreamed…
-
Paul Simon Wows Crowd in Tel Aviv
Crossposted from Haaretz It didn’t matter where you sat, stood or danced at Thursday night’s Paul Simon concert in Tel Aviv, the music swirled around you and swept you up. For such a large venue, there was an intimacy normally associated with club gigs, which emanated directly from the artist and extended right to the…
-
Out and About: Pablo Dylan’s Rap Career; What I.B. Singer Left Behind
Former Forward staffer Seth Mnookin chronicles the trials and triumphs of the New York Times. An archeological excavation of the ancient Israelite city of Shechem is taking place under the auspices of the Palestinan Department of Antiquities. Bob Dylan’s grandson Pablo has launched a rap career, describing his grandfather as the “the Jay-Z of his…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
- 2
Culture Cardinals are Catholic, not Jewish — so why do they all wear yarmulkes?
- 3
Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
- 4
Music After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet
In Case You Missed It
-
Culture On a clever new show, a female rabbi makes Judaism modern
-
Antisemitism Decoded What do we really mean by ‘campus antisemitism’? Harvard explains
-
Fast Forward Trump pulls nomination of Ed Martin, the DC prosecutor under fire for ties to Nazi sympathizer
-
Fast Forward Freed hostage Emily Damari to Pulitzer board: Mosab Abu Toha is ‘the modern-day equivalent of a Holocaust denier’
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
