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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Meet Clifford Scheiner, Orthodox Doctor and Leading Porn Collector
It’s not surprising that Dr. Clifford Scheiner, a self-proclaimed Orthodox Jew and student of Talmud and Torah, poses in today’s New York Daily News holding a book. What might raise eyebrows is that the tome in question is the illustrated biography of ‘70s porn star Vanessa Del Rio. Scheiner, according to the News, “has one…
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Israeli Celebs Take To Faux Prison Cell in Solidarity With Gilad Shalit
They decided that the best way to show their solidarity was by doing time in solitary. Beginning last Saturday evening at 8:00 PM and lasting for 24 hours, various high-profile Israelis took turns sitting in a dark, depressing mock prison cell reflecting the conditions in which Gilad Shalit is likely living in captivity. The cramped…
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Books Ganache, and Kids
Efrat Libfroind is the author of “Kosher Elegance: The Art of Cooking With Style.” Her blog posts are being featured this week 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: Being a full-time mom and also a full…
The Latest
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Hopes Confirmed at the Second Montreal International Yiddish Theatre Festival
Robi Cohen A version of this post appeared in Yiddish. When the first Montreal International Yiddish Theatre Festival wrapped up two years ago, one could hear the usual critics saying: “Nu! Let’s see if there will be a second one.” This year, that question was answered. From June 13 to 22 the second International Yiddish…
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Monday Music: Shofars, Environmentalism, and Oversexed Cicadas
It goes without saying that Meira Warshauer’s “Tekeeyah (a call)” — a concerto for shofar — centers on religious themes. At the heart of the work is the pulsating call to repentance traditionally trumpeted through a ram’s horn on the High Holy Days. What’s less obvious is that Warshauer’s first symphony, the other major orchestral…
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That’s Chutzpah: Fan Scores Meeting with Sarah Silverman in Israel
These days, all you need is a little chutzpah and some social networking to make your dreams come true. At least, that is all American-Israeli Molly Livingstone needed to achieve her goal of meeting Sarah Silverman on the comedienne’s first trip to Israel. The 28-year-old Los Angeles native, who lives in Jerusalem and does improvisational…
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Books Google Maps of Jerusalem, Circa 1570
Crossposted from Haaretz Late 16th-century Jerusalem is “the most famous of Judea and the entire East, whose size and splendor marvels the imagination” according to German geographer and theologian George Braun, who during the Renaissance created several of the most important historical maps of the city. “That Jerusalem is the center of the whole world…
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Out and About: Slavoj Zizek on Anti-Semitism; Jewish Cowboys in Argentina
Philip Roth has “wised up” and stopped reading fiction. The Washington Post profiles the last of Argentina’s Yiddish-speaking cowboys. Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek addresses a Tel Aviv BDS gathering, but talks mostly about European anti-Semitism. How Jewish Pittsburgher Alan Paul became a rock star in China. “They Hate Us Because We’re Blond,” says “Foreskin Man”…
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The Yenta in Question Is Charles Busch
In anticipation of his eagerly-awaited new play, “Olive and the Bitter Herbs” which opens at Primary Stages on July 26, veteran playwright and actor Charles Busch continues to rake in the tributes. On June 27, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation will present Busch with its 2011 Innovative Theatre Luminary Award at a benefit performance…
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This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
On Global Smurf Day, Roi Ben-Yehuda looks at the show’s misogynist and anti-Semitic tendencies. Laura Hodes goes to see “The Last Act of Lilka Kadison,” a play at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre Company about the magic of the theater. Josh Lambert lauds “Farm 54,” a series of graphic short stories by brother and sister Gilad and…
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Friday Film: Five Years Later, Gilad Shalit Is Still Captive
Getty Images On June 23, the International Red Cross asked Hamas to provide proof that Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured in June 2006, is still alive. Hamas — to no one’s surprise — refused. The timing is not coincidental. June 25 will mark five years that Shalit has been held prisoner by Hamas, without…
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Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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Culture Cardinals are Catholic, not Jewish — so why do they all wear yarmulkes?
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Music After decades of waiting, we’re finally getting a Bob Dylan-Barbra Streisand duet
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Fast Forward A Jewish nonprofit may have accidentally caused Michigan to drop charges against pro-Palestinian activists
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Culture For Christian nationalists, Trump’s pope picture isn’t a joke
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Opinion Is Israel really going to reoccupy Gaza? Ask Trump
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Yiddish World A photo of my bubbe when Jewish stores still had Yiddish signs
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