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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Books
The World’s Mightiest Mortal Gets a New Lease on Life
We Jews like to pride ourselves on the many things we’ve invented: the ballpoint pen, blue jeans, and the atomic bomb, to name a few. (How about the theory of relativity — does that count?) We’ve also had a strong hand in shaping the world of modern entertainment, helping to build Hollywood, create the modern…
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A Week of Jewish Bookends in London
The most striking thing about the opening of Jewish Book Week — London’s biggest book fair — was the relative lack of books. At the opening, on Saturday night, to a packed audience, Simon Sebag-Montefiore led off the presenters with an account of his much feted “Jerusalem, a Biography,” but the smorgasbord of Judaic books…
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Caught on Camera: Galliano Proclaims ‘I Love Hitler’
So much for that defamation suit. Fashion designer John Galliano is now in even deeper trouble after being arrested last week in Paris for an anti-Semitic tirade. (Anti-Semitic speech is illegal in France). England’s Sun newspaper posted video of the rant online today, with the clip immediately going viral, and contradicting Galliano’s denials last week…
The Latest
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Remembering Influential Orthodox Songwriter Moshe Yess
The English-speaking Haredi Jewish community produces an awful lot of original Jewish music, though critics might consider it a lot of awful original Jewish music. With rare exceptions, the lyrics of popular songs in English — as opposed to settings of liturgical texts or Yiddish lyrics — come in just a few flavors, ranging from…
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The Jewish Poetry Conspiracy
Aaron Roller is an editor of Mima’amakim, a journal of Jewish religious poetry and art. Their new issue was just released. His 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: The…
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A Minyan Of Jews Shines on Oscar Night
Jews behind the camera, and one who works in front of it, scored big at last night’s 83rd annual Academy Awards. As widely expected, Israeli-born thesp Natalie Portman nabbed the Best Actress honor for her mad-ballerina shtick in “Black Swan.” Backstage, the with-child Portman told reporters, “[Pregnancy] has sort of been a protection against all…
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Monday Music: Shakin’ That Melancholy With the Afro-Semitic Experience
Jewish and African-American cultures have met on musical ground on many occasions — just think of Cab Calloway’s forays into Yiddish, Nina Simone’s covers of Hebrew folksongs, or most recently, the collaboration of Fred Wesley, David Krakauer and Socalled as Abraham Inc. David Chevan’s Afro-Semitic Experience, however, is different. The project unapologetically focuses on religious…
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Israel’s Yuval Pick to Head French Dance Center
Crossposted from Haaretz The Israeli dancer and choreographer Yuval Pick was appointed director last week of France’s Centre Choregraphique National de Rillieux-la-Pape. Pick, 40, will replace choreographer Maguy Marin, who has held the position since 1998, in August. CCN Rillieux-la-Pape, in the Rhone-Alpes region, is one of 19 such centers established around France in the…
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Out and About: Jewish Winners at the Oscars; Arguing for Modigliani
Actress Natalie Portman and writers David Seidler and Aaron Sorkin were among the winners at last night’s Academy Awards. Also, the Israeli documentary “Strangers No More” took home the prize for best short documentary. “Zenga Zenga,” An Israel video lampooning Muammar Gaddafi, has gone viral. A new biography argues for the continuing relevance of Amedeo…
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This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
Benjamin Ivry remembers French politician and media figure Françoise Giroud. Jake Marmer reviews “Coming To Life,” a poetry collection by Joy Ladin. Philologos goes to learn in yeshiva. Cheryl Kaplan goes to see “The Sota Project,” a 22-minute film installation about adultery, betrayal and doubt. Adam Rovner studies Israeli slang. Alicia Ostriker refects on the…
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New Jewish Sitcom Premieres in the UK
A new British sitcom “Friday Night Dinner,” inspired by Jewish family life, will debut in the UK this evening starring Tamsin Greig of the TV show “Green Wing” and Simon Bird from the teen-comedy “The Inbetweeners.” Continuing the Jewish march to the mainstream in Britain, the show, created and written by Robert Popper, a Bafta-winning…
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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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Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
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News Why Zohran Mamdani believes he’ll win over Jewish voters, as Israel critic surges to second behind Cuomo in NYC mayoral race
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Fast Forward The fires in Israel are under control — but debate is raging over their cause
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Fast Forward Betar USA founder banned from World Zionist Congress over feud with Israeli firebrand Shai Davidai
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News School Israel trip turns ‘terrifying’ for LA students attacked by Israeli teens
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