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
-
Move Over Hillary Clinton, Here Comes Lindsay Lohan
You’d think Lindsay Lohan would have enough problems of her own to sort out. But no. La Lohan took a short a break from swiping jewelry, getting intoxicated, making scenes at nightclubs, rehab visits, and court appearances, to make a statement on the Egyptian revolution and Middle East peace via Twitter. These were two of…
-
Being There
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree The recent revelation that iTunes has created an app that seems to substitute for confession underscores the power of technology to redefine the very notion of ritual practice. So, too, has “Tweet Your Prayers,” in which electronic kvitlakh, or personal petitions, can be sent to the kotel, the Western…
-
For Valentine’s Day, A Look at Jewish Celebrities Who Make Us Swoon
In honor of the holiday that makes us profess our love and buy things we otherwise wouldn’t, the Forward staff has picked 18 Jewish celebrities we love today and, well, pretty much every day.
The Latest
-
Monday Music: Contemporary Concertos Go Baroque
One might be forgiven, upon first listening to the NAXOS recording of Avner Dorman’s concertos performed by Andrew Cyr’s Metropolis Ensemble, for not feeling immediately convinced that these are, in fact, concertos in any traditional sense. There are no buoyant Mozartian introductions here, no grand orchestral pauses to launch soloists into rapturously virtuosic cadenzas before…
-
A New Symphony for Ramat Gan
Crossposted from Haaretz Quietly, almost imperceptibly, a new Israeli symphony orchestra is emerging. Given the minuscule government budget allocated to local musical ensembles, there will surely be some people who will be unhappy about this: Many advocate the “divide and conquer” ideology that seeks to close down orchestras or at least combine a few together,…
-
Q & A: Justin Bieber’s Jewish Father Figure Talks to the Forward
In a hostile world, where can frightened Jewish children find inspiration to be themselves? In the new Justin Bieber documentary, “Never Say Never,” according to Scott “Scooter” Braun, the 29-year-old manager of the world’s biggest post-adolescent pop star and a protagonist of the film. “There are kids who are picked on and deal with anti-Semitism,”…
-
Books Tunisia, Whitesnake, and My Top Ten Favorite Jews of All Time
Michael David Lukas’s first book, “The Oracle of Stamboul,” is now available. 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: I’ve been thinking a lot these past few months about…
-
Out and About: Jonathan Lethem Leaves Brooklyn; Ketubahs for All
Novelist Jonathan Lethem, author of “Motherless Brooklyn,” leaves Brooklyn for Southern California. Kevin Spacey unveiled his new Middle East Theater Academy in Dubai. Forward contributing editor Ilan Stavans talks about putting together the Norton Anthology of Latino Literature. Ketubahs aren’t just for Jews anymore, says Samuel Freedman in the New York Times. Tablet Magazine profiles…
-
This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
Jordana Horn goes to see “Wandering Eyes,” a film about Israeli bi-polar rock star Gavriel Balachsan, at the Reelabilities Film Festival (read more coverage of the festival here). Jay Michaelson argues that being gay and Orthodox is not an oxymoron. Philologos argues that being a rhinoceros and a faynshmeker is an oxymoron. A.J. Goldmann goes…
-
Jerusalem Family Welcomes 18th Child
Talk about being fruitful and multiplying! A Jerusalem family has just greeted its 18th child, the Jewish Chronicle reported today. The arrival of the Hasidic baby boy brings the family total to nine sons and nine daughters, and should provide yet one more reason for the clan’s two washing machines to continue working “non-stop.” The…
-
Jewish Editorial Cartoonist Rachel Gold Does Not Exist
Fans of acclaimed Austrian editorial cartoonist Rachel Gold who harbored hopes of meeting the “young, pretty Jewish immigrant girl from Israel” are in for a disappointment. Rachel — “one of the top editorial cartoonists in Austria” — doesn’t exist. Blogger Daryl Cagle revealed this week on his Cagle Post site that “Rachel Gold is a…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
Fast Forward Why the Antisemitism Awareness Act now has a religious liberty clause to protect ‘Jews killed Jesus’ statements
- 2
Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
- 3
Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
- 4
Opinion A Holocaust perpetrator was just celebrated on US soil. I think I know why no one objected.
In Case You Missed It
-
Fast Forward A Jewish city attorney is going after pro-Palestinian protesters. Her Oct. 7 tweets are making it complicated.
-
Fast Forward Kehlani responds to Cornell concert cancellation: ‘I am not antisemitic’
-
Fast Forward David Horowitz, ’60s radical turned right-wing firebrand and critic of Islam, dies at 86
-
News Pro-Nazi singer sells out Zagreb arena as Croatia’s collaborationist past sheds its taboo
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
