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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After Ten Years, a Jewish Poetry Journal Bids Farewell
Those of us who have participated in the Jewish poetry scene in New York City over the last decade might argue that the journal Mima’amakim invented it. Though Jewish women and men have been performing and publishing poetry for many decades as part of a thriving New York poetry scene, Mima’amakim established the first readings…
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Out and About: Woody Allen Film To Open Cannes; The Legacy of Lenny Bruce
Is literature being dropped from Israeli curricula? Simon Sebag-Montefiore writes a “biography” of Jerusalem. After a 45 year retreat from the public eye, Abstract Expressionist painter Abraham Yurberg has a new exhibit. Woody Allen’s new film “Midnight in Paris” is set to open this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Liel Leibovitz ruminates on the legacy of…
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A Living Museum in Nahariya
Crossposted from Haaretz Near the door of Andreas Meyer’s home in Kfar Vradim hangs an old photograph of trees alongside a stream, Nahal Ga’aton, which cuts through the city of Nahariya. Opposite is a photo, from 1908, of Meyer’s grandfather and two uncles. Both images serve as a window into 90-year-old Meyer’s life and home,…
The Latest
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Max Liebermann: Rediscovering a German Jewish Impressionist
Turn-of-the-century German Jewish artist Max Liebermann is still not a household name despite a major 2006 Jewish Museum retrospective. Further international attention may give him the acclaim he deserves. Liebermann was recently featured in an exhibit, “German Impressionist Landscape Painting” which after being seen at Cologne’s Wallraf-Richartz Museum from April through August, 2010, traveled to…
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Ari Folman Lines Up Star Cast for New Project
Fresh off this week’s announcement of one international project, Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman is signing up A-listers for another. The director of 2009 Oscar nominee “Waltz With Bashir” is putting together the cast for his first Hollywood movie, a sci-fi thriller called “The Congress.” The film’s new cast members reportedly include Harvey Keitel and Paul…
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Adam Sandler Finally Recieves Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Well it’s about time. Movie-star Adam Sandler was awarded the 2,431st star on the Hollywood walk of fame yesterday. Actors Henry Winkler and Kevin James roasted the funnyman, who was accompanied by his wife Jackie, and daughters Sadie and Sunny. Sandler is best known for films such as “Happy Gilmore,” “Big Daddy” and “Mr. Deeds.”…
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Adrien Brody Tries His Hand at Super Bowl Commercials
The youngest-ever winner of a Best Actor Oscar has lent his talents to a beer commercial set to debut this Super Bowl Sunday. Adrien Brody, whose performance as Wladyslaw Szpilman illuminated Roman Polanski’s adaptation of Szpilman’s autobiography “The Pianist,” will play a 1960s nightclub crooner in a spot for Stella Artois beer. Making his debut…
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Why Is This Passover Different From All Other Passovers?
Each year at Passover we gather together, crack the door a bit, and break bread of the unleavened variety. It is a celebration of freedom, of tradition, and a reminder of those ties that bind. While the Seder depicted in Matthew Lopez’s play “The Whipping Man,” which opened February 1 at New York City Center,…
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Books Five Not-As-Terrible-As-You-Think Comedy Movies
Saul Austerlitz is the author of “Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy.” His blog posts are appearing 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: In writing my book “Another Fine Mess: A…
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Movement for Equality
Crossposted from Haaretz On the pale parquet floor of the Rabeah Murkus Dance Studio in Kfar Yassif a few students are warming up to a backdrop of purple walls and a decorated Christmas tree. After Murkus hustles the last of the lingerers in the dressing room, samba music starts coming through the loudspeakers and the…
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Jon Voight is a Chabadnik at Heart
Jon Voight is a Chabadnik at heart, or so he declared at a cornerstone-laying ceremony in an east Jerusalem neighborhood. A long-time Israel supporter, the American Academy Award winner and star of films such as “Midnight Cowboy” is visiting the country with likely Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. “I’m proud to stand here today with…
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Yiddish מחשבֿות פֿון אַן אַהיים־געקומענעם (אַ מלחמה־טאָגגבוך)Reflections of a soldier after returning home (a wartime diary)
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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 At Harvard, reports on antisemitism and anti-Palestinian bias reflect campus conflict over Israel
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