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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Friday Film: Cartoons for Stalin
Although it may seem odd to hear a man who drew caricatures for a living talk about what it felt like to live through the horrors of the former Soviet Union, this is exactly what happens in the documentary “Stalin Thought of You.” Meet Boris Efimovich Efimov, a political cartoonist who witnessed every major event…
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The End of Israel’s Three-Year Streak Toward Oscar Glory
This year’s Academy Award nominees won’t be announced until Tuesday, but Israel already knows its hot streak at the Oscars is over. “The Human Resources Manager,” Israel’s foreign-language submission, failed to make it onto the short list of nine films in the category, announced Wednesday. The final five nominees will be announced January 25, along…
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Kadima’s Objections to Barak’s New Faction Take a Hilarious Turn
In all the excitement, controversy and dismay related to Israel’s Defense Minister abandoning his party, Labor, and forming a new faction, it seems that many of us overlooked the funny part. As the Forward reported here, in what many viewed as an act of self-preservation as Labor turned on him, Likud Barak has now set…
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When Mikhoels Came to America
A longer version of this post appeared in Yiddish. Some weeks ago, on December 12, I was involved in a commemoration at YIVO of the 120th birthday anniversary of the great Yiddish actor and director Solomon (Shloyme) Mikhoels. I am not sure if Mikhoels is well known among the younger generation in Russia, or anywhere…
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Despite Translation Glitches, ‘Return to Haifa’ Conveys Its Message
It is sadly fitting that in a play about language’s inability to explain political and religious differences, set design and subtitles conspired to thwart the actors. But such was the case at the opening of the Tel Aviv-based Cameri Theatre’s production at Theater J in Washington, D.C. of Return to Haifa, which runs until January…
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Among the Trees of Exile: Poetry by Ivan Klein
Each Thursday, The Arty Semite features excerpts and reviews of the best contemporary Jewish poetry. This week, Jake Marmer introduces three pieces by Ivan Klein. Reading Ivan Klein’s work I imagine a man, sitting alone in an empty room, and talking. Not to anyone specific; probably to himself. In the emptiness his words echo off…
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Books Mark Twain, “Mishpocha,” and Me
In her previous posts, Erika Dreifus blogged on her upcoming panel at AWP, “Beyond Bagels and Lox,” and the inspiration for “Quiet Americans.” 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…
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Out and About: Bob Dylan’s Book Deal; Orthodox Dance in Israel
Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa, talk about their upcoming reality TV show. Would you have watched “The Seinfeld Chronicles”? Bob Dylan has signed on with Simon & Schuster to write no less than six new books. Meet Ka’et, a dance troupe of Orthodox Jewish men in Israel. Which raises the question: Why aren’t there…
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Naomi Shemer’s Archive Reveals a Softer Side
Crossposted from Haaretz The 17 cartons that held Naomi Shemer’s private archive contained a small black telephone book and tucked in its pages was a note in which the popular songwriter jotted down an extra stanza to “Jerusalem of Gold” at the end of the Six Day War: Just four lines in all, plus numerous…
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Jean Ferrat: France’s Musical Voice of Holocaust Remembrance
When the leftist French Jewish singer/songwriter Jean Ferrat (born Tenenbaum) died last March at the age of 79, the outpouring of affectionate tributes surprised some. After all, Ferrat had been retired to an Ardèche village in south-central France for a number of years. A detailed new biography has appeared from Les éditions Fayard, “Jean Ferrat:…
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Ashton Kutcher Schools Natalie Portman on Judaism
Who knew he was so dedicated? Ashton Kutcher reads the Torah every Saturday. That’s what Natalie Portman said of her co-star in the upcoming romantic comedy “No Strings Attached” during a recent interview. Portman, who was born in Jerusalem, noted that Kutcher taught her more about Judaism that anyone else in her life. “Ashton’s a…
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