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
Forward Fives: 2010 in Non-Fiction
In this, the second annual Forward Fives selection, we celebrate the year’s cultural output with a series of deliberately eclectic choices in film, music, theater, exhibitions and books. Here we present five of the most important Jewish non-fiction books of 2010. Feel free to argue with and add to our selections in the comments. As…
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Books Forward Fives: 2010 in Fiction
In this, the second annual Forward Fives selection, we celebrate the year’s cultural output with a series of deliberately eclectic choices in film, music, theater, exhibitions and books. Here we present five of the most important Jewish novels of 2010. Feel free to argue with and add to our selections in the comments. It’s been…
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Record Prices for Israeli Art at Auction
Crossposted from Haaretz He may not be the most popular artist in the local Israeli scene, but the rising prices for works by Yaacov Agam at the close of 2010 signify his stature as one of the most important kinetic artists in the world. Perhaps the time has come for us to take stock. On…
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Forward Fives: 2010 in Music
In this, the second annual Forward Fives selection, we celebrate the year’s cultural output with a series of deliberately eclectic choices in film, music, theater, exhibitions and books. Here we present five of the most important Jewish music releases of 2010. Feel free to argue with and add to our selections in the comments. The…
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James Franco’s New Advertising Strategy
To generate some buzz for his latest movie, “127 Hours” star James Franco is making use of a secret weapon – his sweet old Jewish grandma. A likely Oscar nominee for the film, Franco released a short home video on Christmas Day featuring his grandmother, who joins the actor while wearing a Santa hat. “I’m…
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New York Judge Approves Sale of Schindler’s List
It’s hard to put a price on the heroism of Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist who helped save more than a thousand Jews from the Nazis. But you can, apparently, place a value on his legendary lists. A New York State Supreme Court judge has ruled that Orange County memorabilia dealer Gary Zimet can proceed…
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For the Orthodox, Blurred Lines Between Private and Business Lives
Back in March, the Forward asked the Village Voice’s Elizabeth Dwoskin, who penned the weekly’s highly publicized New York’s Ten Worst Landlordsroundup, if there was anything that made Jews particularly bad property owners; Semites like Rabbi Moishe Indig, Vantage Properties’ Neil Rubler, and alleged Orthodox bully Jacob Bernat populated the list. At the time, Dwoskin…
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Report: Natalie Portman Is Pregnant, Engaged
Much has been made about how much weight Natalie Portman, 29, and her co-stars had to lose for their roles in Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan.” But for Portman, at least, the scale is about to go in the opposite direction — and with good reason. Reps for the Israeli-born actress told People magazine that she…
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A Fading Beauty Outside Safed
Crossposted from Haaretz No one seems to question the historical and architectural importance of Bosel House, a spacious, eight-dunam compound in a green forest at the entrance to Safed. It is a splendid building in a European-Arab style, an important icon of the glory days of modern architecture in Israel. Bosel House has been at…
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Forward Fives: 2010 in Film
In this, the second annual Forward Fives selection, we celebrate the year’s cultural output with a series of deliberately eclectic choices in film, music, theater, exhibitions and books. Here we present five of the most important Jewish films of 2010. Feel free to argue with and add to our selections in the comments. The Matchmaker…
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Out and About: Third-Generation Holocaust Literature; Whither the Israel Philharmonic?
A Holocaust-themed video game called “Sonderkommando Revolt,” based on a 1944 uprising at Auschwitz, has been withdrawn. Chibi Vision, “your new favorite science fiction hip-hop boy band” talks about the Jewish love-hate for Christmas. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, but what does its future hold? LABA, a Jewish house…
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