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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Jimmy Kimmel Sued for Mixing Up Rabbis
Maybe Jimmy Kimmel thought all rabbis look alike. Reuters reported last week that ABC’s late-night funnyman has been hit with a lawsuit by a Brooklyn Jew whose likeness Kimmel featured in a “Jimmy Kimmel Live” parody video. In a sketch that aired in August, Kimmel spoofed a visit that basketball superstar LeBron James had made…
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Esperanto, the ‘Worldwide Yiddish’
What do fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien, Yugoslavian dictator Josip Broz Tito, Brazilian soccer star Pelé and financier George Soros have in common? They all share an interest in Esperanto, an invented language whose goal is to unite humankind. “Nekredebla,” you might be thinking (that’s Esperanto for “incredible”). But not so quick — other well known…
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David Broza Invites Fans To Be Part of His Self-Written Album
Crossposted from Haaretz For the first time ever, fans of the popular Israeli musician David Broza can participate in the creative process behind his work. For about the price of a shawarma sandwich, participants can log onto Kickstarter.com to get a sneak-peek into his first self-written Hebrew album. Upon giving donations, participants are also invited…
The Latest
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Fundraising With Flowers
Crossposted From Under the Fig Tree I don’t know about you, but these days, when my mailbox bulges with solicitations from just about every non-profit organization known to man, I can’t help but wonder whether there might be another way to go about it. The history of fundraising, after all, is the history of innovation….
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Jewish Golden Globe Nominees Hit it Big
Golden Globe nominations are in and “The King’s Speech,” written by Jewish screenwriter David Seidler, did not go unrecognized. Haaretz reports that the movie, which is inspired by Seidler’s family ties to the Holocaust and the silence that surrounded the tragedy, snagged seven nominations. He’s not the only Jew worthy of a mazel tov. “The…
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Theresienstadt Drama Keeps the Evil Underneath
“What did you expect? Walking skeletons in striped pajamas and yellow stars?” says the Nazi Commandant to his Red Cross visitors in dramatist Juan Mayorga’s haunting play “Way to Heaven” (“Himmelweg”), now playing at the Repertorio Espanol-Gramercy Arts Theater through January 27. Well, yes, that was exactly what I expected, knowing that the play’s central…
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Monday Music: A Festival for the Righteous
Crossposted from Haaretz Here’s an idea for a wonderful festival of new Israeli jazz: Bring together under one roof all (or most) of the local musicians who have put out albums in recent years under the New York label Tzadik Records. In the past 10 years, Tzadik — the company owned by avant-garde composer/musician John…
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Out and About: Jewish Hong Kong; Festivus in Orange County
The Arty Semite contributor Christopher DeWolf profiles Hong Kong’s Rabbi Asher Oser and looks at the city’s Jewish history. The Jewish Chronicle talks to actor Elliott Gould. VICE Magazine talks to author Sam Lipsyte. “Lipstikka,” an already-controversial film by Israeli director Jonathan Sagall, will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. Anselm Kiefer’s…
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This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
“Casino Jack,” the Jack Abramoff biopic starring Kevin Spacey, opens today. Read our review from the Toronto International Film Festival here. Joshua Furst bugs out at an Icelandic adaptation of Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” featuring music by Nick Cave. Jo-Ann Mort reads through two of the Arab world’s pre-eminent poets. Gordon Haber investigates one of…
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Abe Foxman: Don’t Judge My Book by Its Cover (But Feel Free To Remove It)
Don’t judge a book by its cover is a phrase that can warm any author’s heart. But how does an author react when readers tell him that they remove the cover when reading his book in public? If you’re Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, you accept the feedback knowing you’ve done…
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Gai Assulin Signed to Manchester City
19-year-old Gai Assulin has the moves. Having been chased by several clubs since leaving Barcelona Football Club in July, he’s opted for Manchester City. The club offered the midfielder a two-and-a-half year deal. Former Barcelona player Yaya Toure is credited with persuading Assulin to move to Eastlands. At 16, Assulin was the youngest player by…
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