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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Prayer at the Western Wall: A Weekday-Only Activity?
The Western Wall was abnormally busy this afternoon. More people than on a usual Friday left their Sabbath preparations and braved the cool Jerusalem weather to head for the Wall. Why? One reason is that today is a fast day, the Fast of Tevet, and people wanted to pray at the special afternoon service. But…
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Friday Film: Chinese Animation Takes On the Holocaust
With stadium seating and the scent of fresh popcorn in the air, the November 21 screening of “A Jewish Girl in Shanghai” could have taken place in any shopping mall cinema in the world. But there was nothing ordinary about the film itself, which is China’s first homegrown Jewish movie, and an animated one at…
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Learning From the Big Fish
On the Yiddish Song of the Week blog, Forverts associate editor Itzik Gottesman writes about “Di fishelekh in vaser” (“The Fish in Water”) by Isaac Rymer: “Di fishelekh in vaser” (“The Fish in Water”) was one of Isaac (Tsunye) Rymer‘s most beloved songs to perform (for more on Rymer see the previous posting on “Shpilt…
The Latest
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My Night With King Mohammed VI
It was bound to be a bizarre experience for me. Instead of rolling through my modest Brooklyn neighborhood, I was going to the fancy Pierre Hotel to sit in a room full of New York City’s elite. If you are not accustomed to the rigors of society life, a tableau of rich folk dolled up…
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Films on Susan Sontag, Joann Sfar Receive Hefty Grant
In a bid to shape which Jewish documentaries find an audience, the Foundation for Jewish Culture announced the recipients of the Lynn and Jules Kroll Fund for Documentary Film on December 15. The $140,000 grant (split between five recipients) enables filmmakers, considered to be expanding the understanding of Jewish experience, to reach a wider audience….
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For New Theater Company, Shabbat Takes Center Stage
A group of Jewish artists digging deep into Jewish writing and turning it into theater is trying to bring something fresh and smart to the table. Billing itself as “New York’s first Jewish theater company dedicated to Sabbath-observant artists,” 24/6 launched on December 11 with an evening of short plays called “Sabbath Variations: The Splendor…
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Winona Ryder Knew Mel Gibson was Anti-Semitic Long Before We Did
Winona Ryder, the 90s star who can be seen starring alongside Natalie Portman in the newly released film “Black Swan,” is sharing some not-so-warm Mel Gibson memories. Turns out, Gibson’s racist tirades, which have come into the spotlight in the past few years, actually date back over a decade. Ryder, 39, whose career was dampened…
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Top 10 Anti-Semitic Slurs of 2010
Movies, music, books… ‘Tis the season for top 10 lists. And the Simon Wiesenthal Center has jumped in the ring with its own: The “2010 Top Ten Anti-Semitic Slurs.” Former UPI White House bureau chief Helen Thomas topped the chart with her infamous, on-camera “Jews should get the hell out of Palestine” quote, which ended…
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Leonardo DiCaprio Should Take Traveling Advice From Denzel Washington
Tip to Hollywood stars trying to keep a low profile in Israel: wear a hat, and don’t be there to visit your Israeli girlfriend. Obeying those rules has worked out just fine for Denzel Washington, who spent several low-key days in Jerusalem this week before being detected today by reporters over at Ynetnews.com. The website…
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The Consolations of Samuel Menashe
Each Thursday, The Arty Semite features excerpts and reviews of the best contemporary Jewish poetry. This week, Rodger Kamenetz introduces the poetry of Samuel Menashe. This piece originally appeared on December 5, 2003, as part of the Forward’s Psalm 151 series. It is being published here online for the first time. Every death before mine…
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These Teens Don’t Want Your Pity
Crossposted from Haaretz The curtain rises on a teen in a wheelchair, an escort beside him. Evyatar Banai’s song “Yesh Li sikui” (“I have a Chance” ) plays in the background. The teen says: “I’m standing here today, but not everyone is standing with me; there are some who are different.” Very soon the audience…
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