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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Orthodox Jews Fight Proposed Niqab Ban in Quebec
The Orthodox community in Quebec is fighting for Muslim women’s right to wear the niqab. Convinced that a bill to ban the Islamic face veil, if passed, could ultimately lead to the outlawing of Jewish religious practices and customs, they made an unprecedented appearance in front of the National Assembly committee considering the legislation. The…
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A Guitar God and his Musical Monsters
When I phoned Gary Lucas this week he was right in the middle of renewing his Forward subscription. “I’m a religious reader,” he punned effortlessly. He also had his cell phone pressed to his other ear, waiting to buy concert tickets. It comes as little shock that the prolific composer, songwriter, guitar legend and musical…
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Of Cats and Men
Each Thursday, The Arty Semite features excerpts and reviews of the best contemporary Jewish poetry. This week, Jake Marmer introduces the work of Karen Alkalay-Gut, whose first poem appeared in the Forverts when she was 10 years old. A remarkable Israeli poet and professor at Tel Aviv University, Karen Alkalay-Gut is the author of numerous…
The Latest
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Up For Grabs: Bernie Madoff’s Monogrammed Velveteen Slippers
Want to walk a day in Bernie Madoff’s shoes? Now you can. The Wall Street Journal reports that over 400 pieces of Madoff’s personal property will be sold at auction next month, including Madoff’s monogrammed velveteen slippers. Other auction items include the desk where he did business, a diamond engagement ring (reportedly 10.5 carats) and…
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Francis Veber: Laughter from Pain
The veteran French comedy filmmaker Francis Veber, whose “Le Dîner de cons” was recently remade in Hollywood as “Dinner for Schmucks,” is a master of spoofing painful social anxiety and feelings of exclusion. His new memoir from Les éditions Robert Laffont, “Let This be our Secret,” addresses how Veber’s Jewish roots influenced his comedic skills….
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London Celebrates Sondheim
Crossposted from Haaretz This year marks the 80th birthday of Stephen Sondheim, the American lyricist and composer who with his own two hands changed the face of the stage musical in the second half of the 20th century. During his more than 50 years of activity he has created a huge variety of works, in…
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Books Misreading Claude Lévi-Strauss the Man
After the well-deserved hosannas of praise for the centenary, and subsequent dignified mourning for the demise, of the great French Jewish anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, a backlash seemed inevitable. On October 7, “Claude Lévi-Strauss: The Poet in the Laboratory,” by Patrick Wilcken, presented as the “definitive account of the life, work, and legacy,” was published by…
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Israeli Photojournalism Goes From the Field to the Gallery
It surrounds us, we can’t exist without it; but can the ineffable essence of air be captured in a photograph? The new Israeli photojournalism center DocuClub thinks it’s worth a try. A new exhibition titled simply “Air” features photographic interpretations of the theme from around the world. The imagery on view is striking, with photographs…
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Dead Sea Scrolls Hit the Internet
With the Dead Sea Scrolls about to appear online for the whole world to see, what would the religious recluses behind them make of this news? The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has announced in a statement to journalists that the entire collection — comprised of 30,000 fragments from 900 manuscripts — will be digitized and…
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Ariel Sharon Coma Sculpture: Quirky, Morbid or Blasphemous?
While former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon lies comatose in a Tel Aviv hospital, his body will be on display at the city’s Kishon Art Gallery beginning Thursday. In case you were wondering, hospital attendants haven’t carted Sharon’s body to the exhibit. The “body,” a life-size, animated sculpture replete with hospital bed, drip and blue…
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JFNA Announces 20 Semifinalists for Jewish Community Hero
What do Jewish boxer Dmitriy Salita, ophthalmologist Stephen Kutner and Rabbi Celso Cukierkorn have in common? They are among 20 semifinalists in the second annual Jewish Community Heroes campaign. Organized by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the campaign celebrates men and women who selflessly and wholeheartedly devote their lives to helping others. Over…
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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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Culture Trump wants to honor Hannah Arendt in a ‘Garden of American Heroes.’ Is this a joke?
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Fast Forward The invitation said, ‘No Jews.’ The response from campus officials, at least, was real.
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Opinion A Holocaust perpetrator was just celebrated on US soil. I think I know why no one objected.
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Fast Forward A Jewish city attorney is going after pro-Palestinian protesters. Her Oct. 7 tweets are making it complicated.
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Fast Forward Kehlani responds to Cornell concert cancellation: ‘I am not antisemitic’
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Fast Forward David Horowitz, ’60s radical turned right-wing firebrand and critic of Islam, dies at 86
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News Pro-Nazi singer sells out Zagreb arena as Croatia’s collaborationist past sheds its taboo
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