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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Introducing the iPad Torah
The iPad, the newest of Apple’s technological materials, can now be used to delve into an oldie but a goodie: the Torah. On the iPad, rustybrick.com advertises, the Torah’s 248 columns, or amudim, can be “magically stitched together.” The application enables the user to easily find the weekly Torah portion complete with bookmarks and a…
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Pianist Maurizio Pollini: Perpetuating Kabbalah-based Inspiration?
An all-Chopin recital April 18 at Carnegie Hall by the Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini, who gives further performances of the same composer’s music on April 29 and May 9, contained spiritual, even mystical, depth. Chopin is not often considered the most metaphysical of composers; the Hungarian Jewish pianist András Schiff, himself a majestic Chopin interpreter,…
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19th Century Jewish Soldiers Remembered
European publishers are reminding readers about Jewish soldiers who volunteered for battle. Paris’s Éditions Autrement recently published the memoir, “Jakob Meyer: Soldier for Napoleon, 1808-1813” (Jakob Meyer, Soldat de Napoléon) about a Göttingen resident who felt gratitude to Napoléon for founding the Kingdom of Westphalia in parts of present-day Germany, in which Jews gained residential…
The Latest
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When Bad Hebrew Happens to Good People
Getting inked isn’t abhorrent behavior for Jews these days. There’s HebrewTattoo.net, a translation service that generates thousands of hits each month, and celebrity tattooists like Ami James, the Israeli-born former star of TLC’s “Miami Ink.” But Jews looking to inscribe their bodies with the language of prayer might be wise to ignore the cautionary (and…
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All His Races: Jewish Driving Superstar Sir Stirling Moss
Having recently, at the age of 80, survived a three-story fall down the lift shaft of his Mayfair home, Sir Stirling Moss will be around to publicize his new autobiography “All My Races.” The authorized biography of this legendary racing driver (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2002) explains how Moss was born in London in 1929 to…
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Aviv Geffen Plays Berlin in Rock Star Style
“Israeli youth are tired of the army and the government and all that macho stuff,” Aviv Geffen, the original Israeli musician-rebel told Rolling Stone back in 1996, saying that they should “go travel, see the world, have their freedom.” Well now Geffen has really seen the world in true rock star style. He has just…
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James L. Jones Apologizes for Jewish Joke
Apparently the criticism of National Security Advisor James L. Jones’ Jewish joke reached the White House. On Monday General Jones issued a short statement clarifying his remarks and providing a written apology, provided to reporters by the White House press office: I wish that I had not made this off the cuff joke at the…
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Books The Apotheosis of Treyf
Although indisputably treyf, ham is sometimes addressed humorously, as in spoofs from the satirical “Onion” or “A Jew Touches Ham,” a new micro-short film by Jewish comedian Aaron Glaser. Then there is “faux ham” proffered by PETA or an ostensibly kosher “Christmas Ham-flavored soda” manufactured in Seattle a few seasons back. Decades ago, scientists unsuccessfully…
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Printing Early Yiddish Books: Jean Baumgarten Explains it All
The fascination with the early years of Yiddish literature continues apace. Historian Jean Baumgarten of France’s CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), author of an acclaimed Introduction to Old Yiddish Literature (Oxford University Press, 2005) has published a new study whose lengthy title — Le Peuple des livres: Les ouvrages populaires dans la société ashkénaze….
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James L. Jones’ Jewish Joke — Was It Appropriate?
National Security Adviser James L. Jones doesn’t necessarily come across as the amusing guy at policy events. Rather, the veteran general is known for his measured and careful wording, and his somewhat monotonic delivery. Maybe that is why some were surprised when Jones decided to open his remarks at the 25-year anniversary gala of the…
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Bansky and Alpsy — L.A.’s Hot New Things?
Two shows with a lot in common opened last weekend: Jason Alper’s “It’s All Back On” at the Guy Hepner gallery in Los Angeles and guerrilla graffiti artist Banksy’s new film “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Alpsy (not previously known as such) is a friend of mine, Banksy not so much. Or, at least, if…
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