The Weekly Schmooze: Jewish Christmas carols

The hottest Jewish culture news worldwide: Ari Gold in period costume; Hanukkah gives Christmas a KO.

By LAHAV HARKOV
weekly schmooze 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
weekly schmooze 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Holiday shopping season may be over, but don't tell "Mr. Selfridge," a new TV show for British channel ITV. Jeremy Piven stars as Harry Selfridge, the American magnate who opened a glamorous department store in 1909 London. It seems like Selfridge is like Piven's best-known character, Ari Gold of "Entourage," with period costumes. No complaints here!
A couple of movies came out this week in the US starring the top Jewish-American Divas – Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler – but neither plays a Jewish character! Janis Hirsch complains about and analyzes this phenomenon in The Hollywood Reporter.
Christmas was this week, and readers in America may want to know: Do Jews in Israel go to the movies and eat Chinese food on the 25th of December? The answer is no, it's a regular work and school day, and the Schmooze is still bringing you the best Jewish gossip on the Net.
With Christmas and Hannukah so close together, it's a good opportunity to judge which is the better holiday. College Humor decided to help, with a Mortal Kombat-style battle video that ends up with a "Choose Your Own Adventure" twist. Christmas trash-talks – "have yourself a merry little ass-kicking" – while Hannukah retorts: "Tonight we light a candle…for your grave!" Viewers get to pick a winner at the end, and watch the holiday of their choice deliver a KO to the other.
Jewish humor site Bangitout.com compiled a list of . Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" is the best known, but "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" were written by Johnny Marks and "Let it Snow" is by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn. Schmooze favorite "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is by Albert Hague.
Speaking of very Jewish Christmases, Elizabeth Simins' latest installment in her webcomic series "Kosher Salt" is about her mixed-faith family's traditions – a Christmas tree with brisket and kugel for dinner.
The Weekly Schmooze collects the hottest Jewish culture news from around the world. Ranging from celebrities to philanthropy to quirky communities, we're here to schmooze about Jews.
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