The Weekly Schmooze: The Terminator dances the 'hora'
A 'Jpost' column wrapping up the hottest Jewish culture news worldwide: Qatar to allow Israelis in World Cup; NY vs. DC menora wars.
By LAHAV HARKOVweekly schmooze 311(photo credit: Courtesy)
Happy Hanukka! In honor of the festival of lights, and continuing in this column's theme of showcasing awkward dancing (see Wolf Blitzer, last week), the Schmooze is proud to present its readers with the following gift: Arnold Schwarzenegger, dancing the hora in Sacramento, CA.The "governator" was so excited, that he tweeted the following: "Dancing the Hora today at the Menorah Lighting. It was my 7th Menorah Lighting, and I always love it."In other Hanukka news, New York and Washington D.C. have both claimed to be home to the world's biggest menorah. NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg was lifted 32 feet above the ground to light what NY1 claimed was the world's largest menorah in Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza."Regardless of your religion, and regardless of where you come from, we're all in this life together," Bloomberg said. "So happy Hanukka to everyone, whether you're Jewish or not."Although no exact menorah-measurements were publicized, the White House Hanukka Party was no less impressive. The guest list included Israel's ambassador to the US Michael Oren, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, as well as violinist Itzhak Perlman and the US Navy Band. The giant , and a "normal" sized menorah was lit at the party, which had been found at Congregation Beth Israel in Lakeview, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.Over Hanukka, famous New York restaurateur Elaine Kaufmandied at age 81 from complications of emphysema. Kaufman owned the star-studded restaurant Elaine's in New York's Upper East Side. One of the restaurant's most famous regulars is director Woody Allen, who filmed a scene in the movie Manhattan at one of its tables. Billy Joel paid tribute to the restaurant in his song "Big Shot:" "They all were impressed with your Halston dress/And the people that you knew at Elaine's."Kaufman, who would often sit and schmooze with her famous customers – from New York writers like Joseph Heller and Mario Puzo to acclaimed actors like Michael Douglas and Michael Caine - was declared a living landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2003.Jewish soccer fans panicked last week, when it was announced that Qatar won a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. They have nothing to fear – in a Reuters story from 2009, the 2022 bid's chief executive, Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi said that his country would allow Israel to take part in the World Cup, even it does not recognize the Jewish State."All nations participating in the FIFA World Cup are welcome," Thawadi said.Thawadi added that Qatar would allow alcohol to be sold during the world's most watched sporting event, even though alcohol is forbidden by Islam.Is Leonardo DiCaprio joining the tribe? British tabloid The Daily Mail thinks so. The paper reported that DiCaprio is "looking into converting for” his Israeli supermodel girlfriend Bar Refaeli and has been making "secret visits" to Israel, which are "the clearest sign that he intends to marry" her. Since as the tabloid's nickname is "The Daily Fail," and Israel's eagle-eye paparazzi catches Refaeli's every move, the Schmooze will remain skeptical about this rumor until it appears elsewhere.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.
