Skip To Content
JEWISH. INDEPENDENT. NONPROFIT.
The Schmooze

Netanyahu and John Mulaney Worked Out Side By Side In A Paris Gym

It’s a true shame how few so-called “Jews” have read “Alt Neuland,” Theodore Herzl’s classic utopian novel which depicts the founder of early modern Zionism’s vision of what a Jewish homeland could be.

The Schmooze has read it. We’ll summarize it here.

Years have passed since the nation of Israel’s founding. Term limits are for goys, so the Prime Minister who has led the country for roughly 97 years is still in charge. He is a clever man, with a penchant for ice cream and a love of visual aids. With incredible bravery he has soldiered through not one but several recommendations that he be indicted for corruption, recommendations that have come from his own police force. This lion of Judah is sitting in Paris one day in a gymnasium that is empty save for nine security guards, one for every candle on a Hanukkiah. The world leader lifts weights, slumping over like a Middle Eastern Churchill who has just been interviewed by his own police force in what he calls a “witch hunt.” The Israeli police force is made up of witches. Listen — it’s not a perfect country, okay? A gangly comedian comes in and snaps a picture of the minister in his New Balance 990s, and irreverently posts it to social media with James Fenton’s poem “In Paris With You.” This is hope. This is Israel.

Jenny Singer is the deputy Lifestyle editor for the Forward. You can reach her at Singer@forward.com or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

Republish This Story

Please read before republishing

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free, unless it originated with JTA, Haaretz or another publication (as indicated on the article) and as long as you follow our guidelines. You must credit the Forward, retain our pixel and preserve our canonical link in Google search.  See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs.

To republish, copy the HTML by clicking on the yellow button to the right; it includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to the Forward. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Please email us at editorial@forward.com, subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up.

We don't support Internet Explorer

Please use Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge to view this site.

Exit mobile version