About Town: Week of June 14

Thursday, June 14

 

DRYDEN IN DDO

Former MP and Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden leads a forum on “Concussions in Sports: The Danger for Youth and Adults” at Congregation Beth Tikvah at 7:30 p.m. The evening is co-sponsored by Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. BGU has a renowned emergency medicine program. Reserve: [email protected].

 

BOOK REVIEW

The Arrogant Years, a memoir by Lucette Lagnado about growing up Jewish in Egypt and her early and difficult years in the United States, will be reviewed by Vivianne Silver at the Jewish Public Library, 2 p.m. Tickets, 345-6416.

 

Friday, June 15

 

SOULFUL SHABBAT

A “Soulful Shabbat” will be held at the B’nai Or Montreal Community Shul in the YM-YWHA’s Kellert Hall, 7:30 p.m. This Jewish Renewal service is participatory, egalitarian and joyfully musical. Rabbi Sherril Gilbert, [email protected].

 

LIFSHITZ AT FRINGE

Comedian and motivational speaker (and chartered accountant) Michael Lifshitz, seriously disabled (a word he doesn’t shy from) by congenital musculoskeletal abnormalities, opens his one-man show Conquer Your Mountains at the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival, 9:30 p.m. He hopes to inspire people by what he has accomplished. “We all face challenges in life,” he says. “Mine just get me better parking spots.”Lifshitz, an amputee with wonky hips, rappelled down a 380-foot building in 2009. Taking place at Club l’Espagnoldu Québec, the show is repeated June 16, 18, 21, 22 and 24. Four of the shows will be streamed live over the Internet. Tickets, www.montrealfringe.ca.

 

BERNSTEIN’S PSALMS

Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom presents Leonard Bernstein’s uplifting The Chichester Psalms, featuring the Choeur du Collège Stanislas directed by Monique Orvoine at 8:15 p.m. Harpist Olga Gross and other guest musicians join in this Concert Shabbat Series. 937-3575.

 

BLOOMSDAY AT SEGAL

The Segal Centre joins in Bloomsday, Montreal’s three-day celebration of James Joyces and his epic novel, Ulysses, with the screening of two documentaries, in conjunction with McGill University, at 1 p.m. Shalom Ireland  traces the history of the Jews on the Emerald Isle, as well as Dublin’s more famous Jewish citizens, and The Bloom Mystery explores the Hungarian Jewish origins of the fictional Leopold Bloom. Tickets, 739-7944.

 

Monday, June 18

 

SEARCHING ONE’S ROOTS

Members Jo Ann Goldwater, David Kimmel and David Reich talk about their family research at a Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal meeting, Jewish Public Library, 7:30 p.m. 484-0969.

 

SCOTCH ‘N’ CIGARS

Savourfine scotch and cigars (plus smoked meat) are featured at a fundraiser for the Chaya Mushka Seminary, 5-10 p.m., at the seminary. Rabbi Abraham Cohen promises a relaxed evening with good conversation. Tickets, Esther, 733-2221.

 

ISRAELI MOVIE

The Theodor Herzl Chapter of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO presents the award-winning Israeli movie, A Matter of Size, at the SegalCentre’s CinemaSpace at 7 p.m. This comedy is about four outsized guys.

 

Tuesday, June 19

 

ICRF BENEFIT

The Israel Cancer Research Fund’s New Leadership Division presents “Taste for Life,” featuring some of Montreal’s top restaurants and plenty of fun, 7:30 p.m. at The Wave. Tickets, icrfmontreal.org.

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT ISRAEL

Irish filmmaker Nicky Larkin presents his documentary Forty Shades of Grey, which aims to set the record straight on Israel. Chabad of the Town, 7 p.m. The event is organized with B’nai Brith Canada. Reservations, 342-1770.

 

FINDLEY PLAY

Elizabeth Rex, by the late two-time Governor General Award-winning playwright Timothy Findley, makes its English Montreal premiere at the Segal Centre’s Studio. Produced by Tableau d’Hôte Theatre, the play, set in Shakespearean England, imagines the questions about identity and sexuality raised by the execution of the Queen’s former lover. Elizabeth Rex continues until July 1. Tickets, 739-7944.

 

Wednesday, June 20

 

ROSH CHODESH

Women’s Rosh Chodesh services for Tammuz will be held at Shaare Zedek Congregation, 9 a.m. Children welcome. 484-1122.

 

ENDING VIOLENCE

The Chomedey Chapter of Act to End Violence Against Women holds a “Welcome to Summer” dinner at the Manhattan Steak House, 7 pm. Michael Rien entertains. Reservations, 450-688-0026.

…Et Cetera…

 

Graduating Bialik High School student Jacob Shapiro is among 26 North American Jewish high school students – and the only Canadian this year – to be awarded a Bronfman Youth Fellowship. These outstanding students from diverse backgrounds will spend five weeks in Israel this summer studying, travelling and meeting political and cultural figures. The fellowships, founded by Edgar Bronfman 26 years ago, is designed to develop future Jewish community leaders. Shapiro excels in public speaking and was prime minister in a student parliament he was instrumental in creating. He also participated in a program that brings Montreal Jewish and Muslim teens together to further understanding (see the following).

 

LIVING TOGETHER

Twelve Jewish and Muslim  teens chose to express what they learned about each other during a year-long cultural exchange program called “Living Together” through a joint stop-motion animation project. Their creations are on exhibit at the Centre des loisirs de St. Laurent, which supports the two-year-old program with the McGill Consortium for Human Rights Advocacy and Training. The goal is to develop a cadre of young people who will be “ambassadors” of tolerance in their communities. An advisory board composed of Jewish and Muslim community leaders guides the program.

 

HYMAN CUP

More than $50,000 was raised  in the inaugural Jewish Eldercare Hockey Tournament, benefiting the long-term care institution of the same name. Six teams of recreational players from age 25 to 50 vied for the Stanley Hyman Memorial Cup, named in honour of the former president of the institution’s foundation who passed away in March. It was his idea to raise funds through an annual hockey tourney. The winner was Team Steinmetz, whose captain, David Blumer, received the cup from Guita Hyman, Stanley’s wife. Team Richardson GMP was the top fundraiser at more than $15,000. They money will refurbish residents’ rooms.