Thursday, March 15
SHOLOM ALEICHEM DOC
Joseph Dorman’s Sholom Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness, a documentary in English and Yiddish on the renowned Yiddish writer, has its local premiere 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library, with Dorman present to field questions. More at 514-345-2627, exts. 3006 or 3017.
SPINOZA AND JUDAISM
Rabbi Allan Nadler, Steven Nadler, and Carlos Fraenkel ask whether philosopher Baruch Spinoza was a “heretic or hero,” 7:30 p.m., Room 26, Leacock Building, McGill University. www. mcgill.ca/jewishstudies/lectures.
HILARIOUS LAUGHTER
Prime Time, the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ West Island branch, presents Hilarious Laughter, with Tracy Shafter, 7:30 p.m., 96 Roger Pilon in DDO. Call Ellen Tock, 514-624-5005, ext. 230.
Friday, March 16
THE SLUT
Provocatively titled The Slut, an Israeli film by Hagar Ben Asher that screened at the Cannes Film Festival, opens with French subtitles at Cinéma du Parc. 514-281-1900.
EFFECTIVE COMPLAINING
Jewish General Hospital ombudsman Rosemarie Steinberg discusses the “Rights of Patients & Effective Complaining,” 10 a.m., Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. Joyce, 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
Saturday, March 17
ALEICHEM DIRECTOR
Joseph Dorman, director of Sholom Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness, talks with host Leslie Lutsky, Jewish Digest, 8:30 a.m., Radio Centre-Ville, 102.3 FM.
Sunday, March 18
GARY CARTER TRIBUTE
The always popular Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors (CJCS) Foundation Sports Celebrity Breakfast honours Alan Maislin, who served as president of the Israeli Ice Hockey Federation, and pays tribute to late Montreal Expos catcher Gary Carter, 9:30 a.m. at the Gelber Conference Centre. Chaired by CJCS Foundation president Michael Wagen and MCd by Mike Cohen and Charles André Marchand, the event is due to draw more than 600, and a popular Web radio show, montrealhockeytalk.com, will broadcast live from the event at 10:30 a.m. with Ted Bird and Joey Elias. The tribute to Carter will include local friend Johnny Elias and former Expo Warren Cromartie, and among those honouring Maislin will be Israeli Consul General Joel Lion. Confirmed sports celebs include Montreal Canadiens vets Dickie Moore and Guy Carbonneau and former head coach Jean Perron. Call 514-342-1234.
BUST A MOVE
The Jewish General Hospital Foundation’s first-ever Bust a Move for Breast Health event to raise $500,000 for the JGH Breast Centre and an ultrasound machine takes place at Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard. Call 514-340-7085.
HAZZANIM
A cantorial tribute to the late Sami Elmagribi takes place 6:30-11 p.m. at the Spanish & Portuguese synagogue. Call Sidney Benizri, 514-733-4998, ext. 8123.
Monday, March 19
ISRAEL’S SECURITY
University of Calgary Israeli studies director David Tal discusses “The Origins and Development of Israel’s National Security Conception,” 10-11 a.m., Room H-767 of Concordia University Hall Building, at an Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies free event. www.concordia.ca.
RHR AGM
Canadian Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights holds its third annual general meeting, 7:30 p.m. Room 134, the YM-YWHA Ben Weider JCC. Call 514-489-5651.
TEMPLE WEST SEDER SWAP
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom’s “Temple West” at 96 Roger Pilon in Dollard des Ormeaux and Rabbi Julia Appel discuss fun and meaningful seders, 7-8:30 p.m. 514-937-3575.
ALIYAH MEGA EVENT
Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency hold an information evening on aliyah, 6:30-10 p.m., Gelber Conference Centre. E-mail Sarah Kantor, [email protected].
SPRING, SUMMER COURSES
Registration starts today and runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday (12:30 p.m. on Friday) for the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ courses and activities. 514-342-1234, ext. 7209.
Tuesday, March 20
YAVNÉ AUCTION
Yavné Academy and Yeshiva stages its first Chinese Auction at the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue with prizes including jewels, tickets to Israel and Florida, and more. Viewing is 6:30-8 p.m., with program at 9 p.m. Child psychologist Sarah Chana Radcliffe will also speak. Call 514-481-8563.
ON THE MIDDLE EAST
As part of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom-Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ In the City program, Prof. Henry Habib speaks 7-9 p.m. on “The Ongoing Crisis in the Middle East.” Call Stefani Novick at 514-342-1234.
THE YOUNG VICTORIA
Emily Blunt stars as The Young Victoria, screened at 1:30 p.m. for Beth Ora Seniors, Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
Wed., March 21
VIRTUAL ISRAEL TOUR
Alanna Elias provides a “Virtual Tour of Israel” to the Golda Meir Chapter of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, 1 p.m. (members’ meeting at 12:15 p.m.) at Chevra Mishnayis Jacob Josef Synagogue. Evie Applebee, 450-681-0342.
WELCOME TO SPRING
Act! to End Violence Against Women’s Chomedey chapter holds a 7 p.m. dinner Les 3 Brasseurs, 3900 Ave. Pierre Peladeau in Chomedey. 450-973-6253.
…Et Cetera…
PRE-PASSOVER MARKET
In an effort to promote Jewish business, Congregation Shomrim Laboker is planning a pre-Passover market March 25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., where small vendors and larger retailers can set up tables at the synagogue to display their wares and interact with consumers. “We are trying to help the lady selling jewelry at the hospital, the guy selling discounted Passover Haggadahs, the family selling scarves out of the basement, as well as the wider Jewish marketplace,” said associate Rabbi Mendel Marasow. Details at 514-731-6831, or e-mail, [email protected].
YALDEI FUNDRAISER
More than 1,300 guests attended last month’s highly successful fifth annual fundraising dinner for the Donald Berman Yaldei Development Centre for children with special needs and their families. The event, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel and hosted by Sruli Stern, who came from Britain for the occasion, included attendance by Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, city councillor Lionel Perez; Liberal MNAs Lawrence Bergman and Gerry Sklavounos, chair of the National Assembly’s committee on health and social services, and former city councillor Saulie Zajdel. The dinner also heard from Yaldei founder Rabbi Menachem Leifer; Maor Neim, a boy with autism who movingly described how Yaldei helped him; David Sebag, parent of a child at Yaldei; and Rabbi Benzion Twerski, spiritual leader of a Milwaukee shul.
