HILLEL PRESENTS NIGHT-LONG CELEBRATION OF ISRAEL
Hillel of Greater Toronto presents an Israeli-style Nuit Blanche – Layla Lavan (“white night” in Hebrew) – as an all-night cultural celebration of Israel promoting pride, Israeli creativity, arts and fashion.
Conceived to counter the on-campus negativity and hostility of Israeli Apartheid Week, Layla Lavan will feature an Israel fair, samples of Israeli wines, appetizers and fashions, and performances by the Israeli rock bands Eatliz and Automatic Toys, and Canadian DJ group Zed’s Dead, mentalist Haim Goldenberg and others. The Rox Club, 1600 Steeles Ave. W. March 13, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. http://sizedoesntmatter.com
Film Explores Vichy Deportations: The Toronto Jewish Film Festival presents La Rafle (2010, with English subtitles) as part of its Chai Tea series. Directed by Roselyn Bosch, with Jean Reno and Melanie Laurent, the feature film focuses on the dark chapter in French history that occurred when Vichy police in Paris rounded up more than 13,000 Jews, including children, and held them in a sports stadium in July 1942.
The story follows 10-year-old Joseph Weismann and his family in the Velodrome and a subsequent transit camp. “One of the most effective dramas of recent years to deal with the human cost of Vichy’s collaboration with the Nazis.” SilverCity Richmond Hill, 8725 Yonge Street, Yonge and Hwy. 7. Sunday, March 13, tea at 4 p.m., film at 5 p.m. $15. 416-599-TIFF (8433). www.tjff.com
Yiddish Screen Classic: Toronto Jewish Film Society presents Green Fields (Grine Felder), the 1937 classic Yiddish comedy-drama by director Jacob Ben Ami about authentic people trying to survive on the land amidst an inhospitable, non-Jewish environment. In Yiddish with English subtitles; with guest speaker Jack Newman. $15, $10. Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre, Sunday, March 20, 4 and 7:30 p.m. Rush seats on sale 15 minutes before each screening. No advance ticket sales.
Literary Notes
• Cynthia Holz, author of four widely acclaimed novels and a short story collection, reads from a new novel, Benevolence, at the Authors at Harbourfront series March 16, with British author Jonathan Coe on the same bill. Benevolence is due from Knopf Canada this month. 235 Queen’s Quay West; $10. readings.org
• Joseph Kertes, founder of Humber College’s creative writing program and author of the award-winning novel Gratitude, has been short-listed as one of five creative non-fiction finalists in the 2010 CBC Literary Awards for his submission, Records. Winners are to be announced March 24.
• Finalists for the $100,000 Sami Rohr Prize in Jewish Literature, due to be awarded May 31, are Allison Amend for Station’s West, Julie Orringer for Invisible Bridge, Nadia Kalman for The Cosmopolitans, Austin Ratner for The Jump Artist, and Joseph Skibell for A Curable Romantic. The first runner-up receives $25,000.
Theatre Events
• Harold Green Jewish Theatre presents Zero Hour, the hilarious Broadway comedy written by and starring Jim Brochu in an animated portrait of the great comedian Zero Mostel. Directed by Piper Laurie. $40 to $65. Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadal JCC,
March 26 to April 16; opens March 28. An exhibition of drawings and paintings by Mostel is on view in the JCC gallery from March 21 and likewise opens March 28. 416-366-7723, www.stlc.com
• Holy Blossom Temple continues its series of talks with Robert Cushman, as the National Post theatre critic interviews Dean Gabourie, assistant artistic director of the Stratford Festival, on March 10, 7:30 p.m. Cushman speaks with the Shaw Festival’s Jackie Maxwell on March 16 and Canadian Stage Company’s Matthew Jocelyn on March 24. $50 for series, $15 per session (students $12). 416-789-3291, ext. 511.
• Soulpepper Theatre Company remounts The Time of Your Life, William Saroyan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play with Stuart Hughes and Joseph Ziegler reprising their Dora Award-winning roles. Directed by Soulpepper artistic director Albert Schultz, the play is at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 55 Mill St., Building 49, Distillery District. $28 to $65. Previews March 16, opens March 18. www.soulpepper.ca, 416-866-8666. $22 tickets available for 21 to 30-year olds at www.stageplay.ca
Music Notes
• Friends of Yiddish presents the third annual Yiddish Sing-Along with Mitch Smolkin and Nina Shapilsky. Refreshments; members free, guests $5. Beth Tikvah Synagogue, 3080 Bayview Ave. Sunday, March 13, 2 p.m. RSVP to Sandy, 416-736-8073 or Joel, [email protected]
• The Vistas Quartet, consisting of four musicians from the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School of Music, perform a concert of light classics. $12, $15; refreshments. Congregation B’nai Torah, 465 Patricia Ave. Sunday, March 27, 8 p.m. 416-226-3700, ext. 21.
• Mark Eisenman’s CD The Chant is available for download from iTunes, itunes.apple.com. His website is www.jazzpiano.ca.