BACK TO THE ’60S
University of Toronto history prof Harold Troper talks about his latest book, The Defining Decade: Identity, Politics and the Canadian Jewish Community in the 1960s, at the Jewish Public Library, 7:30 p.m. He’ll be introduced by Norman Ravvin, chair of the Concordia Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies. Tickets, 345-6416.
THE PROPAGANDA WAR
Caroline Glick, contributing editor of the Jerusalem Post, speaks on “The Propaganda War Against Israel” 7:30 p.m. at Beth Zion Congregation. Tickets, 489-8411.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Former Toronto police officer Paul Gillespie, president of Kids Internet Safety Alliance, and a Microsoft representative discuss the use of software in finding missing or exploited children, part of the Human Trafficking series at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, 7:15 p.m. [email protected].
COMMUNITY SEDERS
Volunteers at Beth Israel Beth Aaron will begin preparing the 2,500 meals expected to be served at free community Passover seders. Helping hands are needed until April 13, from 6-8 p.m., in the massive undertaking co-ordinated by the Mada Community Centre. Poor and lonely people are invited to one of eight seder locations on both nights, from Chabad of Kirkland on the West Island to Congregation Beth Ora in St. Laurent to Federation CJA in Snowdon. To volunteer, donate or reserve a seder seat, call 342-4969.
SHAAR CONCERT
A mini-concert of Broadway, Israeli, opera and cantorial music is presented by Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and Stephen Glass, following a Leisure Institute lunch, noon at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Reserve at 937-9471, ext. 139.
HEALTHY & WEALTHY
Financial adviser Lewis Rosen and chemist Joe Schwarcz team up for a talk on “Good Wealth and Good Health” at a Beth Zion Men’s Club breakfast at 9:30 a.m. The duo also speaks at a 50-plus singles event April 13 at 7 p.m. 489-8411
WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING
Polish-born Shoah survivor Musia Schwartz is guest speaker at an event marking the 68th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, 2 p.m. at Federation CJA’s Gelber Centre. MNA Lawrence Bergman brings greetings and Rivka Augenfeld, Sara Igelfeld and Janie Respitz present songs and poems, while survivors and their grandchildren light candles. Sponsored by the Montreal Workers Circle.
INTERFAITH RELATIONS
Prof. Robert Ventresca of the University of Western Ontario speaks on “Pope Pius XII: Myths and Realities” at the Goldbloom Family Forum, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, 7:30 p.m. The forum continues April 12, when Victor Goldbloom tackles the topic “Interreligious Relations, Reasonable Accommodation and Life in Quebec,” 7:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in Dorval. Anita Bensabat, 937-3575, ext. 212.
BLACK MARKET BABY
Harold Rosenberg delves into “The Montreal Black Market Baby Ring of the 1940s and ’50s,” at a Shaare Zedek Men’s Club breakfast, 9:30 a.m. A former police department crime scene photographer, Rosenberg discovered accidentally, at age 35, that he was adopted. 484-1122.
ER LOWDOWN
Dr. Mitch Shulman discusses “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Emergency Room But Were Afraid to Ask,” at a Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors event at the Hampton Inn in Dorval, 7:30 p.m. Tickets, Ellen Tock, 624-5005, ext. 230.
FAMILY ROOTS
Harvard University professor Elisa New speaks about her book Jacob’s Cane, a history of her family’s journey from Lithuania to Philadelphia and Baltimore, 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. Sponsored with the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal. http://jgs-montreal.org.
BATSHAW BASH
The Batshaw Foundation holds a fundraiser called The Cocktail Challenge, at the Parisian Laundry, 3550 St. Antoine St. W., 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mixologists from several top restaurants will show how to make their favourite drinks, then guests will sample them and vote for their favourite. Proceeds go to the Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, which serves Montreal’s English-speaking and Jewish communities, for scholarships, tutoring and therapy programs. Tickets, 989-1885, ext. 1118.
WOMEN’S SEDER
Na’amat Canada Montreal celebrates its 85th anniversary with a women’s seder at Ernie & Ellie’s Restaurant, 6:30 p.m. Janie Respitz entertains. Reservations, 484-0252.
JEWISH ARTISTS
Esther Trépanier, director of the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, lectures in French on “Les artistes juifs et la scène artistique montréalaise des décennies 1930 et 1940,” 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. She also autographs her book on the subject. Sponsored by the Alliance Israëlite Universelle. Tickets, 345-6416.
COMEDY FOR A CAUSE
Ryan Wilner hosts a Comedy Night to benefit Auberge Shalom for abused women and their children, Club Soda at 8 p.m. The lineup includes Joey Elias, Phil Dubrovksy, Jeff Schouela and Judy Batalion. Tickets, 731-0833.
IT’S A THRILLER
Author Avner Mandelman reads from his thriller The Debba, the story of an Israeli military assassin’s investigation into his father’s murder, 5:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. Co-sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts, the event includes a wine reception. Reserve at 345-6416.
GEOFF BERNER CONCERT
Edgy Vancouver-based klezmer accordionist and singer-songwriter Geoff Berner performs at Les Bobards, 4328 St. Laurent Blvd. Berner, who combines traditional Jewish music with folk and punk, has a new album called Victory Party, with politically satirical songs such as Rabbi Berner Finally Reveals his True Agenda.
Federation CJA is consulting West Island Jewish residents with school-age children on how they feel about a Jewish high school opening in the area. They need not have the intention of sending their kids to the proposed school. To receive the survey by e-mail, write: [email protected]… The documentary Joann Sfar (Dessins) by French actor Mathieu Amalric won the Award for Creativity at the recent International Festival of Films on Art. Sfar is the French cartoonist and storyteller who created The Rabbi’s Cat series.
Morrie Cohen will learn April 8 whether he has been voted “Volunteer of the Year” in a contest organized by Radio-Canada with Manulife Financial. Out of 250 Quebec finalists, Cohen, a volunteer at the Old Brewery Mission for 30 years, was selected as one of 10 finalists, earning $1,000 for the homeless shelter. The winner, who’ll get $20,000 for their cause, will be named on the program Pour le plaisir at 12:30 p.m.
Online voting took place between March 16 and April 3. Cohen, who’s in the cosmetics business, has helped many others over the past five decades and is famous for throwing parties for the women at the Patricia Mackenzie Pavilion. He’s president of the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Montreal and a founding member of Auberge Shalom for abused women, and was a director of Jewish Employment Montreal.