About Town: Dec. 3

Thursday, Dec. 3


BOUTIQUE SALE

The Jewish General Hospital Auxiliary continues its Holiday Boutique Sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Pavilion A auditorium. Call 514-340-8216.

PLAY WITHIN A PLAY
Veteran Jewish actor Louis Negin stars in his and Marie Brassard’s The Glass Eye, a semi-autobiographical play within a play, running through Dec. 6 at the Centaur Theatre. Call 514-288-1229.

CAROL RABINOVITCH ART

Carol Rabinovitch is among the Jewish artists whose work is on display at a group exhibit through Dec. 6 at the Galerie Mile End, 5345 Park Ave. Call 514-271-3383.


Friday, Dec. 4


COMMUNITY UPDATE

Cote St. Luc city councillor Mike Cohen delivers a community update for the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Men’s Club, 10 a.m. More at 514-342-1234.

Saturday, Dec. 5


THE CASE FOR ISRAEL

The Case for Israel, the topical documentary on critical issues facing Israel and the West, unspools 7 p.m. at Beth Zion Congregation, followed by a discussion with Rabbi Ira Ebbin. Call 514-489-8411.

Sunday, Dec. 6


ACTION BRUNCH

Leslie Morgan Steiner, author of a memoir on surviving domestic violence, is special guest at the Israel Cancer Research and Pink Lady funds’ fourth annual Women of Action Brunch honouring banker Dana Ades-Landy, community leader Harriet Muroff and Holocaust “eyewitness to history” Rena Schondorf, 11:30 a.m. at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Reserve with Arlene Silver, 514-481-2723.

HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Shaare Zedek Congregation holds a holiday bazaar featuring new clothing, jewelry, toys, housewares, etc., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 514-484-1122.

FOLK ART FESTIVAL
The YM-YWHA Ben Weider JCC hosts an ambitious Jewish-Russian Folk Art Festival, today through Dec. 20, featuring symposia, expositions, foods, dancing, music, painting, folk arts, fashion, handicrafts and more reflecting the diversity and heritage of Jewish ethnic groups from Russian and eastern Europe. Contact Mark Groysberg, 514-573-7282.

DO JEWS COME BACK?
Death, resurrection and reincarnation in Judaism is the theme of an all-day French-language conference of the ALEPH – Centre d’Études Juives Contemporaines, at 1 Cummings Square. Call Sonia Sarah Lisyc, 514-733-4998, ext. 3159.

PIANO RECITAL
Russian-born Israeli classical piano virtuoso Lev Chebotarev, who lives at the Goldstein Youth Village, performs 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth-El. Reserve at 514-738-4766.

WEST ISLAND MITZVAH DAY
Federation CJA West Island holds a  9:30 a.m.-noon Hands-on Mitzvah day for all ages to make Chanukah baskets for the needy. RSVP with Hilary Ludwick, 514-624-5005.

CHILDREN’S CHANUKAH
Weizmann Canada holds a children’s Chanukah party to support its Birthday Angels Project for needy kids in Israel, with bouncy rides and much more at the Cote St. Luc gym, 7500 Mackle Rd. Reserve with Lorie Blumer, 514-342-0777.

MAX & RUBY PLAYDATE
Na’amat Canada Montreal holds a “play date” benefit fundraiser geared to 3- to 8-year-olds, with Max & Ruby, Miss Spider and Her Sunny Patch Friends, and Bananas in Pyjamas, 10:30 a.m. at the Vanier College Auditorium, 821 Sainte-Croix. Tickets at 514-484-0252.

JPL EVENTS TODAY
The Jewish Public Library is the site for the Jewish Genealogical Society’s 10 a.m.-noon Family Tree Workshop (514-484-0969)… At 11 a.m.. the Norman Berman Children’s Library presents a Winter Musical Celebration with Jennifer Gasoi for kids. Tickets and details at 514-345-2627, exts. 4012, 3016 and 3398.

TRIPLE BOOK SIGNING

Joe King signs his latest three books, From the Ghetto to the Main, Baron Byng to Bagels, and Fabled City, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Coles Cavendish Mall. Call 514-482-2163.

Tuesday, Dec. 8


MORE THAN TREES

Mark Mendelson of the Jewish National Fund tells Beth Ora Seniors about how JNF is about “much more than trees,” 1:45 p.m. Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7220.

Thursday, Dec. 10

UN WATCH’S HILLEL NEUER
Hillel Neuer of UN Watch speaks on the Goldstone Report, 7:30 P.M. at Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem, with an optional 6:30 p.m. buffet dinner ($20). Co-sponsored by Jewish National Fund and Mizrachi Canada. Reserve at 514-489-3841 or 514-934-0313.

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
The Segal Centre hosts “Girls’ Night Out” for ladies only, with cocktails and petit souper at 6:30 p.m., followed by the play Educating Rita at 8 p.m. Contact Ann Fleming for tickets, at 514-739-2301, ext. 8310.

…Et Cetera…


EXPANDED CJCS SERVICE

Thanks to funding by the André Aisenstadt Foundation and Ministère des Aînés Québec, Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors recently expanded its day centre program for the growing numbers with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The program is Fridays 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact Tanya Nemiroff, 514-342-1234, ext. 7323.

HERZLIAH HAIR SHORN
Herzliah Snowdon teachers Martine Nantais, Dan Saragosti and Nabil Andraos recently had  their hair shorn off for Virgin Radio 96’s Shave to Save program raising money for breast cancer research. Students raised $9,000 for the cause, and radio personalities Lisa Fuoco, a breast cancer survivor, and Mark Bergman, himself a Herzliah alumnus, heaped praise on all.

JRH-MCGILL TIES STRONGER
McGill University and Laval’s Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital recently renewed their 26-year affiliation agreement, with the JRH Foundation committing $500,000 annually. “Our relationship with McGill is one of the distinguishing characteristics and strengths of the JRH, foundation president Irwin Tauben said.

‘GIVE ’EM CHICKEN SOUP’
Executive director Dr. Hartley Stern was among the Jewish General Hospital’s leadership recently ladling out about 1,000 free bowls of chicken soup in the cafeteria to staff and volunteers in gratitude to all who serve the hospital. Operation “Give ’em Some Chicken Soup” was deemed a huge success, the hospital said.

MOUNTAINS OF MITTENS
Jewish Women International of Canada is seeking wool for its “Mountain of Mittens” project, providing mittens, scarves and hats to inner-city kids. Call 514-487-2330.

FLOWER DISTRIBUTION
Mount Sinai Hospital needs volunteers to help arrange and distribute flowers on Friday mornings and to assist in the gift and coffee shop. Call 5124-369-2222, ext. 1322.

VOLUNTEER TUTORS
Agence Ometz desperately needs tutors with French and Math skills for struggling young students. Call Geri Shaw, 514-342-0000, ext. 3424.

Arnold Steinberg was installed as chancellor at McGill University while Eleanor Wachtel, a prominent Canadian writer and broadcaster, received an honorary doctor of letters at the recent fall convocation… Barry Pascal was recently appointed president of the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal, succeeding Joel Raby.