About Town: February 3

Thursday, Feb. 3


BBYO REUNION

The B’nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) is inviting alumni of its Laurentian Region Association (now the Eastern Canada Region) to a complimentary reunion cocktail party, 6:30 p.m. at Le Living Room, 5687 Paré St., as part of a growing outreach initiative that started last summer. The region  has compiled a contact list of 300 names and wants to build on its legacy as a valuable organization for teens. RSVP with regional program director Stuart Nulman at [email protected], cocktail reception chair Mark Levine at [email protected], or BBYO regional director Caryl Gold Young at [email protected].

ORTHODOX & GAY
David Brody speaks on what it was like growing up Orthodox and gay, 10 a.m. at Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. Contact Joyce at 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.

KROUM
Hanokh Levin’s Kroum, described as a “mordant” critical musical satire of Israel’s political, social, and cultural situation, will be presented (in French) at the Théâtre Rouge of the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal, 4750 Henri-Julien Ave. at 7:30 p.m. through Feb. 5. There’s also a 3 p.m. matinée on Feb. 5. Call Admission for tickets, 514-790-1245.

Friday, Feb. 4


WOMEN’S ROSH CHODESH

Women and children are welcome at an 8:30 a.m. Women’s Rosh Chodesh service for Adar at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Call Judy at 514-484-7862.

Saturday, Sept. 5


ISRAELI FILM FEST

The Jewish Public Library concludes its Israeli Film Festival with the Montreal premiere of Jerusalem Syndrome, a French-Israeli comedy directed by Stéphane Bélaïsch and Emmanuel Naccache, 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre. The film, in Hebrew with English subtitles, will be introduced by Rabbi Reuben Poupko and followed by a sing-along of Jerusalem-themed songs. Tickets and details at 514-345-6416 or 514-345-2627, ext. 3017.

HUMANS
The curtain rises on the Montreal premiere of award-winning playwright Daniel McIvor’s Humans, Tableau D’Hôte Theatre’s production of 15 short stories on the human condition, 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre Studio, directed by Liz Valdez. The run is to Feb. 13 with Feb. 6 and Feb. 12  matinées at 2 p.m. Reserve at 514-739-7944.

UP, UP & OY VEY
Host Leslie Lutsky chats with guest Rabbi Simcha Weinstein of New York, author of Up, Up and Oy Vey, on Jewish Digest, 8:30 a.m. on Radio Centre-Ville, 102.3 FM.

Sunday, Feb. 6


JNF TU B’SHVAT TELETHON

The Jewish National Fund of Montreal holds its 23rd annual Tu b’Shvat Telethon, made all the more important this year because of the fire in early December that destroyed five million trees in Israel’s Carmel forest. To plant trees or to volunteer, call 514-934-0313.

JEWISH GENEALOGY
The Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal holds its Sunday Morning Family Tree Workshop, 10 a.m.-noon at the Jewish Public Library. Call 514-484-0969.
Tuesday, Feb. 8

QUEBEC SECULARISM
Ghila Sroka’s L’Institut Québécois de Judaïsme Laïque, in collaboration Gen J, presents Djemila Benhabib speaking on Quebec secularism, 7 p.m., the Gelber Conference Centre. Call 514-737-2666.

INTRO TO JUDAISM
Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom’s 12-week Introduction to Judaism course starts its winter session with Hebrew reading at 5:45 p.m. The course also explains the Jewish holidays, life-cycle events and traditions. There’s an option to attend only the Hebrew part of the course. For details or to register, contact Sarah Polsky at 514-937-3575, ext. 208.

Thursday, Feb. 10


BOOK REVIEW

As part of Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Prime Time Program in the West Island, Larry Weller reviews Chris Cleave’s Little Bee, 7:30 p.m. at 96 Roger Pilon in Dollard des Ormeaux. Details at 514-624-5005, ext. 230.

…Et Cetera…

ONE NIGHT ONLY
The 50 musicians of the World Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Joseph Milo present an evening called Romantic Arias – Music for Lovers, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. at Concordia University’s Oscar Peterson Hall. The evening of opera, operetta and Broadway include performances by soprano Sharon Azrieli, mezzo Jessica Bowes, tenor Hugues Saint-Gelais, and baritone Charles Linton Prévost. For tickets, call the orchestra at 514-484-7428 (no service charge), the concert hall at 514-848-4848, or Admission, at 514-790-1245.

YEHUDA LANCRY
Former Israeli ambassador to the United States and France, Yehuda Lancry, will deliver a lecture, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., and take part in a debate, Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., both in French, at the Segal Centre. The others in the debate – on the “new” Israeli political “formation politique” – will be political scientist Samy Aoun and Julien Bauer of the Université du Québec à Montréal. For details, call the Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec, at 514-734-4998.

DAY SERVICES
The Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ Day Services Program offers new groups for seniors living with mild to moderate memory loss. Call intake at 514-342-1234.

TEA & TALK
Prime Time, Cummings Jewish centre for Seniors’ West Island division, holds a Tea and Talk, every Monday, 1-3 p.m. Call 514-624-5005, ext. 230.

ROBOT SURGERY=LESS PAIN
Robot-assisted surgery dramatically improves outcomes for certain cancers, with benefits including less pain, faster recuperation and lower costs, Jewish General Hospital Lady Davis Institute researchers reported recently in the Journal of Robotic Surgery and the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. “Patient quality of life is dramatically improved, hospital stays are much shorter, and they use far less narcotic pain medication,” said Dr. Walter Gotlieb, head of gynecologic oncology at the JGH Segal Cancer centre. The conditions included uterine, endometrial and cervical cancer.

PINK LUNGS DAY
Last month, Mount Sinai Hospital held its second Pink Lungs Day at Place Ville Marie to inform Montrealers about the hazards of smoking as part of the 2011 Semaine québécoise pour un avenir sans tabac. Participants included Semaine spokesperson Mireille Deyglun, Mount Sinai respiratory therapist Georges Tenza, chief psychologist Kevin Duckworth and executive director Michel Amar.

INTERACTIVE MEDIA
As part of International Holocaust Remembrance Day Jan. 26, filmmaker Heidi Berger, brought her interactive media presentation to Secondary V students at John F. Kennedy High School. Berger’s presentation used footage of her late mother, Holocaust survivor Anne Kazimirski, giving testimony to filmmaker Stephen Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation and for the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. To prepare for the event, students worked with their history, ethics, English and French teachers to make it an interdisciplinary undertaking.