ISRAELI FILMS
Israeli director Eran Riklis (Lemon Tree, The Syrian Bride) introduces his new movie, Human Resources Manager, Israel’s entry for best foreign language film at the 2011 Academy Awards, at the Corona Theatre, 8:30 p.m., part of the seventh annual Montreal Israel Film Festival. Based on an A. B. Yehoshua novel, this tragi-comedy tells the story of a corporate manager’s attempt to honour the death of a company employee, a foreign worker killed in a terrorist attack – a woman he didn’t even know. Human Resources Manager is screened again May 22, 6:30 p.m. at the Guzzo Spheretech Mega-Plex.
Riklis speaks at the showing of another of his films, 2006’s Three Mothers, today at 3 p.m. at the Corona.
The festival continues until May 23. www.israelfilmfestival.ca.For the buzz, go to Twitter @israelfilmmtl. All films are English subtitled.
L’ART DE TABLE
An exhibition of table settings, both classic and contemporary, continues today at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. This annual event, organized by the Sisterhood, benefits the synagogue’s Meals on Wheels program. L’Art de Table lost one of its most enthusiastic participants, Milly Lande, who died last month at age 97. Her memory is honoured with the inclusion of her popular “Tea for Two” table, featuring Royal Worcester china in the Blind Earl pattern. The event also includes a boutique alley. Tickets, 937-9471, ext. 145.
JEWISH IDENTITY
Rabbi Adina Lewittes speaks on “The Changing Landscape of Jewish Identity” 7 p.m. at the Gelber Centre, sponsored by the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. She examines new ways of defining who is Jewish.
KLEZMER CONCERT
The klezmer band Magillah, featuring accordionist Henri Oppenheim and singer Michelle Heisler, performs at the Eleanor London Côte St. Luc Public Library at 7 p.m. Tickets, 485-6900.
KLAHR AT SEGAL
American experimental filmmaker Lewis Klahr, known for his collage animation, makes his first Montreal appearance at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, showing his animation works Engram Sepals and Daylight Moon in the CinemaSpace at 7 p.m. Tickets. 739-7944.
OPERATION SOLOMON
The 20th anniversary of Operation Solomon, the airlift of Ethiopian Jews, is celebrated at Congregation Shomrim Laboker following services. 731-6831.
CHAMBER MUSIC & JAZZ
Musica Camerata Montreal presents a concert of the compositions of Johannes Brahms, Giovanni-Battista Viotti and Quebec’s own André Prévost at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts’ Studio, 2:30 p.m.
At 8 p.m, jazz is on the bill when local saxophonist Dave Turner and his quartet, Earthtones, take the stage.
MORE ISRAELI FILMS
The sixth Festival du Cinéma Israélien de Montréal, featuring 26 features, shorts and documentaries, most subtitled in French, opens today and continues until May 31. Sponsored by the Communauté Sépharade unifiée du Québec, screenings are at Cinéma du Parc and the Segal Centre for Performing Arts. The opening film is The Matchmaker by Avi Nesher, an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival last year. Other highlights include Eran Riklis’ new The Human Resources Manager, Precious Life and Strangers No More, which won an Oscar this year for best short documentary. For the first time, the Prix de la Fondation de Jérusalem will be awarded to two student filmmakers, winners of a contest held in Israel’s film schools. www.fcim.ca.
RABBI SHOHAM FETED
Rabbi Sidney Shoham is honoured at the annual fundraiser of the Montreal Committee for Hesder Yeshivot, a network of schools in Israel for Torah students who fully perform their military service. A scholarship in Rabbi Shoham’s name, announced at the cocktail reception at Brenda and Samuel Gewurz’s home, will enable a Montreal student to combine advanced Judaic studies at a Hesder Yeshiva with Israel Defence Forces service. Rabbi Shoham was founding rabbi of Beth Zion Congregation, which he led for some 50 years and continues to serve as rabbi emeritus. He was the first rabbi to chair the Combined Jewish Appeal and be a leader of State of Israel Bonds. 483-3660.
ARIEL SABAR AT JPL
Ariel Sabar, whose autobiography about “how a Jewish kid from Los Angeles travelled to wartime Iraq in search of [his Kurdish Jewish] roots, identity and his father’s improbable story,” speaks at the Jewish Public Library, 7:30 p.m. My Father’s Paradise, his first book, won a National Book Critics’ Circle Award. His new book is Heart of the City. Registration, 345-2627, ext. 3017.
OPEN GATE IS 20
Open Gate, a program at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim that provides activities for frail seniors on a non-sectarian basis, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a benefit gala dinner, bridge and mahjong at 6 p.m. Tickets, Barbara, 938-1405.
OVERCOMING TRAGEDY
Lynda Fishman, author of Repairing Rainbows, a memoir of overcoming the tragedy of losing her mother and sister in a plane crash when she was a child, is guest speaker at the closing luncheon of the Chevra Kadisha Sisterhood at noon. Reservations, 482-3366.
SCOTCH TASTING
Beth Zion Congregation holds a scotch tasting, with food, at 7 p.m. Reservations, 489-8411, ext. 24.
SON OF HAMAS LEADER
Mosab Hassan Yousef, whose father was a founder of Hamas but has himself renounced violence, became a Christian and spied for Israel, is guest speaker of Chabad of the Town at 7:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Tickets, 342-1770.
LODZ GHETTO FILM
The documentary Song of the Lodz Ghetto by Canadian filmmaker David Kaufman and featuring the music of Brave Old World has its Montreal premiere at the Outremont Theatre at 7:30 p.m., presented by KlezKanada and its partners. The film focuses on street singer Yankele Herszkowicz and his conflict with the Nazi-appointed ghetto head, Chaim Rumkowski. Tickets,495-9944.
QUEBEC AND JEWISH LAW
Chabad of Westmount hosts a day-long symposium for lawyers, which earns them credits from the bar, comparing Quebec and Jewish law. Topics covered include property law, bankruptcy and free speech. Presenters include judges William Fraiberg and Pepita Capriolo and retired senator and lawyer Yoine Goldstein. 591-6744.
MEDICAL DISCOVERIES
Dr. Ilan Dinstein, of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science, speaks on the early detection of autism, at a luncheon benefiting Weizmann Canada, 11:45 a.m. at the Mount Stephen Club. New mother Roslyn Kaman also describes how research at Weizmann helped her start a family. Reservations, 342-0777.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday, well-known criminal defence lawyer Raphael Schachter, along with his friends and colleagues, have created an endowment fund and annual scholarship at his alma mater, the Université de Montréal. The inaugural Raphael Schachter, Q.C., Scholarship will help establish Project Innocence Montréal, a non-profit organization within the law faculty dedicated to righting wrongful convictions. The goal of the fund is to encourage such community-minded student initiatives in the areas of penal and criminal law.