About Town: November 11

Thursday, Nov. 11


HOPE & COPE FAIR

Hope & Cope holds a fair at its Wellness Centre with antiques, artwork and designer bags on offer, today from noon to 8 p.m, and tomorrow, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Proceeds support the nutrition and gardening programs.
Also today, Dr. Barry Breger discusses “Wellness Strategies” from 6:30-8 p.m. Registration, 340-3616.

ISRAELI JOURNALIST
Gil Hoffman, the Jerusalem Post’s chief political correspondent, speaks on “Peace, Politics and Plutonium” at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim at 7:30 p.m., in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund. 937-9471.

Friday, Nov. 12


ANOTHER  POST JOURNALIST

Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick lectures at a Shabbat dinner, Chabad of Westmount, 5:30 p.m. Reserve, www.chabadwestmount.com.

Saturday, Nov. 13

QUESTIONING A RELIGION

“A Rabbi Cross-Examines Christianity” is the topic of Rabbi Michael Skobac, of Jews for Judaism, Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem, 8 p.m.1-866-307-4362.

Sunday, Nov. 14


FOR WOMEN

A Day of Wellness for women will be held at Chabad of the Town, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., by the Jewish Women’s Circle. Program includes brunch and speaker Shimona Tzukernik talking about body image, the media and the power of women. Register at www.chabadtmr.com.

ETUDES JUIVES
A colloquium on “Education juive et conjugaison de savoirs” is held at Congregation Or Hahayim by the Aleph Centre d’études juives contemporaines and the Alliance israélite universelle, which is 150 years old, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Brunch included.733-4998, ext. 3159.

GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT
Sara Shepard, author of the teen novel series Pretty Little Liars, is the guest at the annual Girls’ Night Out at Cummings House, 7 p.m., sponsored by the Jewish Public Library. For girls and women, the evening includes mocktails, prizes and more. Advance tickets only, 345-2627, ext. 3042.

ALL ABOUT WILLS
Dr. Michael Dworkind discusses “Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way,” at a Congregation Shaare Zedek Men’s Club breakfast, 9:30 a.m. 484-1122.

Monday, Nov. 15

FOR CAREGIVERS
A four-part series for caregivers of cancer patients, called Empower, begins at Hope & Cope. The goal is to support loved ones after treatments end. The free program is part of a research study. Register at 340-8255.

BLACK MARKET BABY
Harold Rosenberg tells his story of being a “Black Market Baby,” who was adopted under a questionable practice in the 1940s and ’50s, at a meeting of Prime Time, Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ West Island division, 7:30 p.m. 96 Roger Pilon Blvd., 624-5005, ext. 230.

CRAFT SALE
The Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors holds a sale of crafts and jewelry made by members, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Nov. 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., that will benefit programming. 342-1234.

Tuesday, Nov. 16


BOOK REVIEW

Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman reviews Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom at Beth Zion Congregation, 7:30 p.m at a sisterhood program. 489-8411.

Wednesday, Nov.17

COOKING DEMONSTRATION
Alan Serour, head chef at the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors cafeteria, gives a cooking demonstration at a Shaare Zedek Sisterhood program, 7 p.m. Reservations, 484-1122, ext. 104.

PROMIES NIGHT
Ian Greenberg, president and chief executive officer of Astral Media, receives the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Promies night at Le Windsor Ballroom at 6 p.m. The Federation CJA/Jewish Chamber of Commerce ProMontreal Young Entrepreneurs Awards recognize business acumen, creativity and community spirit among young Jewish business people. There are 55 nominees for this year’s five awards. MC is Lisa Player of Virgin Radio 96. Registration, 345-2645, ext. 3216.

FINANCIAL MISTAKES
“Key Financial Mistakes You Cannot Afford to Make – and How to Avoid Them” is financial consultant Lewis Rosen’s topic at a meeting of the Golda Meir Chapter of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO, 1:30 p.m. at the Chevra Mishnayis Synagogue in Chomedey. Reservations, Evie Applebee, 450-681-9342.

Thursday, Nov. 18


HONOURING DOCTORS

Tribute is paid to the doctors at the Jewish General Hospital at a gala dinner at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, 6 p.m. The MDs are so popular that the event is sold out.

…Et Cetera…


ONE-WOMAN SHOW

Catherine Dajczman’s autobiographical one-woman play Passages will be presented at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Nov. 18-27. This French production tells the story of a young woman’s  search into her family history. The young actress finds a Polish-Jewish grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, and a Québécoise grandmother who raised 11 children. The play was sold out when it was first staged last year at Espace GO. Passages is being presented by NU Productions with the assistance of the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal. Tickets, 739-7944.

ISRAEL AT DOCS FEST
The Israeli film Blood Relation, by Noa Ben Hagai, will be screened at Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal (RIDM), the annual documentary festival, Nov. 10-21. Presented in the official selection category, Blood Relation is about a 14-year-old Israeli girl who disappeared in 1943 only to be found years later living in a refugee camp on the West Bank married to an Arab man with whom she had several children. Whether she was kidnapped or eloped is still vague, but she did try to mend fences with her family. They refused, and, in fact, deny her existence. Ben Hagai, the woman’s great-niece, investigates this mystery by searching archives and organizing family reunions. The film, which is making its Canadian premiere, also reveals the complexities of relations between Israelis and Palestinians. Ben Hagai will be in town to discuss the film. Israel is one of 37 countries represented at the festival.
Also at RIDM is Red Shirley by American rocker Lou Reed. Red Shirley is his cousin, 99-year-old Shulamit  Rabinowicz, who fled Poland for Canada during World War II. At 19, she immigrated illegally to the United States where she toiled for 47 years in a New York textile factory. She tracked down her long-lost sisters  in Palestine, became a union activist, and marched for civil rights in Washington. For details, visit www.ridm.qc.ca.

BARNEY’S PREMIERE

Barney’s Version, the movie based on Mordecai Richler’s last novel, had its Montreal premiere last week at the Imperial Cinema. The event was the Jewish General Hospital Foundation’s thank you to its donors. On hand were producer Robert Lantos and three of the cast: Scott Speedman, Macha Grenon and Anna Hopkins. The film, directed by Richard J. Lewis, had its world premiere in Venice and its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. It will open in Montreal Dec. 24 in the original English and in a subtitled French version as Le monde de Barney.

FINALLY… Monique Polak has been shortlisted for the Quebec Writers Federation Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature for The Middle of Everywhere (Orca). The winner will be announced Nov. 23.