Thursday, Nov. 25
CANCER MANAGEMENT
Dr. William Foulkes, director of the cancer genetics program, speaks at a discussion of “New Approaches in Cancer Management: Personalized Cancer Treatments, Fact or Fiction?” sponsored by McGill University’s Goodman Research Centre, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Palmer Amphitheatre. This series lets the public hear from local experts on the latest in prevention and diagnosis of cancer. Register with Annette Novak, 398-4970.
JAZZ CONCERT
Guitarist Thomas Caribou and percussionist Glen Velez present a jazz concert, Segal Centre for Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Tickets, 739-7944.
ISRAEL UPDATE
Hector Dana, public affairs officer at the Israeli consulate, speaks on “Israel Today and the Media,” at a Congregation Shaare Zedek Men’s Club breakfast, 9:30 a.m. [email protected].
GIANT BAZAAR
Young Israel of Chomedey Synagogue hold a giant bazaar, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. of new merchandise for the family and home. 450-681-2571.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Svetlana Klempner, the Russian emigrée principal of the Music Academy Fortissimo in Côte St. Luc, and her teachers present a matinée of classical music to mark the school’s fifth anniversary, Oscar Peterson Hall, 3:30 p.m. Featured are works by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi and others. The school is expanding and introducing a scholarship fund. Tickets, 836-6872.
NEW RABBI
Beth Zion Congregation’s new spiritual leader, Rabbi Tuvia Hoffman, will be introduced to the community at a Men’s Club breakfast, 9:30 a.m. His topic is “Chanukah: From the Mundane to the Mystical.” 489-8411.
SEARCHING FOR ROOTS
Hymie Reichstein of Ottawa talks about “Major Discoveries in the Quest to Find My Roots,” at a Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal event, Jewish Public Library, 7:30 p.m. http://jgs-montreal.org.
IRAQI JEWS
Prof. Gladys Daoud Kattan speaks on “Jews from Iraq,” at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, sponsored by the sisterhood, 7:30 p.m. 737-3695, ext. 101.
MOVIE NIGHT AT SHAAR
The movie Wondrous Oblivion, about a traditional Jewish family in suburban 1960s England whose lives are changed when a Jamaican family moves in next door, will be shown at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, 7:30 p.m. Tickets, 937-9471.
BOOK REVIEW
Larry Weller reviews the novel The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander at a Beth Ora Seniors meeting, 1:30 p.m. 342-1234, ext. 7318.
CHANUKAH FESTIVITIES
A holiday celebration for parents and tots takes place at the West Island YM-YWHA, 10:15-11:30 a.m. with gym, crafts, stories and treats. Tickets, Heather Ingberg, 624-6750.
Prime Time, a West Island division of the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors, holds a party for people 50-plus at 96 Roger Pilon Blvd., noon to 2:30 p.m. Light lunch and entertainment by Janie Respitz. Reservations, Ellen Tock, 624-5005, ext. 230.
The first candle will be lit at Westmount city hall at 4:30 p.m. followed by a party at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom. Bring your own chanukiyah. Anita, 937-3575, ext. 212.
The Chomedey Chapter of Jewish Women International will hold a party at the Shaar Shalom Synagogue, 7 p.m., featuring violinist David Litvack, latkes and a gifts exchange. Bring your own kosher wine. Tickets, 450-688-0026.
CULTURE CLASH
The Wedding Song, a movie set in Tunisia during the Nazi occupation about two young women, one a Sephardi Jew, the other Arab, who are best friends, will be screened at the Jewish Public Library, 7:30 p.m. It’s the latest film by Myriam Albou (Little Jerusalem). Sponsored by the Alliance Israelite Universelle, the event also includes a talk on the Jews of the Maghreb, led by Mireille Galanti. Reserve at 345-6416.
FOR ROMANIAN JEWRY
A commemoration of the Romanian victims of the Holocaust was held recently at Shaare Zion Congregation, with the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research.The guest speaker was D’Arcy McGee MNA Lawrence Bergman. There were poetry readings and other excerpts in English, French, Hebrew and Yiddish by students, Cote St Luc councillor Dida Berku and others. Kaddish was recited by survivor Joseph Fishman.
FROM HINDUISM TO ISRAEL
Dr. Aaron Abraham, an Indian-born Hindu who converted to Judaism and immigrated to Israel, tells his story at Chabad of Westmount the weekend of Dec. 3-4. Through the Chabad shlichim in Mumbai, Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg, who were slain in terror attacks two years ago, he learned about the Jewish religion. He is now a doctor in Israel. Abraham speaks at a Friday night dinner and a Shabbat sermon. Reservations, www.chabadwestmount.com.
EDWARDS AT BRUNCH
Breast cancer survivor Elizabeth Edwards, whose husband, John, was a 2004 Democratic U.S. vice-presidential nominee, will speak at a Women of Action brunch Dec. 5 at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim at 11:30 a.m., a fundraiser sponsored by the Israel Cancer Research Fund and Pink Lady Fund. Honorees are Lori Weitzman, Lynda Fishman and the late Phyllis Levine. Tickets, 481-2723.
ISRAELI ARTIST
New works by Israeli photographer Tomer Ganihar, called Into the Light, are on exhibit at the Battat Contemporary Art Gallery in Mile End until Dec. 18. Ganihar’s work is said to be reminiscent of that of Mark Rothko, and was shown at the 2007 Venice Biennale. His subjects range from landscapes to raves to hospital trauma scenes. 750-9566.
THINGS TO DO
Every Saturday, from 10:45-11:45 a.m., Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard des Ormeaux invites mothers and their children, from newborns to age four, to a Shabbat party. Learn Shabbat songs and play games in a friendly environment. [email protected]… The Creative Social Centre for seniors at Congregation Chevra Kadisha is taking registration for sculpture and computer classes. 488-0907.
The Quebec City Jewish Community is reeling after the tragic deaths of three of its members in a fire in Paris. Serge Rochman, a member of Congregation Beth Israel Ohev Sholom, lost his wife, Geneviève Henaire-Rochman, and two of their sons. Although living in Paris for more than a year, he was still active in the synagogue, said Jonathan Hawey. The congregation is raising funds to help support Rochman and his surviving son. For details, contact David Ernst-Schonberg, [email protected]… Local saxophonist Damien Nisenson, backed by five musicians, presents a concert called Doubossary at MAI (Montréal Arts interculturels) Dec. 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. In September 1941, the Jewish population of Doubossary in Transnistria, Moldova, was decimated by the SS. Nisenson recalls this destroyed culture with a mix of traditional klezmer and chassidic music with a modern vibe. Tickets. 982-1812… Emmy- and Tony-Award-winning actor and singer Theodore Bikel will star in a new musical adaptation of Lies My Father Told Me at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in May. The story by Ted Allen, of the relationship between a little boy and his pedlar grandfather in 1920s Montreal, is being set to music by the Segal’s own Elan Kunin.
