Saturday, July 28
TIGHTROPE WALKERS
Gabrielle Elia, author of The Tightrope Walkers, about the Lebanese Jewish community, is interviewed by host Leslie Lutsky on Jewish Digest, 8:30 a.m. on Radio Centre-Ville, 102.3 FM
Tuesday, July 31
ASHES TO INDEPENDENCE
The sixth and final lecture of a series chronicling the creation of the State of Israel, “From Ashes to Independence,” takes place at 7 p.m. at Adath Israel synagogue’s Gameroff Hall. The last segment, “Fighting for Independence,” covers the years 1945 to 1948 and the War of Independence. For more details, call 514-482-4252.
AT THE KEYBOARD
Greg Innis provides the entertainment at the keyboard for Beth Ora Seniors. 1:30 p.m. at the synagogue. Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
Wednesday, Aug. 1
MEET YOUR MATCH
The Chevra Singles Committee for singles aged 45+ is organizing four “Meet Your Match” dance classes led by instructor Rosario for singles interested in learning the cha-cha, rock ‘n’ roll, foxtrot and salsa. Registration is limited to 20 per class and they take place 7:30-8:30 p.m. at “The Chevra” on Clanranald Avenue (Congregation Chevra Kadisha B’nai Jacob). For more details, contact Halina at 514-747-2949 or email [email protected], To register, contact Iona at 514-482-3366 or email [email protected]. The other classes will be held on Aug. 8, 15 and 22.
GATES OF PRAYER
The Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue’s Rabbi Schachar Orenstein leads a “Gates of Prayer” outdoor workshop at 7:30 p.m. More details at 514-737-3695.
…Et Cetera…
ENBRIDGE CANCER RIDE
Close to 2,000 cyclists raised more than $7 million for the Jewish General Hospital’s (JGH) Segal Cancer Centre at the fourth annual Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer earlier this month. The bikers pedalled more than 300 kilometres – to Trois Rivières and back – in what was described as the “largest cycling fundraiser in Quebec history.” “Today the determination and generosity of the people of Quebec demonstrated once again what can be achieved when we act together,” said Myer Bick, president and CEO of the JGH Foundation.
Since its inception, the ride has raised a total of $26 million for the JGH Foundation. The funds raised also support a range of programs throughout Quebec, including at the Fondation du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec, the Fondation du Centre hospitalier régional de Trois-Rivières, and the Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Gatineau.
BREAST CENTRE MOVES
Having to endure a long wait for a diagnosis after a breast examination can be extremely stressful. But the environment is now warmer and waiting times shorter at the newly relocated and expanded Breast Referral and Investigation Centre at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH). For many patients, the hospital said, this is the only place they will have to visit for vital diagnostic tests. The centre moved into fully renovated facilities on the 10th floor of Cummings Pavilion E (just above the Segal Cancer Centre), and has been designated by the Quebec government as a Centre de référence et d’investigation désigné (CRID). The facility brings together surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, nurses and other health-care professionals to perform mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies and to discuss the results in calm, comfortable surroundings. The hospital said the expansion means the centre can now see 30 to 40 per cent more patients, as well as halve waiting times for non-urgent cases: from about six months to just three months.
“This setup allows one physician to address all of the relevant medical questions in a single visit while standardizing the way patients are prepared for surgery,” said Dr. André Lisbona, director of the centre. “The process is more efficient and effective, and it reduces the number of visits that patients must make, creating a much easier process overall.”
Access to new forms of technology is also enhanced with the addition of some of the most advanced breast cancer detection technology, including an ultrasound machine and two digital radiographic units. This enables doctors to conduct tomosynthesis, a new type of test that is similar to mammography, but permits the manipulation of highly focused three-dimensional images through-out the breast. Tomosynthesis is a significant improvement, Lisbona said, because the imaging can be completed in a single sitting, rather than having the patient come in repeatedly. In addition to its clinical advantages, the layout of the new centre is spacious and welcoming.
NEW RUSSIAN CENTRE
The first permanent centre, a home for the Russian-Jewish community, was inaugurated last month on Bourret Street at the site of the former Anshei Azeroff synagogue, where Russian Jews used to pray regularly. More than 600 people attended the official opening of the centre, which was founded by Rabbi Israel Sirota some 40 years ago but never had a permanent home but used rented facilities.. The centre’s official name is the David and Eda Schottenstein Chabad Community Centre, in recognition of its sponsors, and it will also operate a synagogue. David Schottenstein is the father-in-law of Rabbi Sirota, who immigrated originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan in the former Soviet Union. Inauguration event co-ordinator Nelli Rattner was quoted as saying the new centre is “about people who were robbed of their culture, history and religion in Russia under the Communist rule and gained it back in Canada… It’s about Rabbi Sirota’s self-sacrificing work for the benefit of everyone in the community… Rabbi Sirota always says that for him the biggest title is to be the spiritual leader of this community.”
NEW BOOK
Ottawa author Terrence Rundle West’s new novel, Not in My Father’s Footsteps (General Publishing house), has “strong ties” to Montreal’s Jewish community, according to book publicist Randy Ray. The story revolves around two Montreal university students – one Jewish, the other francophone Québécois – clashing as they make their way through the “political, economic, cultural, religious and linguistic minefields of the 1930s.” Among the subjects touched on are antisemitism, xenophobia, l’Abbé Groulx and Adrien Arcand. In 2007, West won the Northern Lit Award for his book Run of the Town.
SYNAGOGUE SOFTBALL
Check out the Synagogue Softball League’s weekly game on Sundays through the summer at Cote St. Luc’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park. The synagogues in the league include Shaare Zion, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Beth Zion, Beth Ora, Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem and Montreal Torah Centre. For more details, email Asher Tannenbaum, [email protected].
BABY’S MOUSTACHE
B’nai Brith Canada appeared to finally get the joke after initially expressing concern over a Just for Laughs comedy festival poster that depicted a baby sporting the instantly recognizable square Hitler moustache. At first B’nai Brith thought the image was in poor taste and would upset members of the Jewish community and Holocaust survivors, but reconsidered after members saw the show, called Le prénom, and realized it actually condemns racism and hatred. B’nai Brith’s Steven Slimovitch noted that the poster appeared not long after some Quebec students had given police the Nazi salute, while festival head Andy Nulman said he approved the poster since it was less boring than the original one and that Hitler has previously been used for comedic effect, such as in the film and then Broadway hit The Producers, about the production of a musical called Springtime for Hitler.