Friday, Feb. 7
GET INSPIRED
Rabbi Moshe Bryski of Southern California, an inspirational speaker on Judaism and existential issues, opens a Shabbaton at Chabad of Westmount following a 6 p.m. dinner. The founder of the Conejo Jewish Academy for adults speaks again tomorrow (Feb. 8) after a kiddush at 10:30 a.m. Reservations, 514-937-4772.
KABBALAT SHABBAT
An egalitarian and “joyful” service will be held by the B’nai Or Montreal Community Shul, at the YM-YWHA’s Kellert Hall, 7:30 p.m., with music by singer Fran Avni. A vegetarian dessert potluck follows. Rabbi Sherril Gilbert, [email protected].
Saturday, Feb. 8
ISRAELI FILM
The multi-award-winning 2013 Israeli movie Up the Wrong Tree by Gur Bentwich has its Montreal premiere at the Dollar Cinema in Décarie Square at 8 p.m. Part of the Jewish Public Library’s Israeli Film Festival, the film is about one man’s battle against insensitive real estate development. It’s being introduced by Akiva School teacher Michal Moalem, who acts in the JPL’s Hebrew theatre. Tickets, 514-345-6416.
Sunday, Feb. 9
YIDDISH WRITERS
Boris Sandler discusses two of his documentary films on Yiddish writers, Avrum Karpinovitch: Vilna, My Vilna and Josef Kerler: Poet and Dissident at the Jewish Public Library at 2 p.m. The films are in Yiddish, with English subtitles. Moldava-born Sandler is editor-in-chief of the Yiddish Forverts. Tickets, 514-345-6416.
ALL THAT JAZZ
Pianist Julie Lamontagne performs songs from her ADISQ-winning album Opus Jazz in the Segal Centre’s Studio at 8 p.m., accompanied by a string quartet. She gives the classics a jazz twist. Tickets, 514-739-7944.
Monday, Feb. 10
JEWISH GENEALOGY
Members and those who want to become members are invited to the annual Schmoozarama of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal, 7:30 p.m. at a private residence. Members meet informally and can give updates on their research. Reservations, Merle Kastner, [email protected].
SPEAKING TO GOD
The series “How to Speak to God” continues at Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem at 8 p.m. Learn how to make private prayer more meaningful. The class will be preceded by a 15-minute session on how to navigate the siddur. 514-489-3841, ext. 28.
ADVANCED YIDDISH
Lorna Smith begins giving a 12-session advanced Yiddish course at the Jewish Public Library from 7-8:45 p.m. The course includes conversation skills and Yiddish literature. Registration, 514-345-2627, ext. 3006.
FOR GIRLS & MOMS
The Jewish Public Library’s Mother-Daughter Book Discussion Group meets at 7 p.m. to discuss the novel Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater. This fantasy adventure book is for girls in grades 5 and up. Librarian Penny Fransblow leads the group. Registration, 514-345-2627, ext. 3028.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
FOR YOUNG WOMEN
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO Montreal invites young women to “New Connections,” a chance to get to know the organization, 5775 Cavendish Blvd. (party room), Côte St. Luc from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Reservations, [email protected]. CHW is a volunteer organization that raises funds for children’s and women’s health care programs in Israel and Canada.
…Et Cetera…
ARGENTINE ACTIVIST
A public exhibition and lecture series devoted to Marshall Meyer (1930-1993), an American Conservative rabbi and human rights activist who lived in Argentina from 1958-1984, is being held at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). The exhibition, titled Je n’ai pas le droit de garder le silence: La Contribution du Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer à la protection des droits humains, continues until April 28 in the Bibliothèque des sciences juridiques et politiques, 400 Ste. Catherine St. E., second floor.
This reflection on the life and work of a courageous man is organized by Guillermo Glujovsky, an Argentine-born sociologist and doctoral student. Rabbi Meyer was an outspoken critic of Argentina’s military regime and helped secure the release of dissident writer Jacobo Timerman. The exhibition was put together by Duke University, where Rabbi Meyer’s archives are deposited.
The monthly lecture series, in the form of round-table discussions, features UQAM professors Bernard Duhaime, Vincent Romani and Victor Armony, as well as University of Manitoba history professor Jorge Nallim, Rabbi Rolando Matalon of New York’s Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, Ellen Gabriel of the Assembly of First Nations, and Debora Benchoam, a lawyer with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, among others. The next session is Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in room A-2100.
FIGHTING ADDICTION
Chabad Lifeline offers two support groups related to sex addiction. An eight-week session is intended for men in recovery from this compulsion, while partners of sex addicts can join an eight-week session. Both are led by therapist Jennifer Kotry. “Research has consistently demonstrated how effective it is for partners to have their own therapeutic support system for both the relationship with the addict and their own healing process,” she said. Registration, 514-738-7700.
It also runs groups for family members of other types of addicts Tuesdays from 1:30-3 p.m. and a women’s 12-step co-dependency workshop Wednesdays, from 1-2:30 p.m. Karen Bresinger, 514-738-7700.
A speaker’s program open to the public for anyone affected by addiction takes place Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
BUSINESS FORUM
Dominique Anglade, CEO and president of Montréal International, which promotes investment in the city, is guest speaker at an Albert Einstein Business Forum luncheon Feb. 19 at Richter, organized by the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
An engineer by profession and former McKinsey & Co. corporate consultant, Anglade, who attended the university’s board of governors meeting last June, is also a leader in the Haitian community. Tickets, 514-932-2133.
SILCOFF DOES IT AGAIN
Alison Silcoff won an international Gala Award for Best Decor for her planning of the Daffodil Ball in aid of the Canadian Cancer Society. The event, which had a Great Gatsby theme, raised more than $2 million. Silcoff was presented with the award at the Special Event 2014, held in Nashville, Tenn., part of a global gathering of the special events industry. This is the 13th Gala Award Silcoff has received in the last 14 years.