Thursday, April 4
MARROW DONOR DRIVE
A drive to register potential bone marrow donors will be held at Concordia University from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the EV building at the Sir George Williams campus and the SP building at the Loyola campus. To be held on behalf of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, the drive may benefit those suffering from various blood cancers and other diseases. One of them may be four-year-old Jayden Roll, who has been diagnosed with a pre-leukemia disorder. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health can be screened – all it takes is a swab inside the cheek to determine a match.
Saturday, April 6
SOMETHING FISHY
Jeffrey Yoskowitz of New York’s Gefilteria, a restaurant that gives gefilte fish a new twist, is the guest on the Jewish Digest, on Radio Centre-Ville 102.3FM at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 7
YOM HASHOAH
A community-wide commemoration of Yom Hashoah will be held by the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre, at Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem, 7:30 p.m. 514-345-2605.
Monday, April 8
HOLOCAUST SYMPOSIUM
The 20th annual Kleinmann Family Foundation Symposium on the Holocaust and Genocide opens at Vanier College and continues until April 12. Among the speakers will be Sebastian Klotz and Andreas Schnitzer, young Austrians who chose Holocaust memorial work as an alternative to military service; Anne Lagacé-Dowson, a broadcaster and director of Ensemble (formerly the Tolerance Foundation); Catherine Chatterley, founder of the Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism at the University of Manitoba; Barbara Coloroso, author of Extraordinary Evil: A Brief History of Genocide… and Why it Matters; and David Tshimba, an expert on conflict in Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo.
Tuesday, April 9
BIBLE CLASS
Rabbi Sidney Shoham begins a three-session Bible class entitled “Judaic Outlook of Contemporary Issues” at Beth Zion Congregation at 10 a.m. 514-489-8411, ext. 24.
GIRLS AND ANTISEMITISM
Nora Gold, an associate scholar at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s Centre for Women’s Studies, lectures on “I Don’t Know Why They Hate Us – I Don’t Think We Did Anything Bad to Hurt Them: Jewish Girls Aged 10-12 Reflect on Their Experiences of Antisemitism,” at McGill University’s Leacock Building, Room 738, at 5:30 p.m. This is the latest talk in a series sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. Registration, [email protected].
Wednesday, April 10
CHAMPAGNE SPY
The documentary The Champagne Spy, about a Mossad agent in Egypt, will be screened at Congregation Hekhal Shalom, at 7:30 p.m., with guest speaker Israeli Consul Alon Melchior. 514-747-4530.
BOOK REVIEW
The Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary holds a Literary Breakfast Club meeting at Congregation Beth-El at 9:30 a.m. Philip C. Dann reviews The Free World by David Bezmozgis. Tickets, 514-369-2222, ext. 1337.
Thursday, April 11
ROSH CHODESH
A women’s Rosh Chodesh service for the Hebrew month of Iyar takes place at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue’s downstairs chapel at 8:30 a.m. Children welcome. Shelley, 514-489-9094.
BESTSELLING AUTHOR
Dora Levy Mossanen, whose latest novel is the sumptuous The Last Romanov, speaks at the Jewish Public Library at 7:30 p.m. She’ll be introduced by Cindy Bassel-Brown. She will also be “in conversation” at an intimate dinner beforehand, at 6 p.m., presented by the Jewish Women’s Literary Circle. Tickets, 514-345-6416.
NEW YORK TRIP
Chabad Queen Mary offers at trip to New York April 11-14, which includes visiting Crown Heights sites and the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s grave, as well as speakers such as Rabbi Simon Jacobson, author of A Meaningful Life. Reservations, Shaina, 514-502-3584.
…Et Cetera…
MORMON YOM HASHOAH
For the first time, the Mormons will host a Christian commemoration of the Holocaust, with Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Montreal, on April 14 at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4355 de l’Orphelinat St. The dialogue group has been holding these commemorations for the past 34 years.
TEMPLE BENEFIT
Joe Schwarcz speaks on “Eating: Is There a Solution to the Confusion?” at a fundraiser April 17 for Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom at 6:30 p.m., which includes a buffet dinner. Tickets, Rosie, 514-937-3575, ext. 213.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Chabad Lifeline offers a free support group for relatives of those with various addictions. Meetings are every Tuesday, 1:30-3 p.m. at 4615 Côte Ste. Catherine Rd. Registration, Karen Bresinger, 514-738-7700.
FOR STUDENTS
The Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre is recruiting CEGEP and university students for its summer MISSIVE volunteer program, offered at both Maimonides and the Jewish Eldercare Centre. Running from June 25 to Aug. 16, the program is ideal for those thinking of a career in health or social services. MISSIVE includes hands-on experience and lectures by professionals. [email protected].
BIBLE CONTEST
Herzliah High School’s Jack Rudski finished first in the recent grades 9-11 division of the Montreal Regional Bible Contest. The top finishers in the grades 7-8 and grades 5-6 divisions were, respectively, Yehonatan Haimovici and Arielle Rohr, both of Hebrew Academy. That school took five of the top nine spots. A total of 28 students will compete in the national contest taking place in Montreal May 5 and 6 under the auspices of the Bronfman Jewish Education Centre.
Comedian Michael Lifshitz, who has overcome his disabilities and specializes in motivating others to “conquer your mountains,” is a headliner at at an April 5 benefit for Leave Out Violence, at Macallan Bar, 212 Dorval Ave., at 8 p.m. LOVE, founded by Twinkle Rudberg, teaches youth to reject violence and helps them if they have been victims of it. Tickets, www.michaellifshitz.com…
Shira Katz was one of eight Canadian artists to win the Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer art contest. Her painting is being used on note cards sold by the non-profit organization to raise funds for ancillary services for adolescents and young adults with cancer. The cards can be purchased at www.voboc.org.