Thursday, Nov. 17
PINKER APPEARANCE
Montreal native and Harvard University psychology professor Steven Pinker discusses his new book, The Better Angels of our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, at McGill University’s Residence Hall, 3420 McTavish St., 6:30 p.m. Tickets at McGill’s bookstore.
SHAARE ZION THURSDAYS
Three Thursday courses start at Shaare Zion Congregation: Lunch and Learn (noon-1:30 p.m.); Intermediate Hebrew (6-7:30 p.m.); and Thursday Nights with the Rabbi (7:30-9 p.m.). Call Deborah Trager, 514-481-7727, ext. 226.
Friday, Nov. 18
SHABBAT POWER COUPLE
Scientist Gerald Schroeder and journalist Barbara Sofer are the “power couple” at Chabad of Westmount’s Shabbat dinner and lecture, 5:15 p.m., and Nov. 19 morning and afternoon (10:30 a.m. for him, 12:30 p.m. for her), at 4444 St. Catherine St. W. Go to, chabadwestmount.com.
CLEVERINGA LECTURE
A lecture commemorating “Cleveringa” protest, named for Dutch professor Rudolph Cleveringa, who in 1940 denounced the ousting of Jewish professors from academia in the occupied Netherlands and was jailed for it, takes place at noon at the Université de Montréal’s Salon de Professeurs A-3464 in the Pavillon Maximilien-Caron, 3101 Chemin de la Tour near Queen Mary and Decelles. Consult the umontreal.ca online events calendar.
Saturday, Nov. 19
ALGER ALGER
Alger Alger performs at 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre as part of the Festival Sefarad. Call 514-733-4998.
COMEDY NIGHT
Comedians Neev, Bruno Ly, Benjamin Marquis, Unclefofi, Olivier Martineau, and Robby Hoffman take the stage 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Le Cercle, 5453 Queen Mary Rd. Call 514-487-3999.
YIDDISH SHAKESPEARE
American Eve Annenberg, director of Romeo and Juliet in Yiddish, talks to host Leslie Lutsky on Jewish Digest, 8:30 a.m. on Radio Centre-Ville, 102.3 FM.
Sunday, Nov. 20
BOOK MONTH CLOSING
The Jewish Book Month’s closing event is a 2 p.m. book launch at the Jewish Public Library of Rebecca Margolis’ Jewish Roots, Canadian Soil: Yiddish Culture in Montreal, 1905-1945. Tickets, 514-345-2627, ext. 3017.
ETHNIC COMEDY GALORE
Temple [Emanu-El-Beth Sholom] of the Town and United in Comedy promise a “hilarious evening of ethnic comedy,” with Paul Baluyot, Eman, Jeff Schouela, Rodney Ramsey, Andrew Searles, and DeAnne Smith, 8 p.m., Comedy Works, 1238 Bishop St. Limited tickets. Call 514-937-3575, exts. 201 and 203.
LEGENDARY SINGERS
As part of the Festival Sefarad, 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre, the songs of legendary singers such as Frank Sinatra will be performed. Tickets at 514-733-4998.
WOMEN OF ACTION BRUNCH
Oprah Winfrey Network head Sheri Salata is keynote speaker at the Israel Cancer Research and Pink Lady funds’ 6th annual Women of Action Brunch honouring Veronique Benhamou, Suzy Costom, and Bonnie Rothstein, 11:30 a.m., Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Details at 514-481-2723.
Monday, Nov. 21
MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy is discussed by experts Sandra Avendano and Martin Picard at a 7 p.m. “One-in-Three” Forum at Jewish General Hospital’s Block Amphitheatre (B-106). Call David Smajovits, 514-862-3284.
Tuesday, Nov. 22
BIG BAND@THE SEGAL
Musician-composer Christine Jensen and her big band are showcased 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre Studio as part of its new Big Band Series. Call 514-739-7944.
PANCREATIC CANCER TALK
Dr. Gorge Zogopoulos and cancer survivor Libby Znaimer discuss pancreatic cancer, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the McIntyre Medical Science Building’s 6th floor Martin Theatre, 1200 Pine W., hosted by the Goodman Cancer Research Centre. Register at 514-398-4970.
BAZAAR DAY
National Council of Jewish Women Montreal Section’s Fund for Autism/AIDS at Montreal Children’s Hospital, as well as the McGill University-Montreal General Hospital’s (MGH) Lupus Clinic, stage a bazaar today through Nov. 27, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at MGH’s 6th floor Livingston Hall. Details at 514-937-5576.
FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM
B’nai Brith League for Human Rights chair Alan Adel speaks to Beth Ora Seniors on fighting antisemitism, 1:30 p.m. Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
Wednesday, Nov. 23
CAMPAIGN CLOSE
The Combined Jewish Appeal 2011 campaign closes with a 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception at the Gelber Conference Centre, with Neshama Carlebach accompanied by the Green Pastures Choir. Call Nechama Zunenshine, 514-345-2645, ext. 6460.
THE DISAPPEARED READING
Author Kim Echlin reads from her latest novel, The Disappeared, 5:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library, as part of its Canada Council of the Arts Library Reading with Wine Reception. Reserve at 514-345-6416.
ACTRESS DISCUSSED
Legendary African-American actress Beah Richards, nominated for an Oscar for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, is the focus of a 1:30 p.m. “talkumentary” at the Segal Centre at a Cummings Centre event. Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7201.
RAYMONDE FOLCO SPEAKS
Former Liberal MP Raymonde Folco speaks to Act To End Violence Against Women’s FAB Group, 12:15 p.m. at the Terra Cotta restaurant in St. Laurent, 1873 St. Louis. Reserve at 514-487-2330.
SOUPE DU JOUR
Soupe du Jour, a dance production choreographed by Lina Cruz, takes place 8 p.m. at the Segal Centre Studio. Call 514-739-7944.
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
“Nothing lasts forever” is Lloyd Slavens’ topic for a 1 p.m. talk at Chevra Mishnayis Jacob Josef Synagogue, hosted by Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s Golda Meir Chapter. Call Evie Applebee at 450-681-9342.
…Et Cetera…
LEGAL TRAINING
Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m., is the date and time for three hours of “approved training” for navigating the legal system, with Superior Court Judge Joel Silcoff, and Rabbi Berel Bell, moderated by Rabbi Moshe Krasnanski, at Chabad of Westmount, 4444 Ste. Catherine St. W. Call 514-342-1770.
ORTHODOX FOSTER HOMES
Families are needed to take in children for Orthodox Jewish foster care. Call Esther, 514-733-3074.
DRUG NETWORK
The Jewish General Hospital is serving as the base for the new Canadian Network of Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES) being funded by the Canadian government. CNODES brings together more than 60 researchers from Canadian centres under the hospital’s Dr. Samy Sussa conducting independent research to ensure that prescription drugs are safe and effective.
MITTENS, ANYONE?
Act to End Violence Against Women needs volunteer knitters for its Mountain of Mittens project for those in need, such as inner city kids. Wool provided. Call 514-487-2330.