Thursday, Sept. 20
INSIDER SEMINAR
Charles Small, director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism & Policy, is the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research’s guest speaker at a free 5 p.m. “Insider Seminar,” 1396 St. Catherine St. W., Suite 218. Small’s topic is “Incitement to Genocidal Antisemitism: Radical Islam and the Acquiescence of the Western Intellectuals and Policy Makers” Call 514-486-5544 for details, or email [email protected].
LECTURE & BOOK LAUNCH
Barbara Kay and Aruna Papp speak about and help to launch Unworthy Creature, a Punjabi daughter’s memoir of honour, shame, and love, 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. Call Roxana Brauns at 514-345-2627. or email, [email protected].
Friday, Sept. 21
SOULFUL SHABBAT
The Bnai Or Montreal community shul of “Jewish renewal” holds “soulful Shabbat services,” in a warm, welcoming and egalitarian environment, 7:30 p.m. in Kellert Hall of the YM-YWHA Ben Weider JCC. Newcomers welcome. The shul is also holding Yom Kippur services. Visit www.bnai-or.org to register, or email Rabbi Sherril Gilbert at [email protected].
Saturday, Sept. 22
POLISH-JEWISH MUSEUM
Host Leslie Lutsky chats with Peter Jessem, Canadian representative of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, on Jewish Digest, 8:30 a.m. on Radio Centre-Ville, 102.3 FM.
Sunday, Sept. 23
CANTORIAL STRAINS
Beth Zion Congregation presents “sounds of hope and cheerfulness” at a cantorial concert under the direction of Yossi Milo, featuring Daniel Benlolo, Boaz Davidoff, Lipa Glants, Yechezkel Klang and Burney Lieberman. Tickets at 514-489-8411, ext. 24, or email [email protected].
GOOD AS (PHIL) GOLD
Prominent physician and researcher Dr. Phil Gold talks about his and his family’s life, noontime at a Lunch and Lecture at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim. Call 514-937-9471, ext. 139.
SUKKAH DECORATING
All children – as well as parents, grandparents and other relatives – are invited to express their creativity and enjoy brunch at Adath Israel Poale Zedek Anshei Ozeroff synagogue’s sukkah-decorating party, 10 a.m. Call 514-482-4252, or visit www.adath.ca.
GROVER LEARNS HEBREW
The Jewish Public Library’s PJ Library sponsors a free back-to-school screening (for kids six and under) of Shalom Sesame’s Grover Learns Hebrew, 10 a.m. at the Dollar Cinema in Decarie Square. “Funky Feet” is the opening act. Reserve quickly, as space is limited, 514-345-2627, ext. 3179, or email [email protected].
Monday, Sept. 24
FEDCJA AGM
Federation CJA holds its annual general meeting 7-9 p.m. at the Gelber Conference Centre. Call Judith Leichter at 514-345-2645, ext. 3382, or email [email protected].
Thursday, Sept. 27
RABY REVIEWS
Eva Raby, former executive director of the Jewish Public Library and a literary specialist, reviews Kathleen Flinn’s The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry, and other cooking memoirs, 2 p.m. at the JPL, as part of its Afternoon Book Review Series. The event is the first of three in the monthly series, each featuring a different reviewer. Tickets and details at 514-345-2627,ext. 3006, or email [email protected], or go to www.jewishpubliclibrary.org.
BALLROOM DANCING
Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors begins a course in ballroom dancing, Thursdays 1-2 p.m. through Nov. 1. Call Joyce Tobenstein at 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
…Et Cetera…
BUSINESS NETWORKING
The Business Networking Group holds a Westmount Networkers’ Breakfast every Tuesday, 7-8:30 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom. The event allows participants to tell others about their businesses. Call Valerie at 514-937-3575, ext. 212, or email [email protected].
DOCTORS ON WHEELS
Earlier this summer, Kia Canada Quebec provided two Sorento vehicles for a unique Doctors on Wheels Mobile Lab Program involving McGill University and the Jewish General Hospital. Since the end of August, JGH researcher Dr. Amir Raz and Dr. Cory Harris of McGill University have been using the cars as “mobile labs,” visiting urban centres and remote areas around Quebec as outreach to residents who can’t leave their towns and don’t have health care readily available. The three-year program is expected to help thousands of people who would not otherwise have such care. Kia Canada says the program will “drive change.”
TEMPLE SUKKOT
Temple Emanu-El Beth Sholom hosts a Kids First/Tweens First Torah School Family Sukkot Party and Mitzvah Project, Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-noon, with crafts, singing, dancing, and putting together holiday food baskets for the MADA soup kitchen. The following day, Sept. 30, 10 a.m.-noon, “Temple West” heads to Le Verger Labonté in Île-Perrot for apple picking and its own Sukkot party. RSVP with Valerie at 514-937-3575, ext. 212, or email her at [email protected].
JENNIFER GASOI
Very popular award-winning and Juno-nominated children’s entertainer Jennifer Gasoi launches her new CD, Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well, at a special show, Sept. 30, 11 a.m. at the Rialto Theatre, 5723 Ave. du Parc. Doors open at 10:15 a.m. To reserve, call 514-770-7773, or visit www.theatrerialto.ca or www.jennifergasoi.com.
SCHIZOPHRENIA PROTEIN
Dr. Hyman Schipper, a neurologist and researcher at the Jewish General Hospital’s Lady Davis Institute (LDI) and professor of medicine at McGill University, is trying to unlock the secrets of schizophrenia, a severe mental illness that afflicts about one per cent of the population. It’s characterized by delusions and is considered incurable. Schipper is examining the possible role of heme oxygenase-1, or HO-1, a specific protein that he has been studying for the last 15 years and is present at elevated levels in people with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Schipper has found that elevated levels of the protein, which has been shown to produce hyperactive and repetitive behaviours in mice, is also present in “about a dozen neuropathological and neurochemical abnormalities that are attributes of schizophrenia, including excessive dopamine levels in appropriate brain regions and decreased levels of the protein reelin, which may be a factor in the abnormal brain development observed in schizophrenia. These additional associations provide further evidence that increased levels of HO-1 in the brain may be a key factor in the development of the disease.” Schipper’s lab is working on an HO-1 inhibitor that could prove important in blocking the pathway to the disease. His lab’s and his co-authors’ finding appeared in the August issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.
MAH JONG COMING
Oct. 5 is the deadline to register for mah-jong at Shaare Zedek Congregation, running Mondays, Oct. 15-Nov. 26 and led by Bryna Frankel. The class limit is 15. Call 514-484-1122, exts. 101 or 104.