Saturday, May 18
DANCE WORKSHOP
Choreographers Victor Quijada and Anne Plamondon of the Rubberband Dance Group present excerpts from their new hip hop piece at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Reservations, 514-739-7944.
Sunday, May 19
LIFE VILLAGE
Children with special needs and their families are invited to Life Village Day at the Friendship Circle, 4585 Bourret St., 1-4 p.m. In a safe and fun environment, the kids learn practical skills such as shopping or ordering a meal. Mushky, 514-735-2255, ext. 227.
Tuesday, May 21
FILM ON ILAN RAMON
A Mission of Hope, a documentary about Israel’s first astronaut Ilan Ramon, who died 10 years ago aboard the space shuttle Columbia, will be screened at the annual fundraising gala for Kollel Torah MiTzion Montreal at the Imperial Cinema at 8 p.m. This is the film’s Canadian premiere, and its producer/director Dan Cohen will be on hand. Greeting will also be brought by Steve MacLean, former president of the Canadian Space Agency, who was a friend of Ramon, and retired Israeli colonel Ze’ev Raz, who led Israel’s 1981 strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor. The film looks at the story behind the tiny Torah scroll, which had been smuggled into a Nazi concentration camp and which Ramon took with him into space. Tickets, 514-486-5718.
KIDS WITH CANCER
Israeli singing sensation Liel Kolet will perform at the annual fundraising gala for Larger Than Life, Montreal chapter. The cocktail reception and concert will be held at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue at 6:30 p.m. Founded 12 years ago, Larger Than Life provides emotional and financial support to these children and their families. Tickets, Linda, 514-953-5717.
MEMORY TRAINING
The Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors offers a memory training course that continues until June 4, 2-3:30 p.m. Registration, Annette, 514-342-1234, ext. 7305.
REPORT ON OPRAH
Gazette columnist Bill Brownstein gives a report on Oprah Winfrey’s recent appearance at the Bell Centre to the Beth Ora Seniors at 1:30 p.m. 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.
Wednesday, May 22
ART OF COMPLAINING
Amy Fish discusses her new book The Art of Complaining Effectively at a FAB (Fifty and Beyond) Group of Act to End Violence Against Women meeting at Via Marcello on Côte Vertu Road at 12:15 p.m. Reservations, 514-487-2330.
BRAIN HEALTH
The Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors launches a three-part Brain Health Series from noon to 3 p.m. with a symposium on “Meditation and Brain Health,” led by Andrew Newberg, a research director at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Also a religious studies professor, he describes the positive effects of meditation on mental function. Included are workshops and lunch. The series continues in the fall. Registration, Stefani Novick, 514-342-1234, ext. 7201.
ORRINGER AT JPL
Julie Orringer speaks about her latest novel, the wartime drama The Invisible Bridge, at the Jewish Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Her story collection How to Breathe Under Water was cited as a New York Times notable book. She’ll be introduced by writer Elaine Kalman Naves. Reservations, 514-345-6416.
MINI-MED SCHOOL
The Jewish General Hospital’s four-part Mini-Med Series kicks off with Michael Malus, chief of family medicine, offering “Some Tips on Avoiding Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Dementia,” 7:30 p.m, in the Block amphitheatre. Register at www.jgh.ca/en/minimed.
Thursday, May 23
SHOLEM ALEICHEM
A café-style evening in honour of Sholem Aleichem, with stories and songs in Yiddish and English, will be held at the Jewish Public Library at 8 p.m. Tickets, 514-345-6416.
…Et Cetera…
BERGDORF MEMORIES
Montrealer Iris Wagneris the executive producer of the documentary Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s, about the century-old New York department store, which had its premiere May 3 at the Lincoln Center, Angelika and Cinema 1,2,3 theatres in New York and the Arclight Theater in Los Angeles. Family members, staff, fashion designers and celebrities share anecdotes about what made Bergdorf Goodman such an icon. The film is now rolling out to more than 25 North American cities, including Toronto’s Bloor Cinema on May 17. This is the first international theatrical release for Wagner’s Memoir Productions.
CHASSIDIC WOMEN
A sneak preview of another documentary Shekinah: The Intimate Life of Hasidic Women by Abbey Jack Neidik and Irene Angelico was held at Chabad NDG recently. The film, which features Rebbetzin Chanie Carlebach, offers rare access into the lives of young Lubavitcher women in Quebec today. It focuses on their preparation for marriage and the community’s views on the relationship between men and women, including “kosher sex,” as well as contact with the greater society. The filmmakers hope to dispel stereotypes about Chassidim, who they reveal to be surprisingly passionate and liberated, by their perspective. Shekinah is to be broadcast later this year on Radio-Canada.
CO-DEPENDENCY HELP
Chabad Lifeline, a non-sectarian organization that provides support to anyone affected by addictions, offers a women’s 12-step Co-dependency Workshop, Wednesdays from 1-2:30 p.m., at its centre, 4615 Côte Ste. Catherine Rd. The group focuses on relationship and self-esteem issues. Registration, Karen Bresinger, 514-738-7700. The centre is also looking for volunteers.
STE. SOPHIE REUNION
The celebration of the century of a Jewish presence in the farming communities of Ste. Sophie and New Glasgow north of Montreal has been postponed from July to Sept. 1, to be closer to the High Holidays. A highlight will be services and kiddush in the historic synagogue, as well as a visit to the Jewish cemetery. Early registration is urged at http://jewishfarmers.myevent.com.
Dollard des Ormeaux native Rebecca Garner, a soldier in the Israel Defence Forces’ sole women’s combat unit, was recently honoured for her service as “a lone soldier.” Garner, 22, who made aliyah two years ago, was among 120 IDF soldiers to receive a Presidential Award of Excellence Award recently at the residence of President Shimon Peres. Garner is a sharpshooter in the unit known as CARACAL. The daughter of Marcy and Ben Garner, she is a West Island College graduate.