Week of March 27

Thursday, March 27

 

PASSOVER BASKETS

Volunteers are packing, delivering and picking up as Montreal B’nai Brith Food Baskets Inc. handles the holiday rush, with 5-8 p.m. today reserved for packing and delivery at 500 Montpelier Blvd. in St. Laurent. Other active dates this week are March 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., and March 31-April 3, 5-8 p.m. Volunteer or inquire at 514-744-6457, email [email protected], or visit www.montrealfoodbaskets.org.

 

COCKTAIL FOR YOUNG

Segal Centre Young Leaders group holds a networking cocktail 6-8 p.m. for “key players” in business and cultural spheres. Émilie, 514-739-2301, ext. 8365.

 

YAD FASHION

YAD stages a “fashion night” 7 p.m. at Table 1 de l’Esplanade, 6560 Esplanade Ave. Call Fabienne Salem, 514-345-2645, ext. 6402.

 

PRE-PESACH@BETH TIKVAH

There’s an OLAM pre-Pesach event at Congregation Beth Tikvah, 7-10 p.m. Call 514-683-5610.

 

Friday, March 28

 

BASEBALL BUSINESS

The business potential in reviving pro baseball in the city is the focus of a Jewish Chamber of Commerce networking event, 8-10 a.m. at Le Windsor, 1170 Peel St. Participants are Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous, ex-Montreal Expo Warren Cromartie of the Montreal Baseball Project, Jay Horwitz of the New York Mets organization; Ernst & Young’s William Jegher, and Washington Capitals’ broadcaster Ben Raby. Call Elie Abecassis, 514-345-2645, ext. 2639.

Sunday, March 30

 

YIDDISH SONG CENTENARY

The Jewish Public Library’s Yiddish Café celebrates “Hidden Treasures,” 100 years of Yiddish songs and Montreal poets, 7:30 p.m. at the JPL. Tickets, 514-345-6416.

 

MY FAIR BABY

Federation CJA West Island’s Jewish WIFI (West Island Family Institute) welcomes new babies into the Jewish community, 10 a.m.-noon at 96 Roger Pilon, Dollard des Ormeaux. Call Cheryl Bender, 514-624-5005, ext. 229.

 

PESACH CRASH COURSE

A crash course on Passover ­– Who Stole My Afikomen? – runs 10:30 a.m.-noon at Gelber Centre. [email protected].

 

ENCHANTED CASTLE

The West Island Jewish Community Centre has an Enchanted Castle pirate costume kids event, 9:30 a.m.-noon, 76A Brunswick Blvd., Dollard des Ormeaux. 514-624-6750.

 

Monday, March 31

 

RABBINIC DISPUTES

Rabbi Adam Scheier reflects on famous rabbinic disputes, 7:30 p.m., and Concordia University’s Clarence Epstein discusses Nazi-looted art, 8:30 p.m. at a special Monday session of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim’s Tuesday Night Learning series, 514-937-9471.

 

RELIGIOUS VS. SECULAR

Popular Jerusalem Rabbi Alex Israel voices optimism on the religious-secular divide, 8 p.m. at Congregation Beth Tikvah. Reserve at 514-683-5610.

 

WORKSHOP WEEK

It’s fine arts workshop week today through April 3 at Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors. Call 514-342-1234, ext. 7365.

Tuesday, April 1

 

ORCHESTRA OF EXILES

The Oscar-nominated Orchestra of Exiles, about the roots of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, will be screened 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Public Library. Tickets, 514-345-641.

 

DARK LULLABIES

The award-winning Dark Lullabies, about the post-Holocaust generation, will be screened 4-6:15 p.m. at Dawson College, Room 5B.16, 2040 Sherbrooke St. W. Email [email protected].

 

ROSH CHODESH NISAN

Women and children are welcome at two services welcoming the new month of Nisan: 8:30 a.m. at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim (Judy, 514-484-7862); and 9 a..m. at Shaare Zedek Congregation (514-484-1122).

 

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

The classic musical An American in Paris with Gene Kelly will be screened 1:30 p.m. for Beth Ora Seniors, 514-342-1234, ext. 7318.

 

Wednesday, April 2

 

JEWISH SONGBOOK

Congregation Shaar Hashomayim’s Hazzan Nathan Mendelson Music Foundation presents “A Tribute to the American-Jewish Songbook” showcasing the works of icons like Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen and George Gershwin, and featuring soprano Shira Lissek, pianist Arbie Orenstein and cantor Gideon Zelermyer, 7:30 p.m. Reserve 514-937-9474, ext. 139.

 

HUMAN RIGHTS RABBIS AGM

The public is invited to the fifth annual general meeting of Canadian Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights, as well as to join, 7:10 p.m. at the YM-YWHA Ben Weider JCC, Room J1. 514-489-5651.

 

AGAPE SPEAKER

Social worker Ian Williams of the Youth and Parents AGAPE Association speaks to Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s Golda Meir chapter on the latest service for English-speaking seniors caregivers in Laval, 1 p.m., Chevra Mishnayis Jacob Josef Synagogue, 715 du Sablon. Evie Applebee, 514-681-9342.

 

BETH TIKVAH BINGO

Bingo at Congregation Beth Tikvah 7:30-10 p.m. 514-683-5610.

 

…Et Cetera…

 

CJCS SPORTS BREAKFAST

The popular Sports Celebrity Breakfast of Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Foundation honours legendary Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Demers and iconic Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo, April 6, 9 a.m., at CJCS. The annual event has raised more than $1 million for Seniors in Crisis and is always sold out. Susan Rozansky, 514-342-1234, ext. 7234, or email [email protected].

 

PASSOVER MITZVAH MEALS

Give to Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors’ Mitzvah Meal Program as a meaningful Pesach gesture, 514-342-1234, ext. 7316.

 

HADASSAH PASSOVER

Canadian Hadassah-WIZO’s Shoshanim and Chaverot chapters have their signature Passover baskets for sale with wine, chocolate and gift items, at 514-933-8461.

 

COURSE REGISTRATION

Spring and summer course registration is now on at Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors (514-342-1234, ext. 7209), and its West Island Prime Time branch (514-624-5005).

 

ART OF SURGERY

A five-part Tuesday series on The Art of Surgery, with Jewish General Hospital surgeons and health care professionals, runs April 29 to May 27, 7:30-9 p.m. at the Block Amphitheatre (B-106) as part of the very popular Mini-Med School series. Visit jgh.ca/minimed.

 

HADASSAH CAMPAIGN

Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) is focusing on the Assaf Harofeh Medical Centre in Israel as the centrepiece of its just-launched 2014 campaign, using the theme Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality.  In Israel, CHW provides $1.47 million in aid to six daycare centres, four schools, two community centres for women and seniors, and two hospitals. 514-937-9431.

 

VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS

Act to End Violence Against Women is seeking volunteers to help transform space in women’s shelters into warm and welcoming children’s libraries. 1-866-333-5942.