Past Events

“What are they saying, Those far distant voices, That whisper and echo in accents so clear? List' as they tell us of days long departed, When others rejoice o'er Byng's name so dear.” – Lyrics from Echoes of Byng, anthem of Baron Byng High School Open from 1922 to 1980, Baron Byng High School has become “something of a legend” in Montreal history. Immortalized as “Fletcher’s Field High School” in alumni Mordecai Richler’s novel The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, Baron Byng holds…

The Museum of Jewish Montreal and Rabbi Adina Lewittes invite you to take part in a special evening that combines spirituality and care for nature along the trails of Mont-Royal. Long before God was locked up in temples, synagogues, churches and mosques, people encountered the holy in the awesome outdoors: by the side of a river, on top of a mountain, in a lush valley, or in a shaded forest. Long before prayer books and hymnals, people prayed from their…

Join us for an evening steeped in culture, comedy, and introspection with the premiere screening of Sultanna is A Moroccan Jew Who Makes A Moroccan Rug by filmmaker Sultanna Krispil. Sultanna is A Moroccan Jew Who Makes A Moroccan Rug is a personal documentary created by filmmaker Sultanna Krispil, which offers an exploration of her multifaceted heritage, her unusual upbringing, and her complex relationship with Judaism. This is an invitation to experience the world through Sultanna’s eyes, where heritage and heart converge in…

Though Leonard Cohen is easily Montreal's most recognized Jewish representative at home and abroad, who could grace Montreal's buildings, stamps, and daydreams instead of the Plateau poet? Perhaps Samy Elmaghribi, the father of Jewish Moroccan music? Or Maimie Pinzer, the radical turn-of-the-century Montreal activist, sex worker, and writer? Or how about Léa Roback, a pioneer of Quebec feminism, a polyglot, and union organizer? Or maybe Ethel Stark, violinist and conductor and founder of Montreal Women's Symphony Orchestra? Come decide for yourselves at this soirée dedicated…

Do you have a creative project in the works, or want to build your skills as an emerging artist or cultural creator? On Sunday, July 9, we are excited to present the first of four sessions of the newly-announced Montreal Jewish Arts Collaborative! This will be an afternoon of “pick your own learning” workshops (more details on the four individual sessions below). Each 90-minute session will be offered twice, first from 1:15pm–2:45pm, and again from 3pm – 4:30pm. You're welcome to…

Join us for Imagining A Queer Eruv: A Walking Conversation with artist and researcher Iso E. Setel. Starting at Parc St-Viateur in Outremont, this guided conversation will take us through the Mile End by way of the neighbourhood's back alleys and looping paths, ending in Champs des Possibles with complimentary snacks and beverages. Along the walk, Iso will be sharing their research and the work that went into creating their book, Eruv: Queer Installations of Jewish Space, while inviting attendees to reflect…

Join us in welcoming Professor Karen Herland for another special walking tour of Montreal’s historic Red Light District! Sex work, especially in its most visible forms, tends to be recognized as a problem, requiring intervention and eradication. As a major transportation hub and port city, many sectors of Montreal’s economy were intertwined with the sex trade, even as police and politicians manipulated social responses (positive and negative) to the presence of a thriving Red Light District. From Maimie Pinzer to…

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT OF ADVANCE TICKETS. A very limited number of tickets will be available at the door.*** Have you ever wanted to learn how to play mahjong, but there’s no one around you to play with or learn from? Now is your chance to learn to play the iconic Chinese game that has an unlikely and generations-long bond within Jewish communities. On Thursday, August 17, we are excited to host our first-ever mahjong night…

The LGBTQ+ relationship to history is a queer thing. Traditionally erased or purposefully redacted, queer histories have been typically kept alive through whisper networks and, since mid-20th century, communal archives. But now, queer memory can aid us to right historical wrongs, document oral histories, give life to dust-covered boxes lying dormant on fonds shelves. History allows us to reckon with our origins and grapple with what came before us. We can make sense of the present, and be part of…

Join us for Imagining A Queer Eruv: A Walking Conversation with artist and researcher Iso E. Setel. Starting at Parc St-Viateur in Outremont, this guided conversation will take us through the Mile End by way of the neighbourhood's back alleys and looping paths, ending in Champs des Possibles with complimentary snacks and beverages. Along the walk, Iso will be sharing their research and the work that went into creating their book, Eruv: Queer Installations of Jewish Space, while inviting attendees to reflect upon and…

On September 13, join us with the Yiddish Book Center for a discussion in response to In the Land of the Postscript: The Complete Short Stories of Chava Rosenfarb, translated by Goldie Morgentaler. This collection, published by White Goat Press, the Yiddish Book Center’s imprint, makes available in English for the first time all of Chava Rosenfarb’s short stories in one place. Dealing with the lives of Holocaust survivors in North America, these stories reflect Rosenfarb’s personal experiences as a Holocaust survivor…

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year, a new month, and the High Holidays, but have you ever wondered what determines these ever-changing dates? Join the Museum of Jewish Montreal to find out, with a night of festive stargazing and astronomical exploration. Led by Plateau Astro (Trevor Kjorlien), visitors will be taken on a guided walk through the Plateau to learn about the relationship between the planetary movements, the Jewish New Year and the Hebrew calendar. The walk will conclude in Parc…

Have you ever wanted to celebrate Sukkot in the wilderness? On October 1, we invite you to join us with Rabbi Dini Lewittes for an afternoon of hiking, reflection, and dining among the Laurentian Mountains. Otherwise known as the Jewish fall harvest festival, Sukkot is a time to appreciate the gifts of our natural world, especially in a time of intensifying climate crisis. In Rabbi Lewittes' home, guests will be invited to take part in a guided mindfulness hike, spirited reflections, craft-based rituals,…

'Tis the season for fermentation! Join us to take part in the Jewish tradition of pickling with an interactive workshop co-hosted by The Wandering Chew and MAZON. Following a brief introduction on the history of pickling by Kat Romanow of The Wandering Chew, she'll lead guests into making their own pickles. Tables will be set up workshop-style and all materials will be provided. Each guest will prepare and go home with one jar of Dill Pickles and one jar of Preserved Lemons. Guests will also be able…

In a moment when so many of us are experiencing grief, we are also feeling a closer personal connection to death and mourning. This is a topic that we often don't get to speak openly about and it feels like a pertinent time to start. On November 16, join us in partnership with the Mile End Chavurah for a roundtable conversation about death. We'll have a real talk about this big subject alongside some folks who are steeped in worlds where death…