President's Message

Rosalind Levy Montreal Council President

Hello! Please Come in! We, at Na'amat Montreal, are delighted to see how interested you are in our organization. Na'amat is a dynamic organization composed of women of all ages and from all walks of life, who are dedicated to the enhancement of the lives of women and children, victims of violence, both here and in Israel. As Montreal Council President, I have found my involvement with Na'amat rewarding, enriching and fun. Come join us!

Featured Chapter

Galim: A group of women in their 20s and 30s from the Cote St. Luc area. This enthusiastic bunch ran a very successful Robert Munsch Storytelling event in December 2005, with the proceeds going to build a playground and a library for our facilities in Israel. Now the Galim girls are taking the time to relax and enjoy entertaining programs such as games night, Israeli dancing, chocolate seder plate making, and girls' night out dinners.

This group includes fun, energetic women who would welcome any new joiners who want to become part of a great sorority of women!

Events Calendar:

City Highlights

May Madness Store May 14 – 28 (closed on Shabbat) Decarie Square (6900 Decarie, suite 214B) Looking for a bargain? Want to support Na'amat social services in Israel? From May 14th to the 28th you can do both. Shop 'til you drop at the Na'amat Montreal May Madness Store! All new merchandise including: clothes, accessories, toys, household goods, and more! The location this year is Decarie Square, Suite 214B (second floor.) The proceeds from this event will go towards supporting women, children and families in Israel. For more information and store hours, contact the Na'amat Montreal Office at 514.484.0252.

Galim Texas Hold'em Tuesday May 27, 2007 7:30pm: Poker Lesson 8:00pm: Game Play Venue: TBC You got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em, and the Galim gals have set up a women's poker night to teach you just that! Women in their 20s, 30s and 40s are invited to this casino-style friend-raiser. Learn to play the popular poker game, win some prizes, and "bet" on having a great girls' night out! Tickets are $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door. Ticket fee includes poker lesson, game play and snacks. For more information or to register, contact Andee at Andee@total.net or 514.488.0792.

Women in Song – A Tribute to Rivka Milo Sunday October 26, 2008; 7:30 pm Oscar Peterson Hall (7141 Sherbrooke St. West, NDG) On Sunday, October 26, 2008, Na'amat Canada Montreal will be presenting a musical evening entitled Women in Song - A Tribute to Rivka Milo, featuring acclaimed vocal artist and opera sensation, Sharon Azrieli. Also performing will be vocalists, Michelle Heisler and Andee Shuster.  Concert Artistic Director, Yossi Milo, promises that this gala event will bring people together through the universal language of music, in tribute to a woman whose life was a celebration of Israel, its people and her community. Tickets are $54.00 for General Seating and $118.00 for Reserved Seating. For information and tickets, contact Sophie Katz-Milo at 514.484.0252 or at sophie@naamat-mtl.ca.

B'Teavon! A Kosher Cooking Series by the Na'amat Galim Chapter and Shaare Zion Congregation Tuesday evenings at 6:00pm Shaare Zion Congregation 5575 Cote St Luc Rd Join Chef Viva Roditi for this hands-on cooking series! Learn new recipes and dine on your own delectable creations! Geared for Jewish women aged 20-something to 40-something. Schedule: March 11: Italian April 1: Middle Eastern May 20: Hors D'Oeuvres June 3: Asian Fusion July 15: Greek August 19: Sweet Finale (Desserts) Pricing: 6 classes (for the price of 5): $150.00 for Na'amat or SZC Members $165.00 for Non-Members Per class price: $30 for Na'amat or SZC Members $35 for Non-Members (Price includes hand-on cooking class, recipe booklet and sit down meal.) For more info or to register, please contact Melissa Felsky, Programme Director, at 514.481.7727 x226 or melissa@shaarezion.org

Bingo, Boutiques and Big Winners Na'amat Montreal's annual Giant Bingo took place on March 26, 2008. More than 300 people gathered at the Beth Ora Synagogue for a night of stamping and laughing. The doors opened at 6:30 pm and immediately the boutiques were doing a brisk business. At 7:30 pm our caller extraordinaire, Justin Uditsky, started the Bingo balls rolling and the evening never slowed down. We stopped for a short intermission where delicious pastries, donated by Adam's Gourmet, were served and raffle prizes were awarded. More than 200 prizes were won throughout the evening, and as the evening came to a close, there was already a buzz about next year's game.

On April 9, 2008, more than 100 women gathered together to participate in the 12th Annual Na'amat Women's Seder. It was a special evening that combined cherished traditions and inspiring new rituals in a celebration of women's stories. Each year we honour women who have contributed to Jewish life and have been an inspiration to others. This year, our Bat Mitzvah year, we were proud to have as one of our honourees the Na'amat Bat Mitzvah ladies, a group of our members who had their Bat Mitzvah later in life. The Women's Seder is a unique Na'amat event and we look forward to celebrating together next year. Mark you calendars for Tuesday March 31, 2009, which will mark the 13th Annual Na'amat Women's Seder!

(Clockwise From Left: Cindy Bercovitch, Ross Paperman, Thierry Benaroch, Shonnie Benaroch, Talie Benaroch, Lee Benaroch)

From Vision To Reality The Rhodie Blanshay Benaroch Annual Event On October 25, 2007 Na'amat Montreal held the first annual “From Vision to Reality” evening of entertainment at the Corona Theatre. More than 200 people attended and enjoyed delicious food served by Java U, music by Global Events and an outstanding live auction hosted by Ross Paperman. The evening was capped off by a surprise performance by the band Soulvation. Proceeds from the evening, which was chaired by Thierry Benaroch and Cindy Bercovitch, will go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Rhodie Blanshay Benaroch Children's Centre in Tel Aviv. Rhodie's vision was to build a warm and loving environment for the children who needed it most and in her memory Na'amat made that vision a reality. The “From Vision to Reality” event is just the first step in our commitment to continue to raise the funds needed to keep Rhodie's dream alive.

Robert Munsch, We'll Love You Forever! November 18th 2007 marked the Galim chapter's second Robert Munsch storytelling event. More than one thousand audience members played a part in Munsch's two interactive shows and book signing sessions. Event proceeds were directed to the Swing into Action campaign, serving to build and refurbish daycare playgrounds in Israel. The chapter would like to thank their generous event sponsors: Global Quebec, The Suburban, Bonders Books, CJAD 800, Java U, and JS Printing. Most importantly, the Galim chapter is tremendously grateful to our guest, Robert Munsch, a great author, a generous man, and a true friend to Na'amat.

Bouncing Back, Na'amat Montreal's anti-bullying program runs from September to May and includes interactive sessions with Grade 2 and 3 students. Any Montreal area school can request this free program that delivers messages of inclusion and tolerance. Our volunteer facilitators help children identify a bully and equip them with methods to stop schoolyard bullying. Click here for more information or contact Harriet Krakower at the Na'amat Office 514.484.0252.

Membership Benefits Program Na'amat Montreal invites you to take part in the Membership Benefit Program! Members will receive a membership card that provides special privileges and/or discounts in selected retail stores and restaurants across Montreal. We are excited to have an excellent lineup of corporate partners such as Avanti Spa, Costco, Naot, Schreters, Second Cup, and many others... Come join us to receive discounts at these and other retailers. Once your membership fee is paid you will receive your personalized Na'amat Montreal membership card by mail so you can start enjoying great discounts! Show your pride in Na'amat and become a card-carrying member!

Na'amat News