Chai Montreal

On today's episode of Chai Montreal: the Podcast we're entering a rather magical world – one that brings together Jewish folklore, Middle Eastern mythology and the immigrant experience in early twentieth-century New York. Our subject is the wonderful trilogy by American author Helene Wecker of The Golem and the Jinni. You can buy Helene’s third instalment of the trilogy, The Gates of Midnight , out now, in your local bookstore or order it online. In Jewish folklore, a golem is a creature made from inanimate material, traditionally clay, which is brought to life through mystical or magical means. The most famous golem legend is associated with Rabbi Judah Loew, the Maharal of Prague, who is said to have created a golem to protect the Jewish community from persecution. A golem is powerful, obedient and generally created to serve or protect human beings. But the stories also raise fascinating questions: What does it mean to be alive? What happens when something created by human hands develops a will of its own? The second character is the jinni, a supernatural being from Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore. They are traditionally understood to be beings created from smokeless fire. They possess free will, and can be good, bad or somewhere in between. They are often associated with the desert, ancient stories, magic and the mysterious world beyond human understanding. Wecker brings these two very different traditions together in a wonderfully imaginative way. The story takes place in New York in 1899. Chava, a female golem made of clay, arrives from Poland after the death of the man who created her. Ahmad, a jinni born in the Syrian desert, has been imprisoned for centuries in a copper flask before being accidentally released in Manhattan.

In today’s episode, Lisa speaks with Dr. Ori Werdiger, from the Department of Jewish Thought at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, about his research, the remarkable Jewish intellectual world of postwar France, and specifically about the fascinating Jewish thought leaders Emmanuel Levinas and Leon Askenazi. Emmanuel Levinas transformed modern Jewish thought by placing ethics, responsibility for the Other, and human encounter at the heart of philosophy and Jewish life. Leon Ashkenazi brought Jewish philosophy, Torah, and Sephardic tradition into dialogue with modernity, profoundly influencing Jewish education and identity in postwar France and Israel. Their legacies remind us that Jewish thought is not only about understanding the world, but about transforming the way we encounter one another within it. Their lives and teachings invite us to carry Torah, ethics, and responsibility beyond the page, into the choices we make, the people we meet, and the kind of Jewish future we help create. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: NBAHDSHWZUS28BUA

In today’s episode of Chai Montreal: The Podcast, we’re taking you along with us on our little country holiday in the middle of London and exploring why Kew Gardens may be much more than just a garden. We speak with Alex Summers, the Curator of Living Collections who helped us look at Kew Gardens from another perspective and explore what this extraordinary place can teach us about nature, art, culture, and the ways we care for the world we share. Kew Gardens has gardens and landscapes to explore, of course, but also galleries and exhibitions where art and nature come together. Henry Moore sculptures, his larger-than-life works, are scattered throughout the acres of Kew Gardens to view until until 31 January 2027.The sculptures don't simply look as though they had been placed there; they looked as though they had always belonged there, as if they had grown out of the landscape and were meant to remain. Across cultures and civilizations, people have revered the natural world and created traditions to honour it. From the Jain tradition of the Indian subcontinent, with its profound respect for all living beings, to Jewish traditions that celebrate trees through Tu B'Shvat, a yearly holiday sometimes called the birthday of the trees, nature has been woven into our spiritual and cultural lives for centuries.

On this episode of Chai Montreal: The Podcast, Alain Dancyger, Executive Director of the Montreal Jewish Public Library, joins us to talk about the library's special screening of the award winning documentary titled Egypt: A Love Story , which is a journey of discovery of Souad Zaki by her granddaughter, documentary filmmaker Iris Zaki. The film introduces the audience to Souad Zaki, a celebrated Jewish-Egyptian singer and actress, who rose to the top of the music scene in 1940s Egypt, and the Arab world. She sang with her Muslim-Egyptian band, which included her Muslim-Egyptian husband. Being Jewish didn't affect Souad Zaki's career in Egypt, but she fled to Israel after her husband abandoned her, the only place she knew her husband couldn’t take her son away from her. Although that meant that she left a glittering career behind, and, as you’ll hear in the interview, she became a cleaning lady to provide for her son, she did sing with Zuzu Mousa’s Arab Orchestra for Kol Israel Radio’s Arabic Service for 20 years, until she retired at the age of 57, recording around 200 songs for the radio. In an interview for The Times of Israel, Souad Zaki’s son, Moshe, said that his mother never criticised Israel, she simply did a ‘reframing’ of her life. After finding out that she had moved to Israel, the Egyptian government burned all of her musical recordings, and copies of the four films she acted in in Egypt. The only remaining copies are the small number that were purchased abroad prior to 1950. It’s thanks to those, and now her granddaughter’s film, that we can hear, see and celebrate Souad Zaki’s talent. Join the Montreal Jewish Public Library on March 26, 2026 to discover the story and talent of Souad Zaki!

On today's episode, we're joined by Tabea Zimmermann, a world renown musician, who has been among the premier violists for over four decades. She made her debut on the Berlin Philharmonie stage at age 11 and won numerous music competitions between 1982 and 1984, cementing her prominence in the field. She became the youngest professor in Germany at age 21, which, as you’ll hear in the interview, was just the beginning of her role as a musical mentor. Tabea speaks with Lisa about how she started playing the viola as a child, her upcoming performance with Javier Perianes at Montreal’s Bourgie Hall on March 18, and her new album with works composed by Johannes Brahms, Robert and Clara Schumann and Joseph Joachim titled Romances et Mélodies Hébraiques, accompanied by Jean-Guihen Queyras on the cello and Javier Perianes on the piano.We’d love for you to hit subscribe and follow us on instagram @chaimontreal.thepodcast!

In honour of International Holocaust Memorial Day, Mario Venezia joins us on Chai Montreal: The Podcast to speak about his father Shlomo Venezia and the documentary he produced about his father, Il Respiro di Shlomo (Shlomo's Breath) . Mario, an accomplished business consultant, professor, and President of the Museo della Shoah di Roma , tells us about the Venezia family history, leaving Spain at the time of the Inquisition in 1492 for Venice, then to Thessaloniki/Salonika. Born in Thessaloniki in 1923, Shlomo Venezia and his family were taken from their home in 1944 and deported to Aushwitz-Birkenau. Shlomo survived Auschwitz-Birkenau, Mathausen and Ebensee, including the death march from Birkenau to Mathausen in January 1945. Shlomo was selected amongst the prisoners to be in the Sonderkommando, a forced labour unit compelled to work within the crematorium. The Nazis regularly killed and replaced the sonderkommando to eliminate witnesses, making Shlomo’s survival even more miraculous. Shlomo’s testimony has become one of the most important witness accounts. Shlomo Venezia was an incredible man with incredible strength, and Mario recounts the greatest lessons that his father instilled in him and his brothers. As Mario says in the episode, there was a Jewish life before the Shoah and there’s Jewish life now. And that’s what we’re here to celebrate on Chai Montreal: the Podcast.

On this episode, we’re excited to introduce you to Nate Ben-Horin and Jaclyn Grossman, who make up the Likht Ensemble , a piano-vocal duo dedicated to sharing music by Jewish artists from the Shoah & educating about Jewish representation in music. They'll be bringing their show, Kishef, to Montreal on January 18 at the Bourgie Hall. For tickets, click here . Kishef, the Yiddish word for magic, honours the creative spark that animated Jewish composers during World War II and the years leading up to it. The programme of Kishef includes new arrangements of songs from Czech and Lithuanian ghettos, as well as a Bourgie Hall commission from Nate.

In this episode, we're so excited to speak with Esther Levy Chehebar, author of her debut novel Sisters of Fortune . She talks to us about the unique Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, the process of writing the novel, and the elements of the community that were important for her to include, such as female characters who wanted to pave their own path. And of course, the food! Esther is also the author of " I Share my Name ", a children's book about Jewish Syrian naming traditions and a contributing writer at Tablet Magazine, where she writes about the Sephardic community. It's fitting that we welcome Esther to the podcast and talk about her novel in November because it's both Mizrahi Heritage Month and Jewish Book Month. Mizrahi Heritage Month honours and promotes the heritage, history, and culture of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, and Jewish Book Month is the annual celebration of Jewish literature. Sisters of Fortune is perfect for a Chanukah gift! In Canada, you can find Sisters of Fortune at Indigo book stores . We'd love for you to hit subscribe and follow us on Instagram @chaimontreal.thepodcast .

The Jewish Public Library's upcoming season of events is not to be missed! Alain Dancyger, Executive Director of the Jewish Public Library in Montreal, is back to talk about two upcoming programs, the screening of Heart of Courage and Q&A with producer Avi Benlolo on November 19th and 20th , and the ' Café Philosophique: Political Radicalism, The enemy of Democracy ?' (a reflection on the thoughts of Hannah Arendt) on December 3rd.

We are so excited to welcome Yohay Sponder on today’s episode. Yohay is a stand-up comic and producer and headliner of Funny Monday, Israeli Comedy in English in Tel Aviv. Yohay has gained a huge following on social media thanks to his quick witted comedy, which he’s bringing to Montreal on November 16th at L’Olympia with his show Self Loving Jew. Get your tickets here to share in the laughs.

In this episode, we speak with Chantal and Gérard Buzaglo, co-chairs of the festival. And like the Montreal Jewish community, this interview is in both English and French! Buy your tickets for the Festival du Cinéma Israélien de Montréal , November 5th to 19th, both in cinema and online. Get them quick, before they sell out! Israeli cinema has gone from strength to strength, with many films gaining international recognition. This year, at the 20th annual Festival du Cinema Israélien de Montréal, a production of the Communauté Sépharade Unifiée du Québec, you can discover a diverse line-up of diverse feature films and documentaries.You can catch the following films, amongst others: - The Ring: The opening film, it won the Audience award at the Israeli Film Festival in Paris - Bliss : The closing film, this drama stars acclaimed Israeli actor Sasson Gabai - The Shohani Riddle: An extraordinary documentary on the enigmatic M. Shoshani - Pink lady: Set in Jerusalem's Orthodox community, it tells the story of a wife trying to keep her family together - Cabaret Total : Nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Music at the Ophir Awards, and winning Best Makeup - Come closer : A young woman's journey following her brother's accident, this movie with a talented cast won many Ophir Awards - A letter to David: A powerful documentary about October 7th and David Cunio, who was held hostage for 738 days before being released.

On today’s episode, we speak with Alain Dancyger, Executive Director of the Jewish Public Library in Montreal. Alain is no stranger to the Montreal cultural world, as former Executive Director of the Grand Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, amongst other cultural institutions. During the episode, we hear how Alain is bringing his expertise to the Jewish Public Library, revamping its cultural programming. With the vision and determination of community members, the Jewish Public Library opened in 1914 in a cold water flat on Saint Urbain Street with 500 books. It was more than just a library, it was also a place of literary and cultural exchange. The Jewish Public Library has grown with the community, now boasting a collection of almost 150,000 books, with over 40,000 books borrowed annually. Alain talks about the library’s programming for the upcoming year, the importance of taking the library’s programming outside of the library walls and into the community, and the relevance of libraries in in the 21st Century.

In this episode, we're joined by Lyn Julius, journalist, author, and founder of Harif , a UK charity representing Jews from North Africa and the Middle East. Lyn is dedicated to promoting the history, culture and heritage of Jews from the MENA region. In today’s episode, Lisa speaks with Lyn about her book “ Uprooted: How 3000 Years of Jewish Civilisation in the Arab World Vanished Overnight ” and why it's important to know the history of the MENA Jewish communities. As you’ll hear in this episode, you can join Harif for their free webinars on a wide range of interesting topics, including the upcoming talk on the stars of the Algerian music hall on August 26, 2025 at 2:30pm Montreal-time and 7:30pm UK-time. At Chai Montreal: The Podcast, it’s important for us to share diverse stories and uplift the many voices of the Jewish community. We thank Lyn for her work to promote the history of Jews from the Middle East and North Africa and we hope that you follow Harif to learn more.

Millet Ben Haim, Nova Music Festival survivor and Vice President of External Affairs of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, joins us for a second episode to talk about the Nova exhibit and the Tribe of Nova Foundation. The Nova exhibit started as a memorial in Israel, showing items collected from the site of the Nova Music Festival, and has been shown in New York, Miami, LA, Buenos Aires, Toronto and Washington, DC. Millet explains the origins of the exhibit, the process to bring the exhibit to North America, and the importance for everyone to see it. Millet also talks about the important work of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, which provides critical and crucial support for those affected by the attack on the Nova Music Festival, providing mental health support and community. Learn more about the Tribe of Nova Foundation and how you can help support survivors' healing process by visiting the website here .

On this episode, we're joined by Millet Ben Haim, who shares her survival story from the Nova Festival in Kibbutz Re'im, where the joy of dance and community was abruptly shattered by the Hamas attack. Her story highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable circumstances. 3,882 people arrived at The Nova Festival in Kibbutz Re’im, in Southern Israel between October 6th and 7th, 2023. Millet Ben Haim was one of the partygoers dancing with her friends in the early morning of October 7th when the music stopped at 6:29am. We are honoured to share this conversation with Millet, and the story of her survival. During our talk, Millet mentions that this is not a political matter, it’s a human matter. In Israel, there’s now a common saying, in relation to the hostage situation, that says: "ze lo yamin, ze lo smol, ze yashar" “It’s not right, it’s not left. It’s straight.” This is not a political story, it’s a human one. This episode is dedicated to Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, Almog Sarusi, and Alex Lubanov, all taken from the Nova festival, and Carmel Gat, taken from Kibbutz Bee’ri, who were murdered after 11 months in Hamas captivity, to Leon Bar, and to all of the victims of that day. *Trigger warning* This episode contains content relating to terrorism, murder, shooting and rape.

On today’s episode of Chai Montreal: The Podcast, we speak with co-creator and showrunner Jennifer Podemski and executive producer Christina Fon, of the limited series Little Bird, premiering on APTN and Crave on Friday, May 26. Little Bird is a six part limited series that follows Bezhig Little Bird, played by Darla Contois, taken from her family at the age of 5 on the Long Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan and adopted and raised by a Jewish family in Montreal. Her mother, Golda Rosenblum, played by Lisa Edelstein, didn’t know the circumstances surrounding her adoptive daughter’s removal from her birth family. Now in her 20s, Bezhig, or Esther as she’s now known, embarks on a journey to the Canadian prairies to trace her roots. She discovers that her forcible removal from her parents was part of what was later coined as ‘the Sixties Scoop’. Between 1951 and 1984, an estimated 20,000 or more First Nations, Métis and Inuit infants and children were taken from their families by child welfare authorities and placed for adoption in mostly non-Indigenous households, mostly out of province, or out of the country. The mass removal of Indigenous children from their homes, supported by government policies, later became known as the Sixties Scoop. Little Bird explores universal themes of resilience in the face of trauma and loss.the documentary explores the connections between the ground-breaking movement for Indigenous narrative sovereignty and the impact of the child welfare system as experienced through the Little Bird series’ Indigenous creatives, crew and Sixties Scoop advisors.

Welcome back to Chai Montreal: The Podcast. After a brief hiatus, we’re excited to be back and continue to share important stories from our community. On this International Women’s Day, we wanted to speak with an inspirational woman who is working hard to make our world, and more specifically, our planet, a better place to live. Our guest on today's episode is Naomi Scherer, an Italian living in France, she recently made some big life changes to live life more ecologically correct. Naomi works in business development at Circouleur, France’s first and only recycling paint company. Circouleur’s business model of saving and recycling paint that other companies send to the incinerator is like what Naomi has done in her own home renovation – saving materials and items that would have been thrown away and giving them a second life. All while reducing the impact on the environment. You can follow Naomi's eco-renovation journey on Instagram at @ maison_circulaire . At Chai Montreal, our aim is to celebrate Jewish stories and we’re glad we can bring attention to stories of strong Jewish women like Naomi who use their passion to make a positive impact. Hearing her talk about how her Jewish grandparents' history of resilience and drive is built into her DNA is truly inspiring. Do you know the Jewish history behind International Women’s Day? National Women’s Day, the precursor to International Women’s Day, was established in New York City by Theresa Serber Malkiel. Malkiel was the head of the Woman’s National Committee of the Socialist Party of America and created the first day celebrating women in 1909. Born in 1874 into a Jewish family, she and her family fled persecution in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine) to the US. An American labour activist, suffragette and educator, Malkiel dedicated her life to the liberation of women. In the spirit of Malkiel, and all of us strong Jewish women, Chai Montreal wishes you a happy International Woman’s Day!

On this episode, Lisa speaks with Eda Holmes, Artistic and Executive Director of Centaur Theatre, and director of Centaur’s newest production, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes . The play was written by acclaimed Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, for which she won the 2021 Governor General’s Award for English-language drama. During the interview, we’ll hear about Eda’s reasons for choosing Hannah Moscovitch’s newest play and the production process. We’ll also hear about Eda’s vision to bridge the gap between the francophone and anglophone theatre communities in Montreal.

In this episode of Chai Montreal: The Podcast, Lisa speaks with Alice Abracen , the playwright of The Covenant , playing at the Segal Centre in Montreal from November 13 to December 3, 2022. Throughout the interview, we discover what inspired Alice to write the play and the research she undertook to bring the story of the artistic acts of protests of those imprisoned in Theresienstadt to the stage. The story of The Covenant is a story of horror, antisemitism and persecution, but it’s also a story of resistance, resilience, and community. It’s a story based on the past, but one that is pertinent to the present and important to remember for the future.

In this episode, Lisa speaks with author Ann Lambert about her murder mystery series and the themes intertwining her three books, The Birds that Stay, the Dogs of Winter and Whale Fall, published by Second Story Press. If you’re from Montreal, it’s not too often that you read a description of your hometown as the backdrop of a novel, so it’s a treat to be able to envision our city as we follow the characters of Ann Lambert’s series. As you’ll hear in the interview, we don’t want to give too much of the plot away, so you’ll have to read The Birds that Stay to find out why there’s a Chai necklace on the cover. You can meet Ann Lambert and get your signed copy of her books at Paragraphe Bookstore on McGill College in Montreal on October 23, 2022 at 2pm.