Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program Events
The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program is proud to offer a variety of programming in Jewish Canadian history, literature, and culture as well as Yiddish that is open to the community at large. All of our events are open to the general public, and most are free of charge.
Upcoming events
Conversations with a Child Survivor of the Holocaust: A Lecture by Eva Marx
Monday, February 13, 2012, 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.
University of Ottawa
Room 509, Arts Hall
70 Laurier Ave. East, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
The Azrieli Foundation and the University of Ottawa’s Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program present a talk by Eva Marx, survivor-author of One of the Lucky Ones as part of the Azrieli Series of Holocaust Survivor Memoirs. A child survivor of the Holocaust, Marx will share her experience of survival and the challenges of coming to a new country.
The Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program was established by the Azrieli Foundation in 2005 to collect, preserve and share the memoirs and diaries written by survivors of the twentieth-century Nazi genocide of the Jews of Europe who later made their way to Canada. The program is guided by the conviction that each survivor of the Holocaust has a remarkable story to tell, and that such stories play an important role in education about tolerance and diversity. For more information, visit http://www.azrielifoundation.org/memoirs/.
Admission to the event is free but reservations are required.
For further information or to RSVP: Professor Rebecca Margolis, rmargoli@uOttawa.ca.
Irving Layton: A Centenary Celebration
Poets and Members of Parliament celebrate Layton’s legacy
Sunday, March 11, 2012, 2:30 p.m.
University of Ottawa
Room 129, Simard Hall
60 University Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program and the Department of English welcome you to a celebration of the writings and legacy of Irving Layton (1912-2006), with readings from his works by Ottawa poets and brief reminiscences from friends and associates who knew him.
Participants will include Members of Parliament, the Hon. Irwin Cotler who was one of Irving Layton’s students and the Hon. Mauril Bélanger, a longtime admirer of Layton’s work.
The Centenary Celebration will be hosted by Professor Seymour Mayne.
Reception to follow. Admission to the event is free.
For further information: Professor Seymour Mayne, mayne@uottawa.ca
Past events
December, 2011, University of Ottawa campus
Montreal novelist B. Glen Rotchin spoke about his debut novel and did a reading from his forthcoming second novel, Halbman Steals Home.
November, 2011, Beth Sholom Congregation
LIMMUD Ottawa: a learningfest for everyone in the Ottawa community featuring lectures and musical performances.
October, 2011, Soloway Jewish Community Centre
An afternoon devoted to the celebration of Yiddish in Ottawa
The awarding of the University of Ottawa’s Ethel Cooper Yiddish Studies Award of Excellence prize to Sarah Gisèle, followed by a musical program by performers from Montreal’s Dora Wasserman Yiddish theatre.
September 25, 2011, University of Ottawa campus
Jewish Canadian Studies in the Community,featuring the presentation of the The Petigorsky Family Scholarshipandguest Speaker, Anna Sheftel (Conflict Studies, Saint Paul University): “’The General Idea Was That We’d Never Make It’: Holocaust Survivors at the Periphery and Centre of Montreal Jewish Life.”
November 1, 2010, University of Ottawa campus
Prof. Leo Davids of York University presented a lecture titled “The Sociology of the Jews of Canada.” The lecture took place under the auspices of the “Sociology of Contemporary Canadian Jewish Life” course taught by visiting professor Randal Schnoor.
October 17, 2010, Soloway Jewish Community Centre
An afternoon devoted to the celebration of Yiddish in Ottawa celebrated the inauguration of the University of Ottawa’s Ethel Cooper Yiddish Studies Award of Excellence prize as well as and the city’s rich Yiddish musical culture in performances by two of the city’s choirs,
Musica Ebraïca and Shiru Lach. The prize was awarded to Danielle Lynch.
February 10, 2010, University of Ottawa campus
The Azrieli Foundation and the University of Ottawa’s Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program presented a talk by Alex Levin, survivor-author of Under the Yellow and Red Stars, from Series 2 of the Azrieli Series of Holocaust Survivor Memoirs.
November 26, 2009 University of Ottawa campus
The Department of English and the Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program presented a literary evening with B. Glen Rotchin.
November 23, 2009, Soloway Jewish Community Centre
Bestselling author Michael Wex spoke on his latest book, How to be a Mentsh (and not a Shmuck).
November 10, 2009, University of Ottawa campus
Dans le cadre de la « Semaine de sensibilisation à l’holocauste », le Programme d’études juives canadiennes Vered de l’Université d’Ottawa présente Nathalie Sirois, directrice et fondatrice de l’Institut canadien pour l'éducation sur les génocides (ICESG), « Une exploration de l'histoire de l'éducation sur la Shoah » (en français)
September 13, 2009 “Yiddish Tog” - Yiddish Day, Soloway Jewish Community Centre
A special day of activities devoted to Yiddish featured beloved Montreal teacher and singer, Janie Respitz: Yiddish conversation classes, brunch lecture, “Mendele Moykher Sforim, Sholem Aleikhem, Y.L. Peretz: Grandfather, Father and Son of Yiddish Literature,” screening of the classic film, Tevye (1939), and a performance of “Yiddish Songs from Cradle to Grave.”
May 24, 2009 “Snapshots of the Jewish Canadian Experience” Community Day, Soloway Jewish Community Centre
A full-day conference and award banquet were coordinated by the Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program in conjunction with the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies (ACJS) annual conference (under the auspices of the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Canada). Professor Seymour Mayne was presented with the Louis Rosenberg Canadian Jewish Studies Distinguished Service Award. To see the conference program, visit the ACJS conference website and click on “2009 Final Program.” To read more about the award, click here.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Arts Court Library
“A.M. Klein: A Centenary Celebration”: A celebration of the writings and legacy of A.M. Klein with readings by Ottawa poets from Klein’s work, hosted by Professor Seymour Mayne. Presented by the Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program in conjunction with the Tree Reading Series.
Fall 2008: Holocaust Education Week, University of Ottawa
The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program co-sponsored several events coordinated by and for students including a lecture by Professor Irving Abella and a Shabbat Dinner with Holocaust survivors. See the full program here.
Spring 2007, 2008: Intensive Yiddish Program events
The Vered Jewish Canadian Studies Program presented a variety of events in conjunction with the intensive Yiddish language and culture course offered through the University of Ottawa’s Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. These included lectures, workshops on Yiddish song and translation, screenings of Yiddish films, and a final performance featuring graduating students from the course.
Media coverage
Diane Koven, “Poet honoured with Jewish studies award,” Canadian Jewish News, 4 June 2009.
CBC Ottawa Morning, 22 January 2007
Diane Koven, "Ottawa prof teaches Yiddish as a living language,” Canadian Jewish News, 7 December 2007.
Abigail Bimman, “Yiddish Comes Back to Life...In Six-Week Course,” Afterword.ca, Spring 2007.
CBC All in a Day, 12 June 2007
Alexander Baker, “Yiddish course added to unique UOttawa Jewish Studies program.” Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, 6 October 2006.