AskAbigail

Women of the World:

2011-09-26T04:16:00.064-04:00

I received this amazing video: Buddha Bar, Secret Love. Women the World -Mujeres del Mundofeaturing stunning pictures of women in their native environments from all over the world. And then as I was about to fall asleep listening to the radio, I heard this program detailing the dynamics of trafficking young women in the Netherlands. Radio Netherlands, The State We are In (TSWI) Underage,

The work of Rosh Hashana: 2011/5772

2011-09-26T03:27:00.022-04:00

As I mention in my previous blog, Everything You wanted to Know about the Shofar but were Afraid to Ask the work of Rosh Hashana is the work of inner reflection on one's deeds and one's past, asking forgiveness from G-d and any person who you may have harmed, and making plans to change the behaviour to bring about a better world. This is the work of the Days of Awe, The High Holidays, Yamim

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Shofar but Were Afraid to Ask

2011-09-25T21:17:00.008-04:00

At this time of year you are probably getting used to hearing Happy New Year, Shana Tova, and the words Rosh Hashanah bandied about and wondering what is this exactly. Rosh Hashana is a combination of penance and joy. It is hard to explain so I will share a short (2 1/2 min.) video I recently discovered that explains this weird holiday, and also contains the blowing of the shofar - the

World Religions Conference: Outlawing the Right to Criticize Religious texts?

2011-09-25T18:45:00.003-04:00

Last Wednesday I attended the World Religions Conference featuring His Holiness, The Dalai Lama, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Robert Thurman, Prof. Tariq Ramadan, Prof. Gregory Baum, and Prof. Steven T. Katz. The theme as I understood it was the role of religion in world affairs. Deepak Chopra advised us that the "Religion brand" in general does not arouse a positive response. i.e according to the

Non-Jewish Support for Israel from The Religious and from the Secular

2011-09-25T13:33:00.057-04:00

People often disparage support of Israel from Church groups, however recently I received this from a Christian site: Would Jesus Back a Palestinian State? But then I noticed this review of a secular conference in Rome supporting the State of Israel which just took place in the Italian Senate. Historical Meeting at the Senate Building in Rome I am a citizen-observor who has been following

Israel/apartheid

2011-09-06T18:05:00.005-04:00

"...Being anti-Israel is not in itself objectionable. But I'm not talking about ordinary criticism of Israel. I'm speaking of a hatred that permits itself no boundaries in the lies and myths it pours out..." This morning I received an e-mail with the caption: "Who says we don't have any friends?" detailing a letter sent by Dr. Denis MacEoin to the Edinburgh Student's Association after that

The Eilat Incursion 8/19/2011

2011-08-23T19:54:00.003-04:00

On August 16th, George Jonas posted this prescient article in the National Post which I immediately noted as important and valuable. He was writing about the ongoing (six months) tragedy in Syria. He begins this on the subject: "The perils of the Easy War" "The appearance of strength deters aggression; the appearance of weakness invites it. No big news. There’s a corollary, though. The

Nefarious Behaviour of One University President

2011-07-07T23:38:00.000-04:00

Recently I came across this article regarding the nefarious behaviour of one University President. I am reminded of Prof. Manfred Gerstenfeld's suggestion when he spoke at CIJR "Taking back the Campus", that universities should not only be judged on their excellence they should also be judged according to their evil behaviours. And University presidents, whether Jews or non-Jews, also need to be

Dude Where is My Flotilla?

2011-07-07T22:55:00.002-04:00

Over the past few days, the activist leftist circle in Canada has been buzzing with opinions over the Second Gaza Flotilla. A few boats, have tried to leave Greece to challenge the Israeli blockade and deliver, what they initially called "humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people." However, just yesterday, a Canadian ship was intercepted by the Greek coast guards and turned back to harbour. Some

The "Son of Hamas" Has Lessons to Teach us.

2011-05-25T04:12:00.004-04:00

Dear Friends, This is an interesting twist which is relevant to present day media analysis. I received the article below http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-mosab-yousef-saga-did-hamas-%e2%80%98defector%e2%80%99-dupe-all-of-us/ Which paints "Son of Hamas" as a fraudulent double agent. (shocking). This is very relevant since as you know he will be speaking in Montreal and I got very excited about

Tony Kushner Controversy

2011-05-19T06:38:00.002-04:00

I found this article in the National Post the best response to the Tony Kushner brouhaha. If you have not heard about it below is the best review of this situation: "The controversy over whether or not Tony Kushner, the highly acclaimed playwright and harsh critic of Israel, should receive an honorary degree from the City University of New York - a story we broke on our Website last Tuesday -

Les Juifs séfarades face à la Shoah

2011-05-14T06:14:00.000-04:00

Another amazing day organized by Sonia Sara Lipsyc of Aleph. this Sunday February 7th, 10:30 -2:30 at the Cu Les Juifs séfarades face à la Shoah A l'occasion des 65 ans de la libération des camps de concentration et d'extermination, ALEPH- le Centre d'Etudes Juives Contemporaines propose un sujet trop peu souvent abordé : "Les Juifs séfarades face à la Shoah". Avec les universitaires David

My Thoughts Regarding Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel

2011-05-14T06:12:00.001-04:00

Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel - Yom Hashoah - is a special day coming between the celebration of Passover, which in Israel is both a national and a religious holiday and Yom Hatzmaut Israel Independence Day, which also is a National Israeli Holiday that also has religious support and backing, i.e. the support of the religious establishment. PS the Day before Israel Independence Day is the Day

Caroline Glick in Montreal

2010-11-02T03:49:00.004-04:00

Here is a link to Caroline Glick on youtube. And here is a link to her site. where she reviews the current state of affairs in the US. She is an American born Columbia U. graduate, living in Jerusalem since 1991. This link is her bio. She will be in Montreal at Chabad Westmount on Nov. 11, 2010. I just signed up. Abigail Hirsch askabigail@me.com

Abigail Hirsch's Newsletter: recent tweets

2010-11-01T03:49:00.001-04:00

To give you an overview of my week, I have collected my recent tweets and copied them below.

Mitzva gorreret mitzva

2010-10-20T01:18:00.007-04:00

Mitzva gorreret mitzvah. Avera gorreret avera.…One good deed engenders another; one bad deed brings on another… The title of my piece is a mishna that Jews have pondered over the ages. This last week it came to life for me. Last year Rabbi Aigen of Dorshei Emet approached me to do a four session class for the synagogue based on the videos that I have been generating called "New Jewish Voices".

From Generation to Generation...

2010-10-07T08:56:00.000-04:00

This morning I received an e-mail via the Aleph Jewish Renewal list "The soul of Dr. Samuel Miilgram ascended today, beloved father of Rabbi Goldie Miilgram... -- Rabbi Goldie Milgram ReclaimingJudaism.org I wrote her back. Dear Goldie, My heart goes out to you at this time. You have just lost your first and most important teacher. Last night, here in Montreal, I had the pleasure of

The world is a dangerous place...

2010-10-05T18:28:00.002-04:00

The world is a dangerous place. One person can still make a difference... Last week I attended the Abitibi Bowater lecture at Concordia University. This year they invited Rick Hodes a CNN Hero, who has been a working physician in Ethiopia for twenty two years. He works for a ninety-two year old NGO called The Joint Distribution Committee funded by the Diaspora Jewish community. They have been

JOFA: Notes from the Front: conference 3/11 - 3/14/2010

2010-03-24T09:27:00.013-04:00

JOFA: Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance: JOFA conference quick notes: 3/11 - 3/14/2010 Last Thursday Sonia Sarah Lipsyc and I flew to New York City to attend the JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) conference. For those of you who are not au courant, Sonia Sarah Lipsyc and I have embarked on a series of video interviews of important Jewish feminists. Wow!!! Were we blown away!!!

Qui es-tu?

2010-03-24T08:44:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, March 16, 2010Finally, the play "Qui es-tu?" will be performed live at:Location:http:www.sallerichardsauvageau.com1100 Blvd. Tascherau, La PrairieTime:7:00PM Tuesday, March 16thA bus is leaving from Herzliyah High School at 5:45 Sharp, cost $10.Tickets cost $5. at the door.This is a joint production between Classe Hélène, a group of high school students diagnosed with autism and

3/10/2010 tweets going to NYC

2010-03-10T06:35:00.004-05:00

These are my tweets for this morning - a quick way to update you on what I am doing now that could be of interest. Today, third to last rehearsal: "Qui-est tu" play to be premiered next Tuesday, 6pm in La Prairie, in French, by HS students, autistic+ non Also videotaped short segment of Rabbi Steinmetz speaking about the son of Hamas who chose to spy for Israel and what it teaches us. 5 minutes

Blog'jour: Notes from the Front

2010-02-22T12:22:00.002-05:00

Blog'jour: Notes from the front:From Friday February 12 - Friday, February 19th. 2010My new strategy for this blog:My days are so full that I plan to use this blog as an update of my thoughts and activities during the week with video clips and links.I am finding that if I don't write these things down right away, they get lost and never get done. And my weeks are really full.So here goes

RADIO NETHERLANDS worlwide: the State Were in: Taking back Jihad

2010-02-22T12:11:00.002-05:00

The State We're In, 20 February 2010. Noman Benotman was a jihadist who fought the Soviets in Afghanistan. He’s still a jihadist, but believes that the extremists are “idiots” and immoral. He wants the term restored to its spiritual sense and is fighting now with words, instead of guns, to do just that.   Listen to this week's show in full:en_the_state_were_in_44_1kHz_20100219_174931.mp3Taking

YEL, Yaacobi et Liedenthal de Hanokh Levin chez le theatre Prospero avec café théatrale d'Aleph

2010-02-02T07:48:00.007-05:00

A happening this Wednesday at the Theatre Prospero, a delightful and deep musical about the relationships between two male friends, one husband and one wife: A play by Hanokh Levin, an Israeli playwright translated into French. After the play, there will be a discussion animated by Sonia Sarah Lipsyc of Aleph.It will be an opportunity for the Dibboulk group of actors to meet as well. I am one of

Theatrical reading of "Address Unknown" followed by a panel discussion about civic engagement

2010-01-27T16:16:00.002-05:00

This year marks the 65th year since the liberation of Auschwitz and to commemorate this important day, the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Museum invites you to a theatrical reading of "Address Unknown" followed by a panel discussion about civic engagement at 5151Cote-Ste-Catherine Road, the Gelber Centre in Montreal ◦ Address Unknown was written in 1938, as a series of letters between a Jewish

About my family in Hungary during the Second World War

2010-01-27T05:53:00.002-05:00

The earthquake in Haiti recently prompted me to recall these memories about survival of a different sort.I grew up with the stories of my family – their courageous attempts to save themselves and those around them during the 10 plus years of the Nazi onslaught: There was the German soldier who waved my mother away from the ghetto where German soldiers were rounding up Jews. The Hungarian

Feelings and thoughts about the earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-25T12:36:00.002-05:00

Thoughts about the earthquake in HaitiAs I watch the unfolding of the events in Haiti. I feel numb. I was not alive in 1945 but I think to myself this is what the coverage of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima would have been like, only much worse due to the tremendous pain caused by any burning flesh.As much as nature’s cruelty is awesome, I am reminded that man’s can be worse. I was

Campus Ahead Program: free: Feb 2nd 6:30- 8:30 Cote St.Luc

2010-01-25T12:21:00.004-05:00

The next Campus Ahead session will be held from 6:30-8:30pm on Tuesday, February 2nd at the Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue on Mackle (in Cote Saint Luc). This session will explore, differentiate and grapple with traditional antisemitism, the new antisemitism and anti-Israelism. Through a mix of interactive polling, discussions and real-life experiences from student leaders, we will explore

About two films:Defamation and Norman Finkelstein

2010-01-25T11:18:00.004-05:00

Iletters@guardian.co.uk about the film "Defamation" I actually saw this film and the film about the life of Norman Finkelstein, both shown at the documentary film festival in Montreal and I was appalled. I too am a filmmaker. Askabigail Productions Filmmaking can take a very narrow window on any issue and do it very convincingly. Can we forget the films of Reifenshtahl, the Nazi filmmaker. I

2010-01-22T15:41:00.000-05:00

Thoughts about the Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-19T12:25:00.009-05:00

As I watch the unfolding of the events in Haiti, I feel numb. I was not alive in 1945 but I think to myself this is what the coverage of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima would have been like, only much worse due to the tremendous pain caused by burning flesh:As much as nature’s cruelty is awesome, I am reminded that man’s can be worse. I was born after the second world war, but my

Thoughts and Reflections on the Erev of Yom Kippur

2009-09-27T14:53:00.003-04:00

A few short weeks ago on August 23rd, 2009 I attended and videotaped an amazing conference here in Montreal.Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Wiesenthal Center gave the lunchtime address. He started by commenting that in the face of intellectual giants who were presenting during the day such as Professor Wistrich of Hebrew University and Professor Small of Yale University, he did not feel compelled to

Israel on Campus: Defending Our Universities

2009-08-17T20:31:00.007-04:00

I feel extremely privileged to have been asked to filmed this international conference taking place in Montreal, Quebec on Sunday, 23 August, 2009. It is sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research. Please read an excerpt taken from CIJR’s website:‘CIJR is a respected independent pro-Israel research center, now in its twenty-first year. We group academics from across Canada, the U.S.

Genocide: "Once I have contempt for you, I can do anything to you and not feel shame or compassion."

2009-08-03T09:55:00.003-04:00

This week, I had the good fortune of meeting Nathalie Sirois, Founder and Director of l’Institut canadien pour l'éducation sur les genocides (ICESG). I was so impressed with Nathalie’s work that The Shalom Foundation for Healing in Community (SFHC) has become one of the sponsors for next week’s ‘Mieux connaître pour mieux être l’humanité’ 2009 Training Conference which will be held in Ottawa,

The Hebrew Word 'Ger'

2009-07-15T13:15:00.004-04:00

Let me share with you my impressions on the first day of filming at ALEPH’s Summer University. Sonia Sarah Lipsyc* presented “Les figures de l'autre dans la pensée juive”.The course revolved around the Hebrew word 'ger' which comes from the word to reside [i.e. resident, also stranger, as in ‘You were a ger (stranger, foreigner) in Egypt’, and also as used by David in the Psalms, ‘We are all

Les figures de l'autre dans la pensée juive

2009-07-14T10:01:00.004-04:00

I am very excited about filming the five sessions of "Les figures de l'autre dans la pensée juive" given by ALEPH’s Summer University in partnership with Université de Montréal. http://csuq.dexservers.com/articles.asp?articleID=E8B5E434-7C35-483B-BD70-FD762FDA62BB 26 juin 2009 Université d'été de Aleph : "Les figures de l'autre dans la pensée juive" et ALEPH en partenariat avec la Faculté