the jewish magazine nov 2008

1www.TheJewishMagazine.com November 2008 - 5769 in real years...

Issue 159 N

ov 2008

THE FASHION ISSUE

ON THE TOWN: TJM CITY GUIDE PAGE 33

JAY LEVINEOn the ins and outs of FashionTelevisionPAGE 20

TAKING IT ONE STEP AT A TIMEEDITOr’S PICk: rON WHITEPAGE 6

FAMILY FORTUNEThE MAkINg OF BROwNs shOEsPAGE 16

ISrAEl’S MODEl CITIzENSPage 22

hOw TO BE A FAshIONIsTAPAGE 8

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If you are concerned about the volatility and decline ofthe stock markets, you should come to our next seminar.If you have an RRSP to help you retire in the future, orhave a retired parent, you should come to our next seminar. If you have an investment advisor, bring him orher with you.

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Learn why the Romspen Mortgage Investment Fund performs so well in an environment of tight credit.Call today and reserve your spot at a seminar.

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The principals of Romspen Investment Corporation, the Fund manager, have

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Tel: 416.966.1100 • Toll Free: 1.800.494.0389 www.romspenfund.com

RIC2778E-Worried?-NOV.-Q-JewMag 10/14/08 10:58 AM Page 1

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Bereshit**Beh-ra-sheet= In the beginning G-d created heaven and earth.

“We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Magazine Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage for this project / Nous reconnaissons le soutien financier du gouvernement du Canada, par l’entremise du Fonds du Canada pour les magazines, du ministère du Patrimoine canadien, pour ce projet.”


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1www.TheJewishMagazine.com October 2008 - 5769 in real years...

Issue 158 O

ct 2008

THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ISSUE

ON THE TOWN: TJM CITY GUIDE PAGE 33

THE OTHER SEINFELDPAGE 30

Daniel LibeskindBreaking GroundPAGE 24

BE YOUR OWN ARTISTPAGE 10

2008 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVALPAGE 16

For just $19 a year (US price $40),you can get the best of Canada’s Jewish community in a glossy, full colour format - the only one of its kind. To get your 12 issues a year, send an email [email protected] call us at 416.987.3201

Founder & Publisher: Simon SherEditor In Chief: Helen HatzisEditor: Sam TitleCreative Director: Ori SherJr. Copy Editor: Miriam CrossAdvertising: Elie Malka, Jordana Smiley Editorial: Ilan Mester, Cassie Beth Friedman

Contributors:Shara Almayer, Miriam Cross, Cara Edell, Cassie Beth Friedman, Jeremy Freed, Helen Hatzis, Ilan Mester, Elayne Laken, Ilan Mester, Sarah Pearson, Shira Schwartz, Tracey Erin Smith, Jordana Stier

Features:16 The Making of Browns Shoes30 Local Designer: Jacqueline Telfer Cover story:20 The Ins and Outs of FT: Interview with creator Jay Levine

Columns / Articles: 6 Editor’s Pick 8 Gift Guide12 Frum Fatale14 J’Walkin’22 Israel’s Model Citizens24 Book Review26 Montreal Mensch29 Burning Bush33 City Guide35 Horascopes38 Jew or No Jew

Cover photo of Bar Refa’eli courtesy of Audrey Attia of Flash90 in Israel.


Photo courtesy of Korby B

anner


Editor’s Pick

Ron WhiteIn our line of work, we have the pleasure of meeting some of the most interesting people in the community

- some more unique than others, but definitely interesting. They’re the type of personality that you feel compelled to share with friends and family during dinner or drinks. Over the past year, I have had the

opportunity to make the acquaintance of such individuals that I will introduce to you on a monthly basis.In their own way, they have made a unique mark on society, making life more interesting. Enjoy!

Helen Hatzis I ‘d like to introduce Ron White.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ron White left home 18 years ago to attend Sheridan College’s business retail management program. It was there that he developed a keen business savvy that would prove to shape his entrepreneurial spirit.

From college he entered the working world with his first job at Bretton’s, and entered their management training programs. Afterwards, he was directly injected into the shoe department. “I didn’t want to sell shoes, I wanted to sell clothing. My goal was to move to New York and take over Saks Fifth Avenue from within two years of graduation. I had my whole life planned out.” Ron took the challenge and threw himself into it all the while learning the business from the ground up. “I became very good at it and fell in love with it!”

And not soon after, he was headhunted by an orthopedic shoe store, owned by a chiropodist and podiatrist, that sold orthotics and orthopedic shoes. After much coaxing, the then 21-year-old took the job, doubling his salary. During his two year stint, he learned about orthotics, biomechanics, gait assessment, and analyzing one’s walking pattern and foot posture. “At some point I realized, at Bretton’s, women were looking for comfort, and at the orthotic shop, clients were looking for comfort that was stylish and not something that looked like a Kleenex box on their feet. And after hearing both extremes, I wondered why no one had fused the two together.”

While living in a basement apartment, Ron set out on his own with a Visa cash advance, his sister’s decrepit IKEA kitchen table held with duck tape as a cash desk, and set up shop at Yonge and Eglinton (the same location you see today), fusing that notion with high hopes and big dreams. “I opened in 1993; we were in a horrible recession. The first two winters were really difficult and I remember thinking about pulling the plug, but my family thought I was crazy for starting a business at that time, and I was young and I wasn’t prepared to go back to Winnipeg a failure. So, I held on.”

With what began as a comfort shoe store (The Foot Shoppe), fast forward a decade later, and Ron White has since rebranded into a luxury brand maintaining the comfort quotient with trademark brands like “All day heels.” And like Madonna (whom he is compared to), he consistently reinvents his brand. He is running a different business model with clients that now include the likes of the Duchess of York, Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn. He has been nicknamed the “Shoe-ru” by Ben Mulroney and similar names like “Shoe Expert” and “Shoe Guru” have also been used to describe him.

This shoe guru has taken baby steps to get to where he is now – fusing comfort and style into one notion. “Fashion that feels wonderful – we’re bridging the gap. The shoe market worldwide has two camps: There is the comfort camp (support, flexibility and cushioning) and the fashion camp.” For his own line, he requests specifications such as changing the structure of the heel cradle and extra padding for comfort while mainting a glamorous exterior. “I go to the same manufacturer as Gucci and request all of this, and they think I’m nuts, but what they don’t realize is that this is what people want. The manufactures think I’m nuts and the fashion people think I’m crazy! So I’m the crazy guy in the middle, but my clients think differently.” Ron’s men’s collection also features anatomical foot beds to allow a more customized, precise fit.

Till this day, he takes a hands-on approach with his business; when it comes to product, nothing is allowed in his stores unless it gets his stamp of approval. And putting his name to his shop was not his idea. “My advisors all suggested it. I thought ‘All Day Heels’ or something to that effect would work. However, they reminded me that “‘There is a David behind David’s, there is an Aldo behind Aldo’s and there is a Brownstein behind Browns. Why don’t you take some pride and put your name behind it!’”

His flagship store is located in the Manulife Centre in Toronto, and with the décor, interior, and unique lines (including his RockStar line and the Thierry Rabotin brand), he has taken his business to the next level. In addition, Ron is a regularly quoted fashion expert in Canadian media.

His high profile personality has helped propel his charitable endeavour, now in its thirteenth year. He collects celebrity shoes to promote his annual shoe drive benefiting women’s shelters and homeless shelters. “We ask our friends and clients to bring in gently worn shoes. We clean and sort them and deliver them to various shelters in the community. Every year we unveil a new celebrity shoe that will help promote the shoe drive and the likes of Celine Dion, Hilary Duff and the Backstreet Boys have contributed to the cause.”

He has come a long way since his days at Sheridan College, where he was inducted into their Business School Hall of Fame. The boy who wanted to take over Saks Fifth Avenue has six stores in the GTA and hopes to add another two, with his sights on the West Coast and beyond.


How To Be a FashionistaBy Ilan Mester & Cassie Beth Friedman

Fall has arrived and with winter just around the corner, we know you want to look your best. So here is TJM’s guide to looking chic and stylish this fall and winter.

Smell Like You Mean ItGucci by Gucci Eau de Toilette;$78 (50ml), $102 (75ml) at The Bay. Why we love it – The floral-focused perfume has a lingering base scent of musk and honey. Rosh Hashanah may be over, but the smell of honey is always appealing.

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Shave In StyleSchick Intuition Plus Advanced Moisture Gift Pack; $14.99-$16.99 at drug stores across Canada.Why we love it – There’s no better way to look your best than having a clean shave, especially with the holiday season coming up. This razor shaves, lathers and moisturizes in just one step.

Skin Deep Tanda Anti-Aging and Acne Therapy Treatment Kits; $250-275 at Shoppers Drug Mart,Holt Renfrew and Sephora.Why we love it – These skin cleansers use LED light therapy to treat skin. There are two different kits – one for anti-aging and one for acne treatment – so you can choose which is best for you!

Practical FashionMoxie Trades Work Gear; $19.99-$99.99 at select Wal-Mart stores, Zellers and www.homedepot.ca. Why we love it – Women in trades can now make fashion statements. Safety glasses to tool belts to work boots – all available in pink – ensure you don’t ever have to look un-chic.

Don’t Get Too CheekySmear Campaign by Balmshell; $20 per tube at London Drugs and Shoppers Drug Mart.Why we love it – The girls who brought us Balmshell lip gloss bring a new lip and cheek gel, with ingredients that benefit the skin. Unlike other lip and cheek tints, this product leaves no stain on your finger after use.


Style For EveryoneLola & Gigi Size 12 +; available online at lolaandgigi.com.Why we love it – This brand has you covered from head to toe with their lingerie, jeans, organic wear, dresses, and more.

Steam It StraightConair Infiniti Nano Silver flat iron; $99, order at www.conairsteamstraight.ca.Why we love it – This flat iron features five heat settings, so regardless of your hair type, it’ll be straight!

Power Of Blue Glacier Capri Blue Ring & Kinshasa Midnight Blue Ring; $280 and $250at Swarovski boutiques.Why we love it – Bold and unique, the beautiful colour of these rings will catch everyone’s attention.

Fetish For FashionSwarovski Fetish Necklace; $550 at Swarovski boutiques.Why we love it - The ruthenium and stainless steel chain and the navette-cut Blue Zircon crystals make this necklace a truly unique piece.

High Tech FashionRobot Naughty Raymond USB Memory Key; $210 at Swarovski boutiques.Why we love it – This is the must-have accessory in our high tech world. Use it as a pendant or charm, and as a USB key featuring 2 GB of memory.

Comfortable And TrendyHush Puppies Guest Designer Series; $115-$140at Hush Puppies stores, www.hushpuppies.ca for locations.Why we love it - The collection is inspired by celebrity stylists Phillip Bloch and Rachel Fanconi and combines fashion with the comfort of Hush Puppies shoes. What more could you ask for?


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Wise ChoiceMen’s Longines Admiral with black dial and Women’s Longines Conquest with Diamonds; $2,950 and $2,450, visit www.longines.comfor authorized dealers in Canada.Why we love it – Unlike many accessories, a watch always comes in handy, so a fashionable one will come to good use!

Classic Canadian Style Roots Leather Bags; $228 (Charlotte Bag), $288 (Downtown Slide),

$298 (Lauren) at Roots stores across Canada.Why we love it – You can’t go wrong with Roots.

The variety of styles, colours and sizes ensures purses for every taste!And their leather bags are known for great quality too.

Your Eyes Deserve The BestJimmy Choo Eyewear Collection; $250-$300 (eyeglasses),$340 - $500 (sunglasses) at Crown Optical and Kamel Eye. Why we love it – This is Jimmy Choo’s first line of eyewear, so if you like the clothing line or have an eye out for fashion, you will want to be the first to wear these modern and vintage inspired glasses.

Bond’s Secret To StyleJames Bond Collector’s Piece by Omega; $4,500,visit www.omegawatches.com for authorized dealers in Canada.Why we love it – There’s only 10,007 pieces available worldwide, so you’re bound to feel unique!


FrUMFATAlEBy Shira Schwartz

No matter what your social code is, appearances matter.Frum Fatale looks at the the pros and cons of judginga book by its cover.

“ OvEr THE YEArS, I’vE rEALIzED THAT THErE’S ABSOLuTELY NOTHING WrONG WITH THE ‘DrESS’– IT’S THE ‘TO IMPrESS’ PArT OF THE SLOGAN THAT’S T H E PrOBLEM. ”

in high school, it’s cool not to care about what you wear. At CHAT at least, pajama pants and Birkenstocks topped with Zaidy’s moth-eaten, cable-stitched sweater, were pretty much school uniform. At some point though, you

come to realize that appearances matter. Your friends start wearing suits to work, jeans are only allowed on Fridays, and those sweatpants with the mini fold-out pocket (remember those?) start to become significantly less stylish. Fortunately, this process of fashion-sublimation is relatively seamless for most of us…except for that underlying thread of fear that undoes us from inside, insisting that we’re being judged by our peers. What really irks us is the possibility that, despite our efforts to don the appropriate armour, to dress the part, the world will see right through it and think we’re big fat phonies.

The resentment that follows this fear of judgment and exposure drives us to revert to more old-school modes of thinking that clothes don’t matter – the “what’s on the inside is what counts” mentality. But is this really the case? The amount of emphasis placed on materialism, or more specifically the consumerist’s slogan “dress to impress” (a take-off of the motto “dress for success”) in our society, is indeed appalling. But does this necessarily mean that our attempts to match our physical and inner selves, plus our basic efforts to look attractive, simply don’t add up? At the end of the day, do appearances really count at all?

Simple semiotics states that all physical attributes give off certain signals, which naturally trigger specific perceptions and prejudices. Swearing off Prada, or even H&M, isn’t going to change this reality. What may be more productive is to face the fact that our bodies make statements, with or without our consent.

I’m constantly being judged (if not outright mocked) based on the way I dress. Often someone will make a comment at school: “Hey, you know, I think it’s really great that you can dress like, ‘religious’ and like, ‘cool’ at the same time….” (As if conventional orthodox

garb, in which I often dress as well, would be considered totally ‘un-cool.’) Or I’ll be walking downtown and some guy will whistle ironically or make a sarcastic c o m m e n t , referring to my c o n s e r v a t i v e attire. One time at the AMC by Highway 7, a guy asked me if I would take him “to the library” (to

which I’m still not sure what he’s referring to and why – does he literally mean the library? And what exactly about me screams “librarian”? The stockings? The skirt? Who knows….) My most embarrassing moment, though, was when a homeless guy actually offered me some of his change to go buy clothing that was more weather-appropriate, perhaps in reaction to my choice of dress on such a hot day. I guess the guy felt sorry for me.

For a long time I resisted dressing like a ‘typical frum girl’ because I was afraid I’d be clumped together with the rest of the religious community and wouldn’t be judged as an individual. Over the years, though, I’ve realized that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the ‘dress’ – it’s the ‘to impress’ part of the slogan that’s the problem. The uniform itself is absolutely harmless.

In theatre school we’re taught to wear certain costumes and use specific props in the early stages of rehearsal – high heels, baseball caps, or a pipe, depending on the role – to help us ‘get into character.’ Whether we like it or not we all play roles in our lives. Sister, daughter, auntie, friend, student, TA, crazy-librarian-skirt-lady… to name a few of mine. This doesn’t mean we’re phonies; it just means that the various facets of our lives demand we wear lots of different hats. So, if it’ll help you get into character, to play a role as best you possibly can, then I ask, why not dress the part?

DrEssing Frum isn’t FRuMPy!


J-Walkin’By Jeremy Freed

Before I went there, I knew a few things about Iceland. I knew that it was somewhere

between Greenland and Europe. I knew that they rely heavily on geothermal energy. I knew that it was far enough north to be dark half the year and light half the year. I knew that there are no snakes in Iceland, and relatively few other kinds of animals. I knew that polar bears occasionally appear in Iceland after riding across the ocean on ice floes. I knew that many Icelanders believe in elves.

What I didn’t know, and certainly didn’t expect, was that Icelanders are some of the most well-dressed people I’ve ever seen. Their fashion sense stands out even among the notoriously fashion-conscious Scandinavians, who I need not remind you are responsible for both Ikea and H&M. As it turns out, and quite happily so, there is much more to Iceland than geothermal power and darkness and elves. For a country of around 300,000 people, there is a remarkable amount of unique food and drink and culture, not to mention an abundance of people who know how to put an outfit together with aplomb.

My first experience with Icelandic fashion was at breakfast in my hotel. Bleary-eyed and half delirious from my five-hour overnight flight, I found myself staring at a group of businessmen eating at a table nearby. They were all, without exception, wearing immaculately tailored, slim-fitting suits, and wearing them very well. Their shoes were new-looking and shiny, and it occurred to me that I had never seen this number of well-dressed men in one place anywhere in Toronto pretty much ever. In suits, no less!

After that first encounter, it occurred to me that maybe this was a fluke. Maybe these men made up the Icelandic Council on Fashionable Suits and were on their way to lead a seminar at the university on fine tailoring. Or maybe they weren’t Icelanders at all. These fears were put to rest almost immediately after I took a walk through downtown Reykjavik. The main shopping street is lined with boutiques selling designer European

couture, as well as fashionable Icelandic labels. The people were uniformly superbly put-together, from the teenage skaters in their fluorescent hoodies and Nike Dunks, to the women in their patent leather stiletto heels. The elation I felt at visiting a nation of such fashionable people was quickly tempered by a feeling of personal shabbiness. It was unseasonably cold that week,

and I had neglected to bring a proper winter coat. As a result I layered on just about everything I brought at once and looked like Robin Williams in The Fisher King. Being the hardy traveler that I am, however, I didn’t let that stop me from discovering the best of Icelandic fashion, as well as a few other niceties of Reykjavik. Here are some of the highlights:

Aftur (Laugavegur 23): This tiny boutique sells women’s styles only, but it was worth a look anyway. The owner and chief designer creates all of her clothing out of recycled fabric, with amazing results. Björk shops there, so you know it’s cool.

Naked Ape (14 Bankastraeti): A second floor walk-up, this place is run by Icelandic hipsters who specialize in psychedelic neon screen-printed shirts.

Sputnik (28B Laugavegur): The best vintage store in Reykjavik, with a widerange of funky old styles.

Kron (48 Laugavegur): Shoes, glorious shoes! Kron has a solid selection of high-fashion footwear, including some really slick-looking men’s styles in patent leather.

J-WAlkin’ discovErs A strAnGE islAnd WhErE EvEryonE drEssEs rEAlly, rEAlly WEll.


KronKron (63B Laugevegur): Kron’s sister shop sells a mind-bending range of uber-stylish designers, including my personal fashion hero, Henrik Vibskov.

Farmer’s Market (Eyjarslod 9): Founded by a musician and a fashion designer, this proudly Icelandic label creates moderns fashions out of traditional methods and materials.

Other Important Stops

Iceland Duty Free (Keflavik Airport): One thing that every visitor to Iceland should know before arriving is that booze in Iceland is very expensive. Like $10 for a beer expensive. So I’d recommend doing what the Icelanders do, and picking up a bottle of something at the airport on your way in. My recommendation: Reyka Vodka. It’s the only alcohol distilled in Iceland, and it’s filtered through lava rocks. Neither of those things would matter, of course, if it wasn’t really

good vodka. Which it is.

The Blue Lagoon Spa (240 Grindavík): A milky blue hotspring in the middle of a black lava rock field, the salty waters of the Blue Lagoon are piped up from geothermal springs deep under the ocean. Not only is a dip said to cure a variety of skin ailments, it’s also a nice way to relax after a few days of hard shopping.

Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur (Posthusstraeti 101): No visit to Iceland is complete without a stop at Reykjavik’s famous hot dog stand. Get one with everything, which includes crispy fried onions, sweet mustard, and a delightful Icelandic mayonnaise.


Mr. Morton Brownstein, C.M.

ProfileBy Helen Hatzis and Sarah Pearson

When canadians think “fancy shoes,” they think Browns. Browns shoes is a towering icon in the world of illustrious footwear - the recent opening of a new flagship store on toronto’s elegant Bay & Bloor intersection is indisputable proof of this. But what has become an exclusive chain of high-end leather goods began,in 1940, as a simple family shoe store on Montreal’s st. catherine street. today the company still

TJM: Why Browns and not Brownstein’s?Morton: My father was fourteen years old when he came to Montreal without his family (they came later). He had to leave Romania because in his small town, only one boy from a Jewish family could go to school at a time. So when his youngest brother started school, he had to come out of school. When he came to Montreal he was conversant in French, because that’s the second language in Romania. He did all kinds of work, peddling from farm to farm and door to door. When he finally opened a store, he felt that the French people couldn’t pronounce ‘Brownstein.’ So he simply called it Browns.

TJM: We’ve heard you earned the nickname ‘Häagen-Dazs man’ from your staff. Where did this come from?Morton: It’s a kind of an upbringing...if it’s hot, I’ll bring ice cream [for the staff], if it’s cold

weather, I’ll bring a pastry and coffee, but very often the ice cream. I’ve never visited our stores without bringing them something.

TJM: How is your relationship with the staff?Morton: We’re very close with them, their families, their children. I don’t know how many, but a very large percentage of our staff have been with us for 15 years, 25 years, and over 30 years.

TJM: Your employees claim you know them – and even their children – on a first name basis. How did you develop this trait?Morton: I can tell you, confidently, I don’t have that trait. I have a little clip sheet in my pocket for each store that I take with me when I am traveling to the stores, and I rehearse it before I go inside. I do know a lot of them by their first name, but I want to make sure that I don’t leave anybody out and I don’t use the wrong name.

TJM: You’ve come so far. Where do you see this store going from now, and what are you hoping now that you’ve got the launch of the new store in Toronto, at Bay and Bloor?Morton: And there’s a similar store being opened in Vancouver. Where are we going? We’re constantly trying to do things that make the staff feel an integral part of the business. We’re now into a program where we’ve hired a specialist where we can give as much respect and initiative and involvement in day to day things, in involving our complete staff, and that takes a lot of time. We want our people to feel that they’re an integral part of the business, not that they get a shipment of shoes, they open it up

thE making OF rowns


manages to keep this family business vibe alive, despite its ongoing expansion, and its well-earned reputation as one of canada’s leading fashion institutions.

the Jewish Magazine’sEditor-in-chief helen hatzis and Montreal Mensch, speak with Morton Brownstein and his son Michael, president of Browns shoes, about the business, the family, and the balance of both.

and put it on the shelf, and then they have to sell it. There’s got to be more to it than that.

TJM: How much do you love this business?Morton: As much as I can. As much as it is very much a part of me. When I go on holiday, anywhere in the world, I have to look at shoe stores.

TJM: Do you find yourself looking at people’s legs and shoes?Morton: Yes, always. I have a license from my beautiful wife to look at legs and shoes when we travel, wherever we are. She knows that when I’m looking at the legs, and I say “gorgeous legs,” I’m looking at the shoes.

TJM: What relationship do you have with the hospitals here in Montreal?Morton: There’s a word in Hebrew called ma’aser, which means that you are obliged to give a minimum 10% of your income to charities. As a matter of fact it started in King Solomon’s time, and it even expresses itself when Jews were forced out of Palestine, that whatever country they went to, if the country received them, they were obliged to ma’aser. And we do to this day. Before we take any bonuses or anything like that, 10% of the profit – pre-tax profit, which is double the after-tax profit – goes to charity. The Jewish Hospital is a great recipient, but we do it for other organizations as well. I would say that our annual contributions are probably to about 350 different organizations. And that’s a full time job.

TJM: Describe the experience of winning the Order of Canada.

Morton: Oh, it was a thrill. We had my wife and we had the children, and it was very special, very stimulating, a very respectful honour.

TJM: Now that your son is running the business, how involved are you?Morton: Really peripherally. They’re running the business.

TJM: Do you feel comforted knowing the business is in the hands of your family? Morton: Yes. We have our daughter Janice in the business, and we have Michael with his two children. And they all have a devotion and a love for the business. So that’s great.

Read about Michael Brownstein on page 18.


Continued from page 17

TJM: When did you come into the picture with Browns?MB: When I was in university I would work on the weekends at the stores. I graduated from McGill in 1970, and then I went to Europe and skiied competitively for three years. Then in 1973 I came back, and that’s when I really got started at Browns. I spent the first four months in each of the four or five stores, to learn about the stores and how they worked. Then I

moved into the office, as the assistant to one of the buyers.

TJM: Now you’re the President of the company. Did you ever consider breaking away from the company, or did you always want to continue in the family tradition?MB: That’s a good question, but I never considered breaking away from this company. I like this company - it’s a great company, and it’s a very family-oriented business.

TJM: You say you’re a very family-oriented business. But how have you managed to maintain that family-feeling as you’ve expanded, and become this huge name in the fashion industry in Canada?MB: That’s not easy. Over the years we’ve added more and more stores - in the seventies we opened stores in Toronto, and then soon after we expanded to Vancouver, and now we have I think forty-two stores. We work hard to keep the business family-oriented, but it’s not easy. It’s easy when you have three or four stores, but it gets harder as you add stores, and harder as you add cities also. It’s one of the challenges of our business, but it’s a very important part of our business.

TJM: You’re known as a company and as a family for being very philanthropic. Can you tell me about your role in the community?MB: We give a huge percentage of our profits to charity. We give away to the emergency room at the Jewish General (Hospital of Montreal) which is named after my grandparents. We give to many different charities in Canada and Montreal. My father’s big priority is the charitable donations in the business. We do a lot for the Montreal Association for the Blind, and all the hospitals, and Centraide (a Montreal umbrella-organization that supports local charities). It’s a tradition in our business - our employees alone organize a huge campaign every year to raise money for Centraide. It’s important to give back to the community. That was one of our decisions in the beginning of the company - my father decided to give a higher-than-normal percentage of our profits away to charity, and we have continued in that tradition.

TJM: Do your children want to take over the business when you retire?MB: I don’t know about “take over,” but both my children already work at Browns. My daughter is one of our buyers, and my son is our Special Projects Manager, which is a big challenge. He’s always confronted with the problems in the business and how to fix them. He also developed our website.

TJM: I have to admit, I’m not a “shoe-person.” Is anyone in your family a real “shoe-person?”MB: My wife, my wife, my wife. She is a shoe-person. She is very fashionable, and she loves shoes.

Mr. Michael Brownstein

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How a twentysomething producer from Canada brought the fashion world off the magazine racks and into the living room with a revolutionary TV program called FashionTelevision!By Cara EdellPhoto by David Cormican

T






was the 1980s – the decade of acid-wash denim, fingerless gloves, bomber jackets and shoulder pads. The movie Flashdance made ripped sweatshirts trendy, while Madonna turned teenage fans into material girls. Carol Alt and Elle Macpherson were top models, and Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein became household names.

But back in those days, designers were no more than labels. They were ads in newspapers and magazines. Fashion was a business of promoting in print, with no recognition of the face behind the product.

Music seemed to be more advanced. With artists appearing in videos on television, the rock stars and their songs could come to life. The concept was easy to execute, and its success did not go unnoticed. Back in 1985, the notion of devoting air time to fashion was unusual, yet revolutionary in the eyes of Jay Levine, then a 28-year-old promotions producer at Citytv. Levine envisioned adding action and emotion to the imagery of fashion; peeking behind the curtain into the world of designers; creating a program based on reality, on natural characters, that was sexy and visually stimulating. There was a curiosity about the industry and those who defined it. There was a series just begging to be born. The result: FashionTelevision (FT).

“It was a unique thing, generated at Citytv, a local independent station [in 2007, CTV took control of FT as a result of a takeover of CHUM Limited]. We weren’t developing a show to be sold internationally, which it turned out to be. It was just something different that made sense for a channel that was focused on what young people living in an urban environment would be entertained by,” Levine says.

“Magazines target narrow niches, but TV is broad in its appeal. Magazines are more specialized – you’ve got car magazines, home magazines, fashion magazines. TV wasn’t always like that. Now there’s a food channel, a gardening channel, a fashion channel. TV is looking like the magazine racks, in a hipper, livelier way.”

Today, FT is a half-hour program that profiles the greatest talents from the circles of fashion, photography and design. Its popularity even spawned its own speciality digital cable channel, FashionTelevisionChannel, which was launched in 2001. Produced in Toronto, FT has won multiple awards and reaches audiences in countries as far as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Czech Republic and Slovakia. Having a Canadian viewership of 5.7 million in the last broadcast year, the series consistently reaches an affluent and educated fan base.


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“The show involves a lot of travel, all over Europe and the style capitals of the world,” Levine says. “It’s an international roundup of what’s making headlines in the world of fashion and design. But we’re based in Canada and we’re recognized as a Canadian show wherever we go.”

FT’s format has not changed much in the last twenty-three years. At the centre is Jeanne Beker, host of the show since its conception, constantly grinning and asking cheeky questions to her flamboyant subjects. Although its substance is fashion show coverage, Levine says the program goes beyond the clothes, featuring magazine-style pieces on art and architecture.

While Beker is now recognized as one of the most iconic figures in the realm of fashion, she initially met hesitation when campaigning for the gig at FT. In 1979, Beker was co-hosting a music magazine show, The NewMusic, which she launched at Citytv, and was later producing segments for Entertainment Tonight. Eager to move beyond the rock ‘n’ roll thing, but not really the clichéd beauty, Beker met resistance from a producer who wanted a model-type woman to host the show.With no other real prospects in the running, Levine says Beker

eventually landed the role. “It was through her own expressed interest that she wanted to be considered, and was. She went about the job from an entertainment perspective, not from a fashion editor’s point of view. She brought a whole different sensibility to reporting on that world. For the most part, it was Beker observing the world through her own curiosity. She brought her own personality to it and she could be larger than life in a world filled with a cast of characters.”

In Beker’s own blog on FT’s website, she reflects on the early days of her duties as host, on her interview approach and her highbrow competition: “There was one show that was a growing concern, Style with Elsa Clinch on CNN, hosted by Elsa who was real fashion veteran. She had been a fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar, and she really knew her stuff in a very technical, academic fashion journalistic way. We were covering fashion as entertainment; no one had thought of doing that before and we very much wanted to put on a show that everyone could relate to, and you didn’t have to be a fashion aficionado to appreciate it. Backstage at the shows, the CNN crew was probably the only other crew and they were there doing the very standard thing – Elsa would be interviewing the designers and saying ‘why beige?’ or ‘what about the length of the hem?’ – stuff we couldn’t really care less about because we were there to capture the spirit and the energy and the buzz behind the scene.”

Beker has since proven herself to be a major player in the international fashion media. Besides covering trends for FT, she is also the editor-in-chief of two fashion magazines, FQ and SIR, a regular featured columnist with The Globe and Mail, the author of three books and one of the judges on Canada’s Next Top Model. And while Beker has evolved, so has the fashion industry. Now, she says, going backstage at a runway show is a whole different ballgame, as “the place is just inundated with crews and you have to wait in line to get in sometimes; it’s just really a zoo back there.”

Beker says she and Levine never dreamed FT would become “such a trailblazing vehicle that’s set the stage for a whole new wave of sensibility when it comes to the way we tell stories about fashion.” She says her secret to maintaining a distinct voice comes from walking a fine line: “I think it’s wonderful to be in the fashion world, but I’ve always been very careful not to be of the fashion world. I don’t want to be that inside the scene that I can’t report on it objectively. I don’t want to get that carried away with the hype that I can’t see it from the average viewer’s point of view. We don’t want to get too esoteric. We’re still doing television for the masses.”

FashionTelevision can be seen Sundays at 5:30 p.m. ET on CTV and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FashionTelevisionChannel.




























There are some who claim that it all began with Rina Mor. Mor, an anonymous soldier from Tivon, surprised Israel and the entire world when she won the Miss Universe contest in 1976. For local models, Mor’s victory opened the gates to international modeling and to appearances on the covers of leading international fashion magazines. Judging by the success abroad of Israeli models, and recently of a small number of male models as well, the world seems to like our brand of beauty.

After Mor, the fashion capitals of New York and Paris became familiar with Michaela Bercu, the first Israeli woman to appear on the cover of American fashion magazine Vogue, which wrote that Bercu’s debut in the world fashion may have been the greatest female beauty sensation since Helen walked on the walls of Troy. Elle magazine wrote: “What is beauty? The answer is redefined every few years, but now seems to be: the stunning face of Michaela Bercu, the bombshell who has landed on us from far-off Israel.”

IsraelI Beauty /aBout faceBy Shahar Almagor from Haaretz.com

Then came Shiraz Tal. Cosmopolitan magazine wrote that she had amazing green eyes, an infectious love of life and enough charisma for 10 models. Cosmo went on to ask what Israel puts in the water that makes the girls so beautiful there. And, of course, there’s Nina “Vic” Brosh. Liberation magazine wrote: “The woman with the angelic eyes and the satanic body that have brought her from a remote Israeli town to the top echelons of world models. How long will Nina Brosh’s perfect beauty last? A thousand springs, at most.”

Also worthy of mention are Shelly Gafni, Amit Machtinger, Maayan Keret and Kim Iglinsky. But what is there about local beauty that has opened the glamorous world of supermodels to it? Yves St. Laurent, the French fashion designer of Algerian origin, once said that “we have to get used to the idea that true beauty doesn’t come from our boring countries, but from multicultural and mixed-race countries - the distant provinces of the former Soviet Union, the wild regions of the African continent and a tiny country in Asia called Israel.”

Apparently even the toughness and rough edges contribute to the success of the Israeli women. The magazine Top Model wrote that they have taken the modeling world by storm, in one of those “lightning operations” in which their country specializes. It made special mention of their innocent smiles - nice, broad ones that don’t steal the show from the stunning beauty of their owners. It went on to say that Israeli models Shiraz, Maayan and Nina threatened to topple the frozen-faced European models.

In recent years, the latest gimmick on the beauty scene has been the “natural look” face with strong ethnic features. The demand for the new supermodel - fair, lipstick-wearing blondes are “out,” the exotic look is “in” - is successfully filled by the Israelis. That’s how Shirli Buganim, Maya Yeshayahu, Sandy Bar and Moran Atias have been able to burst into the world’s consciousness.

Considered exotic, mysterious and naturally beautiful, Israeli models grace covers everywhere.

Nina Brosh

Rina Mor

Michaela Bercu

Shirli Buganim

Moran Atias

Shiraz Tal


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Gossip GirlGrowing up at Grossinger’sby Tania Grossinger; Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. $16.95 Paperback

Dirty Dancing fans will relish this insider’s look into Grossinger’s, the famed Catskill Mountain resort hotel that thrived from 1919 to 1986. Tania Grossinger moved into the hotel as an eight-year-old when her mother landed a job as the hotel’s social hostess in 1945. Here she relives the resort’s glory days as the premiere luxury getaway for American Jews and a favourite of celebrities like Milton Berle, Rocky Marciano, Eddie Fisher, Jackie Robinson, and many more.

Countering ConformityFitting in is Overrated: The Survival Guide for Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like an Outsiderby Leonard Felder; Sterling Publishing. $17.95, Hardcover

To thine own self be true is easier said than done. Using examples from his own psychology practice and outlining precise techniques, Dr. Felder shows you how to overcome the instinctual need to fit in when your ideas, inclinations, and preferences would better be upheld on their own, and how to reconsider your differences as your greatest strengths.

Banish The GuiltAm I a Normal Parent? Expert Advice, Parenting Tips, and the reassurance You’ve Been Looking Forby Sara Dimerman; Hatherleigh Press.$18.95 Paperback

You can hardly get more Jewish than parental guilt. Dimerman, a child and family therapy expert, consolidates her interviews with experts and authors in the field of parent education and psychology, as well as over 200 parents from around the world, into an illuminating and morale-boosting self-help guide that answers tough questions like “Is it normal to leave my three-year-old alone in the car for a couple of minutes?” and “Is it normal to sometimes regret having children?”

Nerds Are People TooFrom Schlub to Stud: How to Embrace

Your Inner Mensch and Conquerthe Big Cityby Max Gross; Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.$14.95 Paperback

Coinciding with the Rosh Hashanah spirit of improvement and growth, draw some inspiration from Max Gross. Taking his cue from Seth Rogen’s (also a Jew) character in the hit film Knocked Up, Gross affectionately recounts his self-administered ‘schlub rehab’ as he grows from an overweight, awkward schlub with bad clothes and a

bedbug epidemic to a slimmer, better-dressed stud. Also includes some handy guides to surviving an audit, maintaining a diet, and generally thriving as a schlub.

Clothing, shoes, and jewelry all contribute to a fashionable persona, but sporting a hot new book is the surest way to look smart, stylish, and pulled-together. In honour of Jewish Book Month (November 22-December 22, 2008), we present some of the classiest accessories for your fall wardrobe.

By Miriam Cross

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Montreal MenschBy Sarah Pearson

To contact Montreal Mensch with anythingon your mind, email her at

[email protected]

Knitting, the classic pastime of grandmothers worldwide, is the latest craze among the young and the restless. Knitting clubs are starting up on university

campuses, and online knitting communities are spreading around the globe. I spot many the chicly-dressed twentysomething on the bus with needles in hand and a vintage leather purse-full of wool. Celebrities are doing it too - Madonna, Julia Roberts, and Hilary Swank, to name a few.

In an age where ‘back-to-basics’ is back in style, this domestic art is experiencing a renaissance. I sat down for breakfast with 24-year-old Carly Boyce, an avid knitter and host of a weekly ‘Stitch ‘n Bitch’ gathering at her apartment, to find out what the heck is up with this new craze.

“I think it’s something to do with the place feminism is in right now,” Carly muses. “We’re seeing a return to traditional feminine arts.”

The community that meets at Carly’s house is young, mostly female, and with a strong social conscience. That said, knitters in Montreal-at-large are, not surprisingly, diverse in age. The first knitting circle she attended was all women, mostly in their forties and fifties. Carly’s friend then started a weekly “Stitch ‘n Bitch” of knitters more their own age. They would meet at rotating apartments, until the group got too big. They then moved it to a local bar, and when that bar shut down, Carly’s apartment became the new hot spot.

There is a new craze emerging in Montreal that is taking the twentysomething crowd by storm.

Many girls learn knitting from their elderly relatives, their mothers, or from their Girl Guide leaders. Carly came to knitting in a classic tale of intergenerational learning. When she was 16, she attended a giant New Year’s party of teens from Jewish youth groups across the continent. The party was hosted at a family’s house in Rochester, NY, and many of the visitors stayed on through the week in this big home. “On January 3rd, the mom suddenly said ‘I want to learn to knit, wanna try it?’ So we all went to the mall in our PJs and bought yarn, how-to books, needles, and spent the whole day learning how to knit.”

There is indeed a touch of irony to all these pretty young things taking up the Art of the Elderly. “My bubby got married a year and a half ago, and for her wedding I knit her a lace shawl...there’s something lovely about knitting my bubby a shawl, in a hilarious backwards way.”

For many knitters it’s an addiction, and also a release. Practically speaking, the handiwork provides a kinesthetic outlet for those weighed down by our over-sedentary culture. As a university student, Carly would knit during lectures. “I have trouble sitting still in classes. If I’m knitting I can watch, I can listen, I can speak up.”

Which raises another reason why knitting might be making a comeback - young people today are addicted to productivity. A generation raised to be productive all the time, students more than ever feel pressure to operate at a high level.

“Knitting is relaxing, but it’s also a good way to take a break. You are still being productive. You are still making something.”

All the better for Carly’s Tuesday night Stitch-’n-Bitch. The group keeps expanding, drawing anywhere from two to twenty stitchers a week. “We’re really welcoming to newcomers and to beginners. There’s a lot of teaching that happens in our group.” And true to the name, it’s not all just about stitchin’. “We talk about our lives and our work. We talk about our romantic lives. There is often food, and there is often wine.”

Knitting: the timeless community craft, or the latest cult-obsession among the young folk? You decide. “I have a knitting tattoo!” Carly pipes up before we part ways. She draws up her sleeve (knit wool, of course), to reveal her newly insigniated forearm: a row of stitches cast across two arm-bones. “My bubby isn’t a fan of my knitting tattoo,” she says with a slight grimace.

Well, at least she got a lace shawl.


P


By Tracey Erin Smith The Burning Bush

The

InTervIews - ParT 1

A close friend of mine recently met someone she’s very excited about. We had ice cream

floats and she told me all about it.

TES: I hear you met someone and that it was a set-up by one of your mom’s friends?

HyLA: Yeah, my mom’s friend Eve met this man at a dinner party and he mentioned he was looking to meet someone – “Intelligent, independent and oh, intelligent.” She thought of me. I got the description of him from her: in his 40’s, Israeli, attractive, owns his own company.

TES: And what did you think?

HyLA: I’ve had an Israeli boyfriend before and I didn’t know if I was ready for that again. Know what I mean?

TES: Yes, they can be like a really intense and amazing movie, but you’re just not sure you wanna watch it again right away. But we both know you did go out with him, so what changed your mind?

HyLA: People have offered to set me up before and I’ve said “Thanks, but no.” This time was not different; I went through my usual delay tactics on giving Eve an answer. Then a week later she calls me and says, “Hyla, I have other women I could introduce him to but you are at the top of my list. Would you like to meet him?” “Okay, give him my number,” I hear myself say.

TES: Nice. Now, your first date…talk to me.

HyLA: We chatted on the phone and agreed to meet for brunch. Sunday morning I walk down the fire escape stairs of my house, it’s a sunny late summer day, and I am about to see my blind date for the first time. He’s parked across the street in a four door Infiniti. So far, so good. A nice family-sized car, without the flashiness of some other brands….do you call cars ‘brands’?

TES: I think they’re called ‘makes,’ but I know what you meant. Go on.

HyLA: So, I’m about to meet a man I have never even seen a picture of, but I notice that he doesn’t look up when I’m coming down the stairs, so I say his name from across the street to make sure I am about to get in the right car.

TES: Imagine if you didn’t check and jumped into the wrong car...oy!

HyLA: It was the right guy. We went to a very cute place in Leslieville. At first we sat at the counter because there were no tables available. I tried to sit with my ‘good side’ to him.

TES: Really? Which one is it?

HyLA: My right side…I think. Oh gosh, hope so! Our conversation covers familiar ground: what I do for a living, what he does. But while we are talking I am very aware that there are multiple conversations going on: the one that is coming out of our mouths and the ones that we are each having with ourselves in our heads.

TES: It’s so true! There is so much to take in on a first date. You are constantly asking yourself questions: “Am I attracted to this person?” “Did he really just say he hates his mother!?” “Is that nose hair something I could live with?” Stuff like that, right?

HyLA: Absolutely! So, the brunch wraps up and he drives me home, and as we embark on our farewell chat, I’m waiting for him to ask if I’d like to go out again. Instead he tells me to enjoy my afternoon. What?! I quickly recover and wish him well with his antique hunting. I exit stage left out of the car and cross the street without falling down. Once safely inside my place, I talked to myself: “Hey, even if this is as far as it goes, you did good, kid. You carried on a conversation with a virtual stranger for a couple of hours. You didn’t choke on your French toast or snort when you laughed.” And it hit me that he was probably going through similar feelings and thoughts. And that the best moments of the brunch were when I silenced my inner conversation, let go of expectations and focused on this human being sitting in front of me and allowed myself to enjoy!

TES: Nice. Can we keep talking and I’ll put the rest of the story in next month’s column?

HyLA: For sure...to be continued. I’ll tell you all the Jewcy stuff!

TES: Counting on it!


By Jordana Stier

NothiNg makes JacqueliNe telfer happier thaN wheN people look their best. the caNadiaN fashioN desigNer’s debut collectioN of womeN’s elegaNt eveNiNgwear is classic coNfideNce meets 21st ceNtury ruNway-couture. pulchritude, the ’08 fall/wiNter liNe of fiNely crafted blazers, skirts, paNts, capes, dresses, broaches aNd blouses, is of rare true North quality.

Pulchritude

Photos courtesy of Jacqueline Telfer

D efined as physical beauty, Pulchritude is Telfer’s desire “to create a clothing line that really embodies the idea of making the woman beautiful, and having her feel that way in the clothing.” Her ingenious designs and unfaltering use of superb Canadian manufactured fabric reminds one of the eternal elegance of Chanel. “I want it to be seen as a treasure, not just clothing, something that you really love wearing. It becomes a favourite piece in your closet, a staple item you do not want to get rid of,” says Telfer.

Through her groundwork, Telfer has discovered the difference between capricious trends and trends with an everlasting appeal. Her couture line, frequenting black-and-white tones, alludes most definitely to the elegant glamour of fashion trailblazer Audrey Hepburn, while being designed for the contemporary woman. A great deal of love is put into each piece, composed of silk linings and outer shells, fresh water Japanese pearls serving as buttons, and with decadent white gold and silver shanks. The tones are easy to pair with other colours – she even adds ice blues and yellows in select pieces.


From Bat Mitzvah to age 50, these timeless but trendy pieces are always appropriate. Some have approximately 10 hours of work on them, says Telfer, including the exquisite French lace cape and ice yellow dress. Couture has never been so multi-functional as with featured items like the tuxedo jacket – one of Telfer’s favourites – and her reversible vest, which may be worn 21 different ways. “It is really all about elegance and classic beauty, and bringing it forward.”

An affordable denim line is now in the works for 2010, and Telfer is looking forward to the unlimited array of creative options denim fabric will allow her. Combinations of silk and denim – a comfortable fit and luxurious look – creates that perfect pair of jeans.

“Being able to look beautiful represents so many things, because if you feel beautiful, then you bring that idea into your daily life.” Born and raised in Toronto, Telfer finds inspiration in her European and Caribbean Jewish descent. After fleeing the anti-Semitic belligerence of the Russian pogroms, her great-grandmother settled in Jamaica and passed down a strong sense of pride in one’s appearance. “I remember my mother used to talk about how well-dressed my grandmother was and how she also believed in being able to dress yourself best no matter what was going on in your life.”

While getting her degree in Fashion Techniques and Design at Sheridan College, Telfer won the Holt Renfrew Beth Park Memorial Scholarship. Although she had always wanted to create her own line, the multi-talented designer first dabbled in different artistic disciplines. The Toronto Arts Council presented her with a grant last September for her unpublished book on aphorisms. While teaching classic art privately and in at-risk neighborhoods, Telfer was just delaying the inevitable return to fashion. Still drawn to clothing, she then worked in retail to observe trends and consumer behaviours. “That was the ultimate goal for me, because it is really important for women to be able to get what they want, and I want to give them that,” she explains.

As for the future, “I would like to have a multi-functional company that works on a variety of different levels,” says Telfer. “But my clothing, that is my baby, that is close to my heart. I love when people look beautiful, even in a casual way, as long as they do it with confidence.”

Pulchritude, available on her website (www.pulchritude.ca) and at an upcoming fashion show in late November, is essential to any formal-fashion wardrobe. Unfortunately, quality couture does not come with department-store price tags. At retail, the Pulchritude line ranges from $200 to $1,900 a piece. Nevertheless, every woman deserves a taste of luxury.

“It is creative. It is just something that you feel and you are able to express. It is kind of like a painting, whatever you are feeling you are able to put on a canvas, and that is kind of what I do with the molding of the clothing.”

“being able to look beautiful represents so many things, because if you feel beautiful, then you bring that idea into your daily life.”

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november 2-928th Annual Holocaust Education Week“Education is the key to preventing the cycle of violence and hatred that marred the 20th century from repeating itself in the 21st century.” –Elie Wiesel. 416-635-2883 x5301, www.holocausteducationweek.com

november 1-932nd Annual Jewish Book FairThe largest of its kind in North America, the Jewish Book Fair features readings, talks, performances, film screenings, panels, book reviews, and authors, including Alan Dershowitz, Anita Diamant, Bonnie Stern, and many more. (Cool Jew Cabaret with Lisa Alcalay Klug occurs on Nov. 3, 6-8 pm at the Leah Posluns Theatre, $10.) Both free and ticketed events. Koffler Centre for the Arts. 416-636-1880 x.368, www.kofflerarts.org

november 7Music in ExileSeventy-five years after A**lf Hit**r’s rise to power, ARC will introduce “Music in Exile,” celebrating the music of Jewish composers forced to flee the Third Reich, and German composers who resisted the Nazi regime. 8 pm. One Performance Only! Mazzoleni Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor St. West (entrance off Philosopher’s Walk). $30 Adult / $10 Student, www.rcmusic.caor by calling 416.408.2824 x321

november 9Jacob’s Ladder Family Fun Day Giving Gala 2008In honour of their 10th anniversary, Jacob’s Ladder, the Canadian Foundation for Control Neurodegenerative Disease, is rolling out the red carpet for a big screen gala for the kids. Events include a rockin’ after party, VIP backstage passes, and amazing prizes donated by Mastermind and Spinmaster. Tickets: $30, 416-485-0078. 11am-3pm at the Liberty Grand, Exhibition Place. www.jacobsladder.ca

november 7-16Royal AgriculturalWinter FairThe largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Learn, compete, shop, and have a great time with friends and family; events include the Royal Horse Show, Royal Apple Competition, Agri-Food Innovation Pavilion, East vs. West Rodeo Cowboy challenge, and much more! Children: free-$14, Adults: $14-$18. The Direct Energy Centre – Exhibition Place. www.royalfair.org

november 19Kol Isha Gala ConcertAll-female cantorial concert celebrates women’s voices. Features guest cantor Barbara J. Ostfeld (first female cantor in North America), as well as female cantors from all over Toronto. 7:30 pm,Leah Posluns Theatre (4588 Bathurst St.). $36, 416-636-1880 x255. www.kolel.org

november 16-30Eh!U European Film FestivalEnjoy two weeks of European culture! The fourth annual European Film Festival features more than 30 films (including national hits, international successes, and prize winners) from over 23 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, and Slovenia. Free (suggested donation of $5); entrance on a first-come first-serve basis.Royal Cinema (608 College St.)and Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave.)www.eutorontofilmfest.ca

november 11-15Toronto International Flamenco Festival presents Mercedes RuizWidely regarded as one of the most important flamenco dancers today, Mercedes Ruiz will perform Juncá at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, alongside Canadian flamenco stars, for Toronto’s 2nd annual International Flamenco Festival – includes workshops on singing, dance, and guitar. Tickets: 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754www.torontoflamencofestival.com

november 20-23Gourmet Food &Wine ExpoEach year, 35,000 guests come to sample over 1,200 fine wines, spirits, and beers from around the world. Features include the Cheese Corner, Connoisseur’s Corner, Food Network Stage, and much more. General admission: $15, Friday through Sunday. VIP Preview: $35, Thurs. Nov. 20th. Metro Toronto Convention Ctr., South Building.www.foodandwineshow.ca

november 2Cool Jew at Indigo, Yorkdale MallIn the company of your fellow Cool Jews, join author Lisa Alcalay Klug for an evening of Jewish humour, chutzpah, and enlightenment. Cool Jew does for matzah balls and gefilte fish what The Official Preppy Handbook did for plaid and polo, only with much more chutzpah! Presented in partnership with The Jewish Magazine and JUMP. Free. Lisa talks/Q&A/book signing: 6pm-8pm, Indigo at Yorkdale Mall.

november 22Seinfeld Reality Tour BusHosted by Amazing Edwardo’s Cabaret Theatre, this tour package includes a luxury chartered tour bus (including DVDs and Seinfeld interactive fun), Casino Rama event (all-you-can-eat buffet, slot machines, gaming tables, fire/lighting Indian multi-media show), and a live piano show at the Firestarter Lounge. Tons of great prizes and surprises. Tickets only in advance, $20 before Oct. 30 and $30 thereafter, maximum of 31 seats. Register at [email protected].

november 15-29J. Allison Robichaud: A Painter's Love of the LandscapeImbedded deep in J. Allison Robichaud’s paintings is an absolute gentle but passionate colourful expression of our central Canadian landscape. Allison’s work is a chrysalis of the ever changing seasonal display of our magnificent central Canadian countryside. Opening Reception: Sat. Nov 15; 2-5pm. Artist in attendance. 112 Scollard Street (Lower Level) Tel: 647.436.9784scollardstreetgallery.com


For personal astrological consultations with ELI7, email [email protected]

ELI7 has been following the movement of stars and planets ever since she can remember. She has studied Western astrology, the Chinese zodiac and the Mayan calendar for over ten years and has a firm grasp on the movement of the cosmos. Having consulted people one on one for many years, she finally has found a home with The Jewish Magazine, ready to counsel you with your planetary alignments.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19)Be careful who you argue with because they’re likely coming from a more rational place than you. Emotionally-driven this month, it’s always important to think before you speak, but even more so now for you. Unless, of course, you want someone to call

your bluff, in which case be prepared to act on your words no matter how embarrassing.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)You may be starting up arguments where they need not be instigated. Try to put your sensitivity in check and ask yourself how important it is to fight for something you only semi believe in. If it’s more than fifty percent, by all means, tell ‘em how you feel.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 21)The more you think about certain things, the less appealing those ideas become. This is what happens with every brilliant idea you conjure up – you over-analyze until it evaporates. Before you discard your recent ideas altogether, try putting your devil’s

advocate in check and give yourself a chance to see something through without scrutiny.

CANCER (June 22 - July 22)It’s a good time to reinvent yourself because you’re more critical than usual and less likely to succumb to over-sentimentality or longing for objects and people past. Cut the bad out from your life and don’t think twice.

LEO (July 23 - August 22)It’s hard to accept there are obstacles in our paths toward success, but it’s not impossible. Do the possible and tackle the details you’ve neglected to face starting now. Imagining that problems don’t exist doesn’t make them go away, it only feels good

temporarily.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)You usually stick to one school of thought but nowadays, it’s easy to appreciate multiple sides to a number of issues. You’re more flexible, which is unusual for you but a good change nonetheless. Even though you don’t agree with certain things, it’s

still good to at least recognize there are other views beyond your own.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)Though you just had your birthday and Rosh Hashana just passed, it feels like you’re just coming to the end of an old cycle now and are beginning a new one. Take stock of past patterns and habits that aren’t working for you and if you didn’t start off your new year right, here’s a second chance.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)Righteous is the word to describe your attitude this month. As the purveyor of all morality, you uphold a strong sense of what is just, but that doesn’t mean everyone else is on the same page. Resist the urge to regard those who disagree as deviants because like you, they’ll eventually come around.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)The philosopher in you is put on the back burner while you enjoy the lofty side of human life. Relationships of all kinds blossom. Later in the month you wonder if the people whose company you’ve recently enjoyed would make ideal business partners, but the question is, do you really need

to do business with friends or is there a better alternative?

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)Your ideas are getting bigger by the second and the problem is not your power of imagination, but the lack thereof in others. Don’t blame the world at large for being slow to recognize the brilliance. Eventually they’ll come around. Don’t get discouraged.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)You have your hands dipped in a lot of different projects. Before taking on anything new, finish what you’ve started and focus on your tasks at hand. There’s no sense in ruining future opportunities by not tending to those right in front you at the moment.

PISCES ( February 19 - March 20)No one needs to dare you to do anything twice – you’re on top of any chance to take a bold risk. Just be sure when committing to completely overhauling your life that it’s in your best interest in the long run and not just for fun in the short term.


[email protected]

or more...it’s REALLY all up to you....

TJM is looking for ones with chutzpahand love for money. Full or part time.

send resume to:

YOU CAN MAKE 300,000.00 of these

a month!


Information compiled By TJM Staff

MichaelKors stellaMccartneyis an English fashion designer famous for her eponymous line as well as

collaborations with Adidas, H&M, LeSportsac, and many more.

Born September 13, 1971 in London, England, Stella is the second child of former Beatle Paul McCartney and first wife Linda McCartney (née

Eastman), who is the daughter of Jewish-American parents. As a child, Stella and her siblings traveled the world with their parents and their pop group Wings, yet attended local state school in East Sussex to retain as

normal a childhood as possible.

The fashion bug hit her early, when she designed her first jacket at age 12. She interned for Christian Lacroix three years later, and after graduating from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in the early 1990s, her final collection was modeled – for free – by friends

Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon, and Kate Moss at the graduation runway show. The designs were a hit, and subsequently licensed to high-

end stores like Neiman Marcus.

Her career really took off in March 1997, when she was appointed chief designer of Paris fashion house Chloé, a job previously held by Karl Lagerfeld (who disapproved of her hiring). Nevertheless, her designs

were critically and commercially popular. She entered an eponymous joint venture with Gucci in 2001 (expanding her brand to include perfume). She also entered a joint partnership with Adidas in 2004 and designed

an affordable line of her clothing for H&M in 2005. The collection sold out almost immediately.

Personal projects include her sister Mary’s wedding dress in 1998 and Madonna’s dress for her wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000, as well as the

clothes for Madonna’s Re-Invention Tour in 2004.

A strict vegetarian and PETA-supporter, Stella refuses to use fur or leather in her designs. Nevertheless, she will use animal-derived fabrics

such as wool and silk in her designs. As well, Stella’s fame has often been attributed, in part, to her famous father...but over the years, those in

the fashion world have grown in their praise for her innate talent.

JEW

is an American fashion designer, famous for his eponymous brand of apparel and fragrances as well as his appearances on popular reality TV

show Project Runway.

Born Karl Anderson Jr., August 9, 1959, to a Jewish mother in Long Island, New York, Michael celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at age 13.

Michael began designing clothes at age 19 and studied at the highly regarded Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. A few years

later, in 1981, he launched the Michael Kors womenswear line at Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

He was then invited to become (the first ever) women’s ready-to-wear designer and creative director at French luxury fashion house Celine in 1997. Credited for turning the fashion house around with hugely popular accessories and a critically-acclaimed ready-to-wear line, he decided to

leave in October 2003 to focus on his own brand.

Besides the Michael Kors runway collection, his brands include a menswear line (launched in 2002), the MICHAEL Michael Kors line

(comprising women’s handbags, shoes, and ready-to-wear apparel), and the footwear KORS Michael Kors line (both launched in 2004).

His designs have also proven to be a hit among celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

During his tenure at Celine, he designed many outfits for actresses to wear onscreen, such as Rene Russo’s character in 1999 hit remake of

The Thomas Crown Affair.

Praise for his work abounds from all over the fashion industry, as critics celebrate the classic, chic, and luxurious yet sensible aesthetic he brings

to his American styles. He won the Elle/Cadillac Fashion Award for Excellence in 1995, as well as two CFDA awards, in 1999 and 2003 – the

most prestigious in the fashion industry.

Currently, Michael also contributes to Harper’s Bazaar while serving as judge on Emmy-nominated series Project Runway.

JEW


Cooking in StyleKitchen Knives, designed by F.A. PorscheOnce you wrap your hand around one of these knives, you’ll know why they are prized by profes-sionals. Designed by noted industrial designer F.A. Porsche, these sleek and stylish knives sport a comfortable double-tapered triangular grip that offers exceptional balance and control. Buttons on either side of the handle provide tactile cues for fi nger placement. The Japanese 301 stainless steel will resist corrosion and wear. Each knife comes in a fi tted storage box and is sharpened for immediate use. Available individually or as a starter set of three essentials (utility, carving, and chef’s).

5" Utility Knife* $50.00 45K37.19 7¾" Fillet Knife $80.00 45K37.078" Carving Knife* $95.00 45K37.0510" Chef’s Knife* $119.00 45K37.017¼" Santuko Knife $89.00 45K37.02 Set of 3 Porsche Knives* $229.00 45K37.30

Epicurean® Cutting BoardsLike wood, these high-quality boards won’t dull knives but, unlike wood, they are dishwasher safe and won’t warp or require maintenance. Made from a composite of wood-based paper fi ber and resin, these cutting boards are nonporous to resist stains and odors, are heat resistant to 350°F, and are NSF approved for food safety. The Kitchen series is ¼” thick and is available in four sizes. One side of the 3/8” thick Gourmet board features a ¾” wide juice groove around the edge (with the opposite side being a regular fl at cutting board). All have a corner hole for hanging. Made in the USA.

Kitchen Cutting Boards Gourmet Cutting Board8"×6" $12.50 EV180 20"×15" $76.00 EV18512"×9" $21.50 EV181 15"×11" $26.50 EV182 18"×13" $36.50 EV183

For more information on these products, or to receive a free copy of our gift catalog, drop by one of our stores, call or visit us online.

1-800-683-8170 www.leevalley.com

Porsche knife handle shape compared to a conventional handle.

Handle nestles in your hand.

tjm porsche knives.indd 1 10/16/2008 2:56:29 PM

the jewish magazine nov 2008

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