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JEM is generously supported by Temple Israel, The Martin Bass fund for Human Resources of Congregation Or Shalom, London Jewish Federation, London Lodge of B'nai Brith and Station Park Inn.

The following is an outline of our fall 2011 program. I hope you will consider Mondays, beginning Sept. 12, as date nights, at 7.30PM. Your admission is your smile and enthusiasm.

November 21: Opera: Liberalism and Antisemitism in Nineteenth Century France _ Joe Gilbert

 The French grand oper" La Juive" ( The Jewess) which opened in 1835, was highly successful, It remained popular and was frequently performed in France and elswhere until the First World war, when its appeal faded somewhat. Written by a non Jewish Liberettist, Eugene Scribe, and composed by Jacques Halevy, a Jew it had its germibnation in teh liberalism of Voltair and the French Revolution. It protrays the issues of anticlericism and anti-semiticism and encourages tolerance. Nevertheless, the Catholic Church continued as a strong influence in France and supported French anti-semites such as Edouard Drumont whose articles and newspaper encouraged events that reached their apogee in the Dreyfuss Affair. This presentation will include material from the opera. Great works of art relate to issues of the day but also address ongoing human concerns.

Joe Gilbert, a semi retired physician and hospital executive, has a passion for music, especially opera and Holocaust music. He has enriched our community with numerous music related presentations.

November 28: Gastronomic, Archeological, Academic and Economic Observations from a Sabbatical year in Israel- Bill Fischer

Basing his talk on first hand experiences after living in Israel for  the past year, Bill Fischer will comment on the country's current political, economic and social situation. He will take us on a provocative journey of Israel's daily life, as we hear about both its positive and negative characteristics. Bill's eagerness to field questions about any and every feature of life is Israel will provide us witha a unique opportunity to gain insight into facets of the Jewish Homeland that are not obvious to the typical tourist.

Dr. William Fischer is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Ontario.