The non-profit group Jewish Vegan Life (JVL) will launch a branch in Montreal with a special Purim gathering, Purim Unmasked: Esther’s Clarity and Courage, on Tuesday, March 3 (6 pm) at the Resto Veganarie in Pierrefonds-Roxboro (19H Rue du Centre Commercial). The event will bring together the Jewish community for learning, conversation, and plant-based cuisine to explore how the story of Purim speaks directly to moral courage and ethical responsibility in contemporary Jewish life.
Guest speaker will be Rabbi Boris Dolin, spiritual leader at Congregation Dorshei Emet and known for his thoughtful engagement with Jewish ethics, spirituality, and communal leadership. Through the lens of the Purim narrative, Rabbi Dolin will explore Esther’s defining moment of clarity — the choice to step forward when remaining silent was safer — and what that moment asks of Jews today when it comes to choices around food.
“Purim is often understood as a story of costumes and celebration, but at its core it is about moral and spiritual awakening,” said Michael Gribov, Head of Movement Building at Jewish Vegan Life. “Esther’s courage came when she removed the mask and acted in alignment with her values. This event invites participants to ask where that same clarity and courage might be needed in our own lives — including how we relate to food, animals, and our planet.”
Purim Unmasked will include delicious vegan food and guided conversation connecting Jewish sources to contemporary ethical questions. While the event centers plant-based living, it is designed to be inclusive and welcoming to people across the spectrum of observance and dietary practice.
Jewish Vegan Life is a growing movement working to reconnect Jewish values with compassionate, plant-forward living through education, community events, and rabbinic leadership. JVL hosts both in-person and global virtual programs, including holiday celebrations, learning series, and its JVLive livestream platform, engaging Jews across denominations and generations.
The Montreal Purim event reflects JVL’s broader effort to create spaces where Jewish tradition can be engaged seriously and practically in light of modern realities.
“More and more Jews, especially the younger generation, are leaning into plant-forward food,” said Gribov. “They’re realizing it’s a healthier and more sustainable way to live. That’s all true, but it’s also a spiritual journey, a way to elevate the most noble of Jewish values. JVL creates the space to explore those values through honest conversation, where ancient texts meet present-day knowledge, and people are trusted to wrestle and choose.”
Advance registration is required. Space is limited.
Jewish Vegan Life is a global Jewish movement dedicated to advancing compassionate, plant-based living as an authentic expression of Jewish values. Through education, community partnerships, rabbinic leadership, and immersive experiences, JVL helps Jews explore how Judaism speaks to food, animals, health, and responsibility in today’s world.
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