In This Issue:
- SUPERBOWL SQUARES FOR CHANUKAH
- LAST CHANCE TO RSVP FOR DECEMBER ACTIVITIES
- JANUARY SPEAKER – MITCH ENGLANDER – JANUARY 11
- IT’S VERY APPEALING
- SPORTS SQUARES UPDATES
- IT’S DONATION SEASON
- IN CLOSING
1. SUPERBOWL SQUARES FOR CHANUKAH
Did Chanukah catch you unawares? Looking for that last minute Chanukah gift for someone in your life? How about a Superbowl Square? The cost is only $18 per square, and you can help Temple Ahavat Shalom while potentially rewarding the giftee. You can register and pay online at http://motascybermaven.eventbee.com/event?eid=194021395, or find the paper registration form, together with the official rules, at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/.
2. LAST CHANCE TO RSVP FOR DECEMBER ACTIVITIES
Monday, December 15 was the target date for RSVPs for both the December Mens-Only Chanukah Hangout on Sunday, December 21, 2014, and the Traditional Jewish Christmas on December 25, 2014. If you want to attend either of these events and have not yet RSVPed, please email me at faigin@cahighways.org or call my cell phone (leave a message if I don’t answer) at 818-438-5781, by the end of the day on Thursday. These two events are as follows:
- December Mens Only Hangout and Discussion. This month we’ll be celebrating Chanukah with greasy foods — latkes, fried (and baked) chicken, and sufganyiot. Come join us, light some candles, eat some food. We’ll sit. We’ll schmooze… and who knows, we might even discuss a Chanukah-related topic.
- Traditional Jewish Christmas. We’re meeting to go together to the movies, followed by Chinese food.
3. JANUARY SPEAKER – MITCH ENGLANDER – JANUARY 11
In January, MoTAS will be hosting a very special speaker: The Honorable Mitch Englander, LA City Councilmember for District 12. Councilman Englander will speak for about 20-30 minutes about new and on-going projects that affect Northridge. This will be followed by a question and answer session. Start preparing your questions now, and join us in the Social Hall for the meeting. Our usual breakfast will start at 8:45am, with a review of upcoming activities starting at 9:00am. Councilman Englander will be talking at 10:00am. Everyone is invited.
4. MoTAS DINNER AND SHABBAT – FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015
Once a year TAS celebrates the contributions of MoTAS at the MoTAS Shabbat. This is a special Shabbat service, preceded by a special Shabbat dinner, that is primarily led by the members of MoTAS. Mark your calendar NOW, and reserve your space:
- Call for Participation. If you are a male member of TAS and would like to participate in the service, please contact Bob Levine, at pastpresident@tasnorthridge-motas.org. You can also call Daniel at (818) 438-5781 and the message will get to Bob. Please let him know if you want to read Hebrew.
- Make Your Dinner Reservations Now. Before the service we will be having a special Shabbat dinner catered by Silver Spoons catering. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children. The menu will feature Israeli Salad w/Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing, Chicken Kabobs w/Tzatziki Sauce, Basmati Rice, Ratatouille, Pita Breads and Hummus, Fresh Fruit, and the usual Shabbat treats. For more information and to make reservations, visit http://shabbat.tasnorthridge-motas.org/
5. SPORTS SQUARES UPDATES
The following are tentative results for Week 15 of the Fall 2014 MoTAS Football Squares (New Orleans at Chicago). As always, results are also posted at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/:
- Week Fifteen(New Orleans at Chicago): Q1: Miriam Kolitz (tentative); Q2: Sheila Reback (tentative); Q3: Sheila Reback (tentative); Final: Vivian Gee (tentative).
Our treasurer will be issuing checks for Weeks 14, 15, 16 once the gridmasters return after game 16. If you wish to donate your winnings back to MoTAS, please contact Roger at treasurer@tasnorthridge-motas.org before then. Once issued, the checks are printed and mailed by Chase, so please do not discard the envelopes as junk mail.
Football Squares Grants are now open. Temple organizations — do you have a financial need for which MoTAS can help? If you do, please fill out our grant request form at http://grants.tasnorthridge-motas.org and return it to grants@tasnorthridge-motas.org. These grants will be funded from the proceeds of the Fall Football Squares programs; grants will also be considered for Golf Tournament proceeds once those are determined. Ideally, these grants are for small programs that would not otherwise be funded. The requests must be for specific items or programs, and are due by December 20. They will be prioritized by need and ability to fund, and will tentatively be announced at the January MoTAS meeting (where our speaker will be Mitch Englander).
6. IT’S DONATION SEASON
Hopefully by now you’re received the letter from the congregation encouraging you to contribute to the Temple’s end-of-year Tzedakah appeal. The MoTAS leadership encourages you to do so — if you haven’t figured it out by now, we believe that TAS is a cause worth supporting. The Temple survives on your donations, and every dollar is important. Make a year end donation, and remember that it is tax-deductable.
P.S.: If you have a little left over after making that donation, consider getting a jump on your annual support of MoTAS. As you may recall, two years ago MoTAS got rid of dues — every man at TAS is a member of MoTAS. To make this model work, we’re building a relationship with you, and hope you want to provide financial support to maintain that relationship. We’ll be sending out a letter after the beginning of the year, but if you want to get your donation in during this tax year, just visit our website at www.tasnorthridge-motas.org and select “Support Us” from the right-hand column.
7. IN CLOSING
As always, remember that the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom is *your* organization. Keep up to date on our activities at http://www.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ and participate. We want to serve all the men of Temple Ahavat Shalom and welcome new participants from the TAS membership. Join our Facebook group and “follow” our website. Come be part of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom!
Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom 