In This Issue:
- MoTAS SHABBAT – FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
- FOOTBALL SQUARES GRANTS
- SUPERBOWL SQUARES SALES END
SOON - FEBRUARY SPEAKER: AARON WEISSMAN / LEARN HOW THE COURT SYSTEM WORKS, FEB 7, 2016
- ANNUAL APPEAL LETTERS ARE OUT
- ARE YOU UP TO THE KITCHEN CHALLENGE?
- PURIM CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS – MARCH 13, 2016
- MENS HANGOUT WITH RABBI LUTZ – MARCH 13
- IN CLOSING
1. MoTAS SHABBAT – FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016
The MoTAS Shabbat is now less than two weeks away. Bob Levine has been coordinating the participants, Daniel’s been writing his D’var Torah, and we’ve determined who the Man of the Year will be. Now all we need is you.
Join MoTAS in worship on Friday, January 29, 2016 at 7:30 PM at the annual MoTAS Shabbat. At this service we’ll celebrate the contributions of MoTAS, and learn why MoTAS is so important in the life of many men of the congregation. The service will be led by the members of MoTAS, with special MoTAS musical accompaniment. We look forward to seeing you there.
2. FOOTBALL SQUARES GRANTS
The Fall Football Squares program finished in December with the last Monday Night Football game. MoTAS is pleased to announce the following grants from the proceeds of the 2015 Football Squares:
- TAS Avodah Program:$250
- Camperships: $200
- L’Taken-ships: $900
- High Holy Day Machzors$420
- MRJ Reform on Campus$100
- TAS Kitchen Repairs$1,150
Remember: It is your participation in these activities (see next item) that enables us to make these grants (and thank you to the generous souls who have donated back their winnings to the program).
3. SUPERBOWL SQUARES SALES END SOON
We have our times: The Broncos vs. the Panthers (or, looking at it differently, the Ponies vs. the Kitties). We have the date and the venue. We now just need your participation. Now is the time to buy a Superbowl Square. By buying a square, you can help Temple Ahavat Shalom while potentially rewarding yourself. You can find the rules of the game, register and pay online, or find a form that you can print and mail in, at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. Do it now — Sales end February 2nd. Update: As of 1/27/2016, the board is fully subscribed and sales are closed.
The cost is still $18 per space. You may get up to three for yourself and up to three for your spouse. Once again, the tie-breaker procedure will be in effect to allow for winners in spaces that are not sold. The tie-breaker is the total number of points both teams score in the game. You get one number (regardless of how many squares you have) and your spouse, if playing, gets one number (regardless of how many squares spouse has).
We have added one wrinkle this year, in our attempt to make the game fairer to all. We are eliminating permutations of the 0, the 3, and the 7 from the board (that is, 0/0, 0/3, 0/7, 3/0, 3/3, 3/7, 7/0, 7/3, and 7/7). As a result, there are only 91 spaces available, not 100. If any of these is a win, we will go to the tie-breaker to determine who wins for that space.
The payouts will still be based on a 100 square board: $180 each for the first three quarters, and $360 for the final score. If there are multiple winners, the prize fund will be allocated. Tie-breakers will be ordered starting with the exact score and then to the nearest closest, etc. You can win only one tie-breaker, even if several quarters need them.
Go to http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org to purchase your space(s).
4. FEBRUARY SPEAKER: AARON WEISSMAN / LEARN HOW THE COURT SYSTEM WORKS, FEB 7, 2016
The California Court systems has multiple levels and types of courts. On speaker on Sunday morning, February 7, 2016 will be TAS Member Aaron Weissman, who will discuss the differences between the courts, and present information on how to use the court system effectively and efficiently. Aaron J. Weissman has practiced in civil and business litigation for over 33 years, emphasizing civil law and motion and appellate practice. Mr. Weissman has been a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and American Bar Association since 1983, a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association since 2008 and has served as a Volunteer Grader of Moot Court Appellate Briefs for the American Bar Association since 2008. Mr. Weissman is also a candidate for Los Angeles Superior Court Judge in the 2016 elections.
As always, before the speaker, we will have our scrumptions MoTAS breakfast and our review of upcoming activities. Join us at 8:45 AM for Breakfast, with the event review starting at 9:00 AM. The speaker starts at 10AM.
Due to the Purim Carnival, we have moved the March meeting up one week to March 6, 2016. Our speaker in March will be Rosalyn Kahn on “Reducing Stress”. Rosalyn writes: “What if there is way that you could turn stress into your friend vs your enemy. This is not a fantasy ….this is reality. Come out and listen to Rosalyn Kahn sharing the research from Shawn Anchor a leading researcher on Happiness and Kelly McGonigal’s talk Stress is Your Friend as well as her own experience from her book on Random Acts of Kindness are Changing the World.’”
5. ANNUAL APPEAL LETTERS ARE OUT
This week, the MoTAS Annual Appeal letters were mailed. Why do we do an annual appeal? Simple. Unlike many other mens clubs and brotherhoods, MoTAS has no dues. As a male member of Temple Ahavat Shalom, you are automatically a member of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom (MoTAS)? In 2012, MoTAS moved to an inclusive model where every man in TAS is part of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom. Since we have no dues, every year MoTAS asks you to support our work financially.
MoTAS strives to encourage the men of TAS to be leaders. Leadership comes in many ways, one of which is visible participation and support. MoTAS is stronger when it is supported by all the men of TAS. Wouldn’t it be great if we could say that every man in the congregation has supported us? The amount you contribute is up to you-large or small. Select a meaningful amount that is comfortable and reflects the value of the MoTAS relationship to you. We recognize contributions of $100 or more on our wall of honor at http://wallofhonor.tasnorthridge-motas.org . The funds support our non-specific contributions to Temple Ahavat Shalom (i.e., those that benefit the general fund, as opposed to specific projects), as well as those activities that are service-oriented and not designed as fundraisers. Contribute online by visiting http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/: you can either pay online, or print a form and mail it in. Note that MoTAS receives no financial support from the TAS budget; our funds are separate.
6. ARE YOU UP TO THE KITCHEN CHALLENGE?
Back at the June 2015 Shabbabaque, MoTAS arrived to prepare our usual scrumptious meal. To our dismay, we discovered that the refrigerator we regularly use was not holding a food-safe temperature. We improvised that Shabbabaque by storing food in the Sisterhood refrigerator, while we started to investigate the problem.Since June, a team headed by Frank Soronow and including Scott Yollis, Les Birken, and Aaron Solomon has been investigating the problem. We discovered two primary issues:
- The refrigerators and freezers are limping along and may fail at any time. We were able to temporarily get them working, but recent reports are that they are failing again.
- The cooling system for the kitchen space has not been working for a significant number of years. This has lead to increased heat in the kitchen, which serves to shorten the life of the refrigeration units.
The estimate for repairing the kitchen is significant. The cooling is approximately $4,500. There are two refrigerators, each costing around $3,400; there are two freezers, each costing around $4,100. Sisterhood has already started the process to replace their refrigerator. MoTAS recognizes that we are not the primary user of the kitchen; we feel these repairs are so important to the heart of the Temple that we need to make them happen sooner rather than later.MoTAS would like to get this problem resolved before the next Shabbabaque.
To that end, MoTAS has allocated $1,100 from the Football Squares funding towards the kitchen (see item 2 above). We are also doing a challenge grant of $1,500 from our reserves. In other words, MoTAS will match the first $1,500 of funds raised by 4/30/16 with our own funds, and this will all go to the kitchen. Anything you donate will help us help TAS improve the kitchen. As with the Annual Appeal, online and printable donation forms are at http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/, and donations of $100 or more will be acknowledged on our Wall of Honor. We thank you in advance for your support.
7. PURIM CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS – MARCH 13, 2016
The Purim Carnival is scheduled for Sunday, March 13th, if El Nino cooperates. MoTAS traditionally has provided the food service for this event. If you are available and willing to volunteer to help, please sign up at http://tinyurl.com/motas-purim16
8. MENS HANGOUT WITH RABBI LUTZ – MARCH 13
On Sunday, March 13th at 6:00 PM we’re going to be having a very special Mens Only Hang Out and Discussion Group – we’ll be hanging out and talking with Rabbi Lutz. We thank Rabbi Lutz for providing this opportunity, and encourage the men in the congregation to come and discuss issues that are unique to men. Dave Friedman, our event coordinator, is working up some special discussion topics for the evening – and remember, everything said during the meeting stays in the meeting. Additionally, we’re going to be joining the Rabbi for dinner before the meeting with a Barbeque dinner from Stonefire Grill. Space is limited, so RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/motas-2016-rabbi-hangout or directly to Dave Friedman (at 818/970-7701 or vp2@tasnorthridge-motas.org) and mail your check for $15 (made payable to Dave Friedman) to Dave Friedman at 19707 Buckeye Meadow Lane, Porter Ranch CA 91326. Dave will provide you the location of the hang out once your reservation is confirmed. This is a Mens Only event.
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. Sign up for our action alert list at http://tinyurl.com/motas-action-alert. 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 