In This Issue:
- CONDOLENCES TO THE LUTZ AND DONER FAMILIES
- BASKETBALL MADNESS SQUARES ON SALE
- MOTAS SEDER – APRIL 17
- THE KITCHEN CHALLENGE IS NOT OVER YET
- HELP MOTAS DO ALL WE DO — MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL
- YOM-HASHOAH CANDLE PACKING TIME
- MOTAS IS EXPLORING A SPECIAL INTEREST SUBGROUP FOR YOUNGER MEN
- 2016 GOLF TOURNAMENT PLANNING BEGINS…
- IN CLOSING
1. CONDOLENCES TO THE LUTZ AND DONER FAMILIES
The Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom extend our condolences to Rabbi Lutz, Debbie Lutz, and their entire families on the loss of Milton Cohen, Debbie’s father. We also extend our condolences to MoTAS Past President and Past Man of the Year Michael Doner and his family on the loss of Mike’s father, Don.
May their memories be for a blessing.
2. BASKETBALL MADNESS SQUARES ON SALE
NCAA/Basketball Squares are on Sale! The NCAA finals are rapidly approaching — have you created your brackets. Within MoTAS, the NCAA Men’s Basketball championships mean it is time for Basketball Squares. The procedure is very similar to the Superbowl Squares. Basketball Squares cover the last three games in the NCAA championship: the semifinal and final games on April 2-4, 2016. Squares are $18, and adults may purchase up to 3 squares for themselves, and 3 squares for their partner. Payouts are $150 for both the halftime and final scores of each game. You can win once or twice in a game. If the board is not fully subscribed, the payout is proportional based on the number of subscribed squares. To address the possibility that all 100 squares might not be subscribed, the following is the procedure for empty squares that win: each player will make a guess as to what the total number of points will be (i.e., you add the final scores of both teams). This number will be used to settle all cases, for all games. If you purchase more than one square your “number” will apply for all your squares. Closest to actual score wins (payouts divided with ties). If there is no halftime winner, the final score prediction will still be used.
Squares must be purchased by March 30, 2016. Forms will soon be available in the Temple Foyer. You can also print the registration form — or register online — at the usual online home of the Squares program: http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. Remember that the real winner is Temple Ahavat Shalom. With a fully subscribed board, $900 will be available to support specific temple activities, organizations, and projects.
3. MOTAS SEDER – APRIL 17
On Sunday, April 17, you are invited to join the Men of TAS at our annual Mens Seder. This special service and dinner, modeled after the traditional Passover Seder, provides a comfortable and ‘safe’ space for the men of TAS to explore and celebrate what it means to be a contemporary Jewish man. The text of our special haggadah, developed by MRJ and available at http://www.menrj.org/mrj-mens-seder, explores issues that pertain specifically to men; the service and dinner provides a place to take those issues, share them, discuss them, and wrestle with them.
PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, WE NEED YOUR RSVP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. To RSVP (and pay in advance), visit http://seder.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. RSVPs are due by noon, April 11.
Our Mens Passover Dinner will consists of traditional Passover foods — water, wine, homemade charoset, and more (maybe even gefilte fish) — as well as barbeque chicken and tri-tip (for what man doesn’t love barbeque).
The cost for the meal and the service is $20. The schedule is as follows:
- 5:30pm: Sign in and snacks
- 6:00pm: Service and dinner
4. THE KITCHEN CHALLENGE IS NOT OVER YET
For the last month and a half, you’ve been hearing about the MoTAS Kitchen Challenge — MoTAS’ effort to raise fund to repair and improve the Social Hall Kitchen. There was a lot of work to be done: replacing refrigerators, improving the make up air, addressing fire suppression and safety, repairing ovens and freezers, and much more. We’ve made significant progress: MoTAS has funded a new refrigerator, and we’re still awaiting bids on the make-up air, cleaning the oven vent hood, and getting better fire suppression. We want to do so much more. The campaign does not end until the end of April. So, please, if you can, contribute to the MoTAS Kitchen Appeal. Anything you donate will help us help TAS improve the kitchen. As with the Annual Appeal, online and printable donation forms are at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/about/support-motas/2016-kitchen-challenge/ (or just go to http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ and click on the Kitchen Challenge), and donations of $100 or more will be acknowledged on our Wall of Honor. We thank you in advance for your support.
5. HELP MOTAS DO ALL WE DO — MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL
By now, you should have received your MoTAS Annual Appeal letter. 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 .
So where do the funds raised by MoTAS during this appeal go? Here’s a sample of what they (and the funds raised by the Golf Tournament) support:
- Expenses for MoTAS activities not covered by donations or activity fees. This would cover breakfasts at meetings, expenses for the Sports Squares programs, and similar expenses.
- Expenses for specific TAS needs that were not part of the TAS budget. The Kitchen Challenge is an example of that: the funds for the challenge were raised in past appeals.
- Support for TAS students through Bar/Bat Mitzvah gifts, camperships, and other funding.
- The MoTAS contribution to the Temple’s general fund, either at the annual meeting or through sponsorship of events.
- MoTAS contributions to the regional Men of Reform Judaism and the charitable activities it supports, such as Reform on Campus.
You, the men of TAS, are the ones that make the above possible through your contributions during this appeal. 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. YOM-HASHOAH CANDLE PACKING TIME
At our April monthly meeting on April 10th, we’re going to be packing our Yom Hashoah candles for distribution. We’re exploring a different model for distribution this year — more on that next week. But we will need men to help us fold and pack the candles in the boxes. The April meeting will also be the time we’ll be announcing our slate of candidates for 2016-2017. If you wish to volunteer or nominate someone, please contact either Daniel Faigin, Bob Levine, or Joel Lowell.
7. MOTAS IS EXPLORING A SPECIAL INTEREST SUBGROUP FOR YOUNGER MEN
MoTAS is exploring the notion of creating a separate special interest subgroup to serve the needs of the younger men in our congregation. This group would include activities targeted towards younger dads with families, younger marrieds without kids, and younger single men. If you’re curious as to what is meant by “younger” — that will be up to the group to decide. The group will determine its own activities, but hopefully will join with the rest of MoTAS for larger temple support activities. If this is something that sounds like it might be of interest, please contact the MoTAS President, Daniel Faigin, at faigin@cahighways.org.
8. 2016 GOLF TOURNAMENT PLANNING BEGINS…
Plans are firming out for the 2016 MoTAS Golf Tournament, which will be held Monday, September 19 at the beautiful Calabasas Country Club. MoTAS is looking for members to join our Golf Tournament committee. This is the group that plans the tournament, and helps bring in sponsors and advertising. If you would be interested, contact Barry Mann at andybarry80@yahoo.com.
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 