I
n This Issue:
- BASEBALLS – AUGUST OUTING TO THE JETHAWKS – SUN 8/7
- FOOTBALLS – BUY YOUR FOOTBALL SQUARES BEFORE THEY ARE GONE
- GOLF BALLS – 2016 GOLF TOURNAMENT: SIGN UP NOW TO PLAY, DONATE, OR ADVERTISE
- BBQ BALLS – SIGN UP FOR THE AUGUST SHABBABAQUE – FRI 8/19
- MATZAH BALLS – MOMMY’S LITTLE BABY LOVE’S MATZAH BALLS IN OCTOBAH
- A MATCHED PAIR – HISTORIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN MRJ AND FJMC
- IN CLOSING
1. BASEBALL – AUGUST OUTING TO THE JETHAWKS – SUN 8/7
ONLY TWO WEEKS ARE LEFT TO REGISTER for our second Jethawks Baseball Family Event on Sunday, August 7th at http://jethawks.tasnorthridge-motas.org.
This will be an outing to “The Hanger” in Lancaster (about a hour drive from TAS) on a Sunday evening to see the Jethawks play. The cost will be $9 per person (with a slight convenience charge for online credit-card registrations). If you haven’t been to a minor-league baseball game, they are an order of magnitude more fun than an outing to the Dodgers. The stadium is small, the food is inexpensive, and the goal is just to have a great time. The Jethawks (http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t491) are the minor-league team for the Houston Astros. They will be playing the Modesto Nuts. The game is an early evening game (so we’re not sitting in the hot Lancaster sun for as long), allowing us to arrive at the stadium around 430pm, watch the game starting at 5:05 PM, and be home by 10 pm (the game should end around 8pm). We encourage you to bring your kids and grandkids. The more the merrier.
Registration information may be found at jethawks.tasnorthridge-motas.org.
2. FOOTBALL – BUY YOUR FOOTBALL SQUARES BEFORE THEY ARE GONE
Summer is Football Squares season! It’s an easy way to support TAS and possibly win a little back. $50 gets you a random square on the board, where randomized rows and columns have the digits 0 through 9. During Monday Night Football season, match the last digit of the home and away team scores in a quarter and win! More information, complete rules, online signup, and signup forms are available at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org, or contact Bob Levine (818-271-1282, tasboblevine@gmail.com) or Kathy Pullman (gridmaven@tasnorthridge-motas.org). Forms are also available in the Temple Foyer. Funds raised by the Sports Squares programs are used to fund specific needs that are often unfunded, and expenditures are distinct from MoTAS’ general fund contributions. Registration closes at 6:00 PM on Friday, September 9.
As you recall, the net proceeds for the Football Squares goes to support TAS projects that cannot be funded, either adequately, or at all, by current temple budgeting. It is your support that makes these things happen. As a result of your participation and support, the temple has had a major overhaul to the kitchen, and we have been able to offer more campership funds to allow our youth to go to Jewish camp in the summer.
Please support us this year, as you have in the past. All the information about the game, as well as sign-up instructions, are available at our website:
http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org
We hope you can see your way to be part of our team this season. You might win some money, but the temple is the big winner. A warm thank-you from the Men of TAS.
3. GOLF BALLS – 2016 GOLF TOURNAMENT: SIGN UP NOW TO PLAY, DONATE, OR ADVERTISE
The 2016 Annual MoTAS Charity Golf Tournament will be Monday, September 19, 2016. This event is the main fundraiser for MoTAS, and provides the funds that give us the ability to do all the good we do. Everyone in the congregation can help MoTAS by purchasing an $18 3-line message or $36 business card ad in the Tournament Program, by encouraging friends that golf to sign up and play on the tournament day, or by becoming a sponsor of the Golf Tournment:
- Play. Come out and play at the tournament. Entries are $215 per player.
- Sponsor. Companies and individuals can sponsor the tournament, starting at $180 for a Tee sign and going up. This is a great way for a corporation or local business to show their support. Sponsorships at the Corporate level and above include player spots, and all include advertising in the TAS Calendar/Tournament Program.
- Advertise. Our Tournament Program is a printed calendar of Temple events throughout the year, surrounded by ads and messages from members and businesses. Everyone can participate: 3 line messages are only $18, and honorarium/memorial ads are $36. Draw local businesses in to advertise, and build their relationship with the TAS community-prices start at $36 for a business card ad to $250 for a full page ad.
- Donate. We need prize and silent auction items. Get a local restaurant or theatre to donate a dinner/show, and advertise in the Tournament Program. Donate those sports tickets you aren’t using. Donation letters are available from the Golf Tournament website.
More information, including online and printable signup forms and donation forms, is available at http://golf.tasnorthridge-motas.org or call Barry Mann at 818-360-8881 .
4. BBQ BALLS – SIGN UP FOR THE AUGUST SHABBABAQUE – FRI 8/19
The August Shabbabeque will be Friday, August 19. Shabbabeque starts with an outdoor service in the TAS amphitheatre at 6:15pm, featuring music from the TAS House Band. This is followed at 7:15pm by a delicious barbeque dinner. The menu typically includes chicken, burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers, along with Caesar salad (no chicken in the salad), plus all the sides [menu subject to change regarding the sides].
The next Shabbabeque is:
- Date: Friday, August 19, 2016
- 6:15 PM Service
- 7:15 PM Shabbabeque Dinner
- Cost: $11 Adults / $7 Children (+$5 for registrations after Weds., 8/17 at noon)
- How to Register:
- Online Registrations: Visit http://shab-bbq.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ to register. You may pay by credit card, or mail your check in advance or bring it to the event.
- Telephone Registrations. You may register by calling the MoTAS Voicemail at (641) 715-3900 Ext. 430235#, the Temple Office at (818) 360-2258, or emailing shab-bbq@tasnorthridge-motas.org. Note that registrations received after Weds 8/17 at 6PM are an additional $5.
- Questions? Contact shab-bbq@tasnorthridge-motas.org
Pre-reservation for this event is strongly encouraged; an extremely-limited number of tickets are available at the door.
AUGUST SHABABBEQUE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed for the August Shabbabeque.
At the August Shabbabaque, many of our current crew (e.g., Frank, Roger) will be unavailable. We particularly need people to help shop a few days before and to help set up starting around noon-ish on Friday. Please contact the past President, faigin@cahighways.org to indicate your availability. Alternatively, visit http://motascybermaven.eventbee.com/event?eid=175346712 and add your name to the list — and indicate what you will be able to do (shop, setup, serve, cleanup) as your middle name. We will be in touch with you regarding how you can help us. Remember: This is a great opportunity for teens to earn mitzvah credit towards camperships.
5. MATZAH BALLS – MOMMY’S LITTLE BABY LOVE’S MATZAH BALLS IN OCTOBAH
Planning is underway for a joint MoTAS/Sisterhood fundraising concern on October 29th, featuring Linden Waddell‘s show, Hello Again, the Songs of Allen Sherman. Before “Weird Al” Yankovic there was another “Al” – Allan Sherman – who became an instant celebrity in 1962 when he sang and recorded his devilishly clever parody lyrics on the album “My Son, The Folk Singer.” His zany songs hit just the right nerve with the American public and his first three Warner Bros. albums shot to Number One. Linden’s show is a tribute to the man and his music.
More details will be forthcoming, including event pricing and sponsorship opportunities. For now, please put a HOLD on your calendar for the evening of October 29th. It should be a great evening. This event will be open to the public.
6. A MATCHED PAIR – HISTORIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN MRJ AND FJMC
From the URJ Blog: Jewish Men’s Groups Agree to an Unprecedented Collaboration
On a hot and humid Sunday afternoon in June at the Men of Reform Judaism’s (MRJ) convention in New Orleans, we did many of the things you would expect: We adopted amendments to the constitution, parsed and passed the budget, and announced good and welfare items of members, among others.
We also did something you might not expect – something historic, in fact. The officers and executive council of MRJ, together with our affiliates in attendance, overwhelmingly approved a “memorandum of understanding” between Men of Reform Judaism and the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC), the umbrella organization of men’s clubs in United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism congregations.
Despite our cultural differences, which each group has pledged to respect, there is much that unites us and, in fact, MRJ has been working together with FJMC on a limited basis for a few years. The MOU codifies the organizations’ agreement and states:
In the spirit of k’lal Yisrael, Men of Reform Judaism and the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs have agreed to collaborate in order to more effectively involve men in Jewish life. This is not a merger; each organization will continue to maintain its own identity. It is our joint belief that this inter-Movement cooperation between men’s groups will enhance our understanding of, and enable us to involve, Jewish families.
It includes these four components:
- Organizational Services: The two organizations will share data, publications, training materials, programs, and the like, as well as cross-pollinate each other’s websites. At the regional level, we will attend each other’s events and refer unaffiliated clubs in congregations to the appropriate organization – clubs in Reform congregations will be referred to MRJ, clubs in Conservative congregations to FJMC.
- Leadership Development: In places in which MRJ has regional leadership, primarily on the east and west coasts, we will begin to model our groups on FJMC’s Quality Club Award criteria to help us better assess success and provide assistance where needed. Together, we will work to affiliate new brotherhoods and offer training, including webinars, to current and up-and-coming leaders from both groups. Identifying, promoting, and nurturing leaders will complement efforts to engage participants in activities, committee work, and special endeavors, including the Yellow Candle program.
- Innovative Programming: MRJ and FJMC will promote successful local programs to each other’s members, sharing information as new programs are developed. MRJ will benefit from FJMC’s programming success around the Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle initiative, and FJMC stands to benefit from MRJ programs, including the well-known and respected Men’s Seder. Both organizations will encourage clubs to nominate programs for awards as appropriate.
- Community Building: We will invite members from each group to participate in the other’s international meetings and missions and, together, help establish and support congregations in Israel and other parts of the world. By building and strengthening personal and organizational relationships, we will enrich and strengthen the Jewish community overall.
As MRJ and FJMC implement this collaboration, let us say, Chazak chazak v’nithazek! Be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened!
(Above written by Steven Portnoy, the president of Men of Reform Judaism and a member of Temple Emanu-El in New York, NY.)
MoTAS welcomes this initiative, and invites you to invite our brothers in nearby Conservative Congregations to join us at the MoTAS Golf Tournament. For each congregation that participates, we’ll provide a donation back to their Mens Club.
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 