In This Issue:
- MoTAS DINING OUT – MON DEC 18
- CANCELLED – POTENTIAL CHANUKAH PARTY – SUN DEC 17
- JEWISH XMAS DINNER – MON DEC 25
- MOTAS SHABBAT – FRI JAN 5
- TU B’SHEVAT SEDER – SUN JAN 28
- SUPERBOWL SQUARES NOW ON SALE
- SUMMARY OF DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING – SUN DEC 10
- IN CLOSING
1. MoTAS DINING OUT – MON DEC 18
The MoTAS “Dining Does Good” have returned, and this year they support MoTAS 100%! Our December “Dining Does Good” will be Monday, December 18 at Weilers in Northridge (at Nordhoff and Balboa). You can find a flyer for the event at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/dining/. We really encourage you to come and support these events: we raise a little extra funds for our work, but more importantly, we come together and break bread as a Temple family on a regular basis. It is a real joy to walk into a neighborhood restaurant and see your Temple friends, to sit down and share a table and talk. This is the heart and goal of MoTAS: Building Relationships.
2. CANCELLED – POTENTIAL CHANUKAH PARTY – SUN DEC 17
Note: As no one has offered a house for a MoTAS Chanukah Party, the event will not happen. We encourage everyone to sign up and attend the Temple’s Chanukah Party on Friday, December 15. This will be a festive evening filled with musically inspired and meaningful services, delicious food cooked by Cornucopia Caterers, singing, lighting hanukkiahs, sharing stories, Social Action gift wrapping, and arts/crafts projects for young children. The dinner will include:
- Organic Market Salad- mixed greens, romaine hearts, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, red onion, croutons (on the side) and balsamic vinaigrette dressing
- Red Quinoa and Butternut Squash Salad- dried cranberries, dried apricots, fresh herbs, diced apples and red wine vinaigrette dressing
- Main Dishes- roasted chicken breast with apricot and champagne glaze and cedar plank roasted salmon with sage herb pesto
- Sides- Potato Latkes, served with apple sauce and sour cream AND grilled balsmic marinated vegetables: squash, zucchini, assorted bell peppers, red onions, brussel sprouts and carrots
- Beverages- home brewed iced tea, cucumber spa water, coffee, hot tea and apple juice boxes for kids
Special Dinner for children ages 2-8 for $5.25 per person ($5.00 check paid in the Main Office). Dinner will include: chicken nuggets and latkes.
Alas, by the time you read this, early bird prices will have expired: Starting December 13: on-line price increases to $15.50 per person ($15.00 per person check paid in the Main Office). A limited number of walk-ins are available at the door $15.50 per person (check only).
The Evening’s Festivities Include:
- 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm- Bim Bam Bimah Service: Hear your children/grandchildren sing Hanukkah songs at this very short musical service, perfect for families with young children. (Sanctuary)
- TWO DINNER SEATINGS:
- 6:00 pm- Families with young children ages 2-8. (Social Hall)
- 6:30 pm- Adults and families with children ages 9 and up. (Social Hall) (Hanukkah Sing-A-Long) (Be sure to bring your hanukkiah and candles to Light at the Dinner!)
- 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm- Social Action Gift Wrap Project: Bring a newly purchased gift to wrap for those in need. (Activity Center)
- 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm- Hanukkah Arts & Crafts for Young Children (Activity Center)
- 7:30 pm- Hanukkah Celebration Service: includes adult choir, and personal reflections of readers based on values learned from the Maccabees. (Sanctuary)
Click here to register online.
3. JEWISH XMAS DINNER – MON DEC 25
For many Jews, if you ask what they are doing on Christmas day, the answer is the same: They will be seeing a movie, and having Chinese food. Who knows where this tradition got started? Perhaps it is in the Talmud. But who is MoTAS to argue with tradition?
MoTAS is facilitating a TAS Jewish Christmas. MoTAS will be providing a list of recommended afternoon movie showtimes for members to pick their favorite movies and meet other TAS folk (see “Movie Coordination” on the event page on our website). You’ll buy your own tickets and pick the movie, and hopefully meet TAS friends. We will reconvene at Mandarin King restaurant (17092 Devonshire Blvd.; Northridge, CA 91324 — on Devonshire just W of Balboa) at 6pm for a fixed menu dinner.
The cost for the dinner is $23 per person (adult or child); soft drinks are extra. Reservations must be made by Friday, December 22; there are no exceptions and no walk-ups. December 25 is an extremely busy night at the restaurant, and we must pre-reserve our space to avoid the wait. The price is based on the Mandrin King charge plus tax, gratuity, and online processing fees; this is not a fund-raising event.
To register for event, click here or visit our event page, or send email to faigin@cahighways.org. Please provide the names of the movies of interest. If you are not paying on-line, your check must be received by the day of event; we will also be able to take “day-of” payments by credit card. All payments must be received by the time we sit down to dinner on Monday, December 25, 2017.
Note: If you only want to participate in the movie coordination, email your desired movies to faigin@cahighways.org.
The following dinner menu has been arranged with Mandarin King:
- Appetizers: Egg Roll, Paper Wrap Chicken
- Soup: Wor Wonton / Hot and Sour Soup
- Main dishes:
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce
- Mongolian Beef
- Pineapple Chicken
- Cashew Chicken
- Sauteed Mixed Vegetables with Tofu
- Delightful Trio (Shrimp, Beef, and Chicken with Black Pepper)
- House Special Thick White Rice Noodles (No Soy Sauce)
- Rice, Tea, Fruit, Cookies
For those interested in football, we might also coordinate a football get together after dinner, for those that want, if someone volunteers their house and big screen (the Temple will be closed to allow the maintenance staff to celebrate the holiday with their families). Contact Bob Levine at tasboblevine@gmail.com if you would be interested in this.
4. MOTAS SHABBAT – FRI JAN 5
MoTAS Shabbat – Friday, January 5, 2018. Once a year TAS celebrates the contributions of MoTAS at the MoTAS Shabbat. This is a special Shabbat service that is primarily led by the members of MoTAS and open to the entire congregation. If you are a male member of TAS and would like to participate in the service, please contact Bob Levine, at tasboblevine@gmail.com. Please let him know if you want to read Hebrew. You can also RSVP online at https://motascybermaven.eventbee.com/event?eid=101168013; use a middle initial of “H” if you want to read Hebrew. You can also call Daniel at (818) 438-5781 and the message will get to Bob. Participants meet early at 6:30 PM; the service starts at 7:00 PM.
Note: We will be forming a “men’s chorale,” no experience or special talent required, to participate in the musical stuff. Please let Bob know if you would like to participate.
5. TU B’SHEVAT SEDER – SUN JAN 28
Tu’b’Shevat is one of the four Talmudic New Year’s days of the Jewish calendar. The tradition is that the holiday celebrates the birth of the trees, and many customs have developed around the day. One of these arose in the 16th century in the Land of Israel, when Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed and his disciples created a Tu BiShvat seder, somewhat like the Passover seder, that celebrated the Tree of Life.
MoTAS invites the Temple Ahavat Shalom community to join in that tradition as we host a mystical Tu’B’Shevat seder, as practiced by the kabbalists of the holy city of Tzfat, celebrating the gifts that grow on trees, four kinds of wine, and desserts that celebrate tree fruits!
The seder foods for the day consist of Red and White Wine or Juice, Figs, Olives, Dates, Carob, Pomegranates, Challah, and Almonds. Our seder “meal” celebrates the sweetness that comes from trees with fruit pies and fresh fruit (and we won’t forget that chocolate is also a tree product).
Reserve now, and bring your friends. To ensure adequate quantities, reservations are due by Friday, January 26, 2018.
- What: Tu B’Shevat Seder
- Where: TAS Social Hall
- When: Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 2:00 PM
- Cost: $10
- RSVP: By January 26, 2018
Reservations and payments may be made online through Eventbee. Alternatively: Email the names of those attending to treasurer@tasnorthridge-motas.org, and then either leave a check for MoTAS for $10 per person at TAS in the MoTAS Box, or pay at the door. This saves us any Eventbee and credit card processing fees.
For more information, visit the event page on the MoTAS Website.
6. SUPERBOWL SQUARES NOW ON SALE
The regular football season is nearly over, and now is the time to buy a Superbowl Square. The cost is only $25 per square, and you can help Temple Ahavat Shalom while potentially rewarding yourself. The deadline is rapidly approaching — sales close on Tuesday, January 30 — and the board is filling up. The price has been raised slightly to account for eliminating some biased squares, but the payout has also been raised: $230 for each quarter, and $460 for the final score. A full board of 91 squares pays out $1150 to players, and $1125 to MoTAS. 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/.
7. SUMMARY OF DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING – SUN DEC 10
Date: December 10, 2017
Present: Frank Soronow (President), Hal Bass, Lee Baum, Les Birken, Bob Brostoff, Yale Doberne, Daniel Faigin, Rick Field, Brian Hatkoff, Mel Janis, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Fabian Malinovitz, Barry Mann, Howard Miller, Larry Pfefer, Mike Rayfield, Bill Shapiro, David Silverman, Bernie Singer, Mike Thornhill, Scott Yollis
D’var Torah: Mel Janis led the opening prayer. Frank Soronow gave the D’var Torah. He based his remarks on the story of Joseph, who forgave his brothers despite their having sold him into slavery. Frank explained that Joseph’s example of forgiveness was the first in recorded history.
Treasurer’s Report: There was a $33 net income from the sale of food at the November Hanukkah Boutique. Full report in the online minutes.
Renovation of Kitchenette in Temple Offices: Members voted for MoTAS to match $250 from the temple for this project, which will include a new microwave oven.
Deferred Maintenance: Howard Miller, who also serves on the Board of Trustees, recently walked the temple grounds with several other members of MoTAS. The group identified multiple cases of deferred maintenance, for which volunteers will be sought.
Sale of Outdated Electronics Equipment on eBay: TASTY member Spencer Hyam plans to sell outdated electronics equipment in the temple’s possession on eBay. Proceeds will go into the temple’s general fund, and MoTAS will consider matching this.
Attracting Members: Scott Yollis led a discussion about attracting new or previously resigned members and retaining current ones. He also alluded to the relationship between the URJ and individual congregants. Daniel Faigin and Howard Miller suggested that the most appropriate forum in which to hold a discussion of this nature was the temple leadership, namely, the Board of Trustees.
Upcoming Activities:
- Super Bowl Squares: Going on sale this week.
- MoTAS Shabbat: Sign-up sheets were passed around for the annual MoTAS Shabbat on Friday evening, January 5, 2018. It is at this service that our MoTAS Man of the Year will be announced.
- MoTAS Hanukkah Party, Jewish Xmas and Tu B’Shevat: MoTAS is considering a Hanukkah party on Sunday, December 17 [There were no hosting volunteers, so this has been cancelled – Yr. Weekly Editor]; dinner on Xmas at the Mandarin King on Devonshire St. in Granada Hills; and a Tu B’Shevat Seder on January 28, 2018. Daniel Faigin is arranging all three events, for which sign-up sheets were provided.
Next Meeting: Sunday, January 14, 2018, at 8:45 am.
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 