In This Issue:
- MOTAS/TBH BROTHERHOOD SEDER – SUN MAR 18 (RSVP DEADLINE 3/15 @ NOON)
- MOTAS DINING OUT – CORNER BAKERY – WED MAR 21
- SUPPORT THE MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL
- NCAA BASKETBALL SQUARES ON SALE
- MOTAS ELECTION SEASON
- MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
- IN CLOSING
1. MOTAS/TBH BROTHERHOOD SEDER – SUN MAR 18 (RSVP DEADLINE 3/15 @ NOON)
What happens when the leadership of the Brotherhoods of two San Fernando Valley congregations meet at the Theatre? We discuss how to work together. This just happened when Past President’s Bob Levine and Daniel Faigin ran into Mark Singer, Co-President of the Temple Beth Hillel Brotherhood recently. We got to talking, and Mark invited us to join them for their Brotherhood Seder on March 18. So we’re coming together in Brotherhood for their seder, which will be on March 18 at 5:00pm at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village, 12326 Riverside Drive, Valley Village, CA 91607 (with a dinner catered by TBH Brotherhood member Scott Tessler of Silver Spoons).
The cost of the dinner is $25, and there will be carpooling from TAS. Full information — including the menu — is at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/mens-seder/. You can RSVP for the dinner and pay at the door, or you can pay online. RSVPs are due Thursday, 3/15, at Noon. Temple Beth Hillel is handling dinner reservations — you can find their page on their bethillel.info website. Sign up for the carpool list by clicking here.
As of Monday, 3/12, the following MoTAS Members had RSVPed: Bob Levine, Daniel Faigin, Hal Bass, Lawrence Pfefer, Len Birken, Howard Miller, Bernard Singer, and Barry Mann. Roger has also indicated he will be RSVPing. We already have one carpool full: Daniel, Roger, Hal, and Bob. We’ll coordinate another carpool as more sign up on the carpool list.
We’ve gotten information on the service from Mark Singer. The focus will be Sephardic/Mizrahi seder customs. Their cantoral soloist, Josh Goldberg, will be doing the music. It should be a really interesting evening.
Let’s make this a real successful event with a great turnout from our TAS Men, and perhaps find more ways to work together on events to strengthen our brotherhoods of Jewish men in the San Fernando Valley, for the betterment of all our congregations.
2. MOTAS DINING OUT – CORNER BAKERY – WED MAR 21
The MoTAS “Dining Does Good” have returned, and this year they support MoTAS 100%! Our March “Dining Does Good” will be Wednesday, March 21 at Corner Bakery in Northridge (in the same center with Western Bagel and Super King). 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.
3. SUPPORT THE MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL
In 2012, the Men of TAS eliminated the dues requirement for membership. We moved to an inclusive model where every man in TAS is part of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom. Since we don’t have dues, we don’t have steady revenue. So, every year Men of TAS asks you to support our work financially.
The Annual Appeal mailing is out, and hopefully you have received your envelope. You can also find the message on our support page at http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. On that page, you can find a printable donation form that you can mail in, as well as a link to contribute online. It is through your contributions that MoTAS is able to do that work that we do for the congregation. Please think about how much MoTAS means to the congregation, and how much the relationships you have with MoTAS mean to you. Then add 20%, and make a donation :-). Seriously, the MoTAS leadership works hard to make MoTAS valuable to you and the congregation. This is your chance to let us know what we mean to you.
See your friends and fellow congregants that have really stepped up to support us on our website’s Wall of Honor at http://wallofhonor.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. Join the Wall of Honor yourself by donating $100 or more. Your generous gift will provide fun events for all Temple members, kids to adults, teachers and staff. Continue to repair and improve our facilities. Most importantly, it will help us continue teaching and living the Jewish values that guide and enrich all our lives.
4. NCAA BASKETBALL SQUARES ON SALE
NCAA/Basketball Squares are on Sale! The NCAA finals are rapidly approaching — have you created your brackets. Within MoTAS, the NCAA Basketball championships mean it is time for Basketball Squares. This year, we’ve added something new: We’re “Squaring” both the Men’s and the Women’s Semi-Final and Final Games. You’ll have six games, meaning 12 opportunities to win, for only $36 a square! The procedure is very similar to the Superbowl Squares. Basketball Squares cover the last three games in each of the Men’s and Women’s NCAA championships: the Women’s semifinal and final games on March 31 and April 2, and the Men’s semifinal and final games on April 1 and April 3, 2017. Squares are $36, 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.
Note: Eventbee fees have gone up for tickets that ask additional questions, so we’ve opted to start adding that nominal amount for squares purchased online. But fear not: you can avoid the fee by printing out the form and paying by check, coordinating payment via Zelle or Venmo (or contact us for Paypal), or even paying offline via Credit Card. You can get a copy of the form off the Squares website.
Squares must be purchased by March 28, 2018. 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, $1800 will be available to support specific temple activities, organizations, and projects.
5. MOTAS ELECTION SEASON
We’re rapidly coming up to the MoTAS elections. The nominating committee has been formed, and we are actively recruiting members to run. If you would be interested in running for a MoTAS Leadership position, please contact Past President Daniel Faigin at faigin@cahighways.org.
6. MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Date: Sunday, March 11, 2018
Present: Frank Soronow (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Les Birken, Daniel Faigin (Past President), Brian Hatkoff, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Barry Mann, Howard Miller, Larry Pfeffer, Kathy Pullman, Mike Rayfield, Bill Shapiro (VP), Sandy Stern, Mike Thornhill, Scott Yollis
Treasurer’s Report: Cash balance as of 03/09/2018 was [available in online minutes]. The cash balance includes $4,992.27 for grants from 2016-17 sports square sales of $622.27, $3,000 from the 2017 sale of football squares, $1,170 from 2018 Super Bowl squares, $817 from 2018 basketball squares, and $400 donated directly for sports squares grant money, leaving [see online] for future commitments. MoTAS shared the following expenses with Sisterhood in this reporting period: $441 for confirmation Bibles and $163 for b’nai mitzvah candlesticks and Kiddush cups. In addition, we purchased Yom HaShoah candles and mailing boxes for $489. The MoTAS fundraising appeal has thus far netted $690 ($984 minus $294 for printing, mailing and credit card fees).
Man of the Year Dinner: Roger Lowe, MoTAS Man of the Year, was honored last night at a dinner held at Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton by the Southern California region of Men of Reform Judaism.
Purim Carnival: The annual Purim Carnival, a joint activity of TAS and Temple Ramat Zion, took place on Sunday, March 4, at TAS. MoTAS supplied the beverages and Ramat Zion provided the food.
Joint MoTAS Seder with Temple Beth Hillel Brotherhood: The Seder will be held at Temple Beth Hillel in Valley Village on Sunday, March 18, at 5 pm. Cost of the dinner is $25. MoTAS members who wish to attend should go to the MoTAS website to sign up, at which time they could also sign up for carpooling. Anyone who plans to carpool should arrive at TAS at 4 pm and park on Rinaldi Place in front of the temple (but not in the temple parking lot, which will be locked).
Yom HaShoah Candles: Those present at today’s meeting prepared boxes with a yellow candle, cover letter, brochures, return envelope and address label. Candles will be widely distributed through the mail to individual homes. Yom HaShoah begins at sundown on Wednesday, April 12 and ends the following evening.
Next Meeting: Sunday, April 15, 2018, at 8:45 am.
Respectfully submitted, Hal Bass, Secretary
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 