In This Issue:

1. Another Summer Get-Together – SUN August 9
2. Brainstorming Session – Making TAS Better – WED AUGUST 5
3. Dining Does Good Gives Back – Golden HuNan Chinese – Tues August 4
4. Monthly TAS Poker Game – Calling all Poker Players
5. Help Us Spread the News about Rabbi BeckY
6. MRJ SPEAKER: Akiva Tor on SUN SEP 13 – Despite a Pandemic, the Holy Fire Will Burn
   
7. IN CLOSING

Note: As we enter into the Summer months, the MoTAS Weekly make take the occasional week off if there are no new items for the week. As always, you can find the weekly posted on our website at www.tasnorthridge-motas.org.

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1. Another Summer Get-Together – SUN August 9

After 16 guys caught up with each other at our July Trivia contest, MoTAS will be holding another social get-together in lieu of a meeting on Sunday August 9 at 9am.  Our theme will be “Bring your favorite jokes and quotations”.  Join us for some news and laughter!  Zoom info will be provided soon.

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2. Brainstorming Session – Making TAS Better – WED AUGUST 5

Hasn’t there been a time when you thought, “if only TAS would just…?” We’re pretty sure most of you have.  That’s why the marketing/membership committee is holding a special brainstorming session, to hear your ideas and suggestions on how to make TAS a better home for your fellow members, or a place for nonmembers to become part of our community and family.

Please join us on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, at 7pm.

To be added to the zoom invitation list, contact either Brian Hatkoff (bhatkoff@aol.com) or Bob Levine (tasboblevine@gmail.com).

All ideas will be considered.  No idea is too small or too large.

One idea can unlock a breadth of solutions.

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3. Dining Does Good Gives Back – Golden HuNan Chinese – Tues August 4

A good friend of MoTAS, Golden Hunan Chinese Restaurant on Reseda (N of Devonshire, (818) 363-5511) , is in trouble.  They are in the midst of a real fight to remain open and viable during this pandemic.  Golden Hunan has hosted several “MoTAS Does Christmas” dinners over the years as well as a couple of our evening dinner meetings.  They have gone out of their way to give us special meals at great prices when we have met there.  So, if you are “Taking out Tuesday” for dinner on August 4th, order some Chinese food at our friends at Golden Hunan.  You can even order online. Let them know you are from MoTAS and Temple Ahavat Shalom.

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4. Monthly TAS Poker Game – Calling all Poker Players

If you like to play in a monthly game of poker and help out the temple, MoTAS is putting together a safe monthly online game of No Limit Hold-em.  A monthly tournament is a fun way to increase your skills at poker and make a bit of mullah.  Games would be played at 7:30 on the first Tuesday of each month.  The $20 buy-in would be handled by MoTAS.  MoTAS would take 15% of the stakes for our temple fundraising and the rest would be split 60% and 25% by the top two players.  Tournaments will take about 90 minutes.  If you (yes, men and women) have an interest, contact Howard Miller at hmiller12@socal.rr.com. 

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5. Help Us Spread the News about Rabbi Becky

Now that Rabbi Becky has started at TAS, we need to let our community know about the changes at TAS. This is not the TAS of yore: all of what might have inhibited folks in prior years is in the past. We have a new Rabbi, a new Cantor, and most importantly: a new spirit and a stronger family. We need to let our communities know: not only the local North Valley of Chatsworth, Northridge, North Hills, and Granada Hills. We need to let the folks in all directions nearby know: the Southern portion of the valley (Reseda, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys, Encino, etc.), the communities to the East (Arleta, Sylmar, San Fernando), Simi Valley to the West, and, to the North, the southern portions of Santa Clarita and Stevenson Ranch.

The best way to do this is to invite someone to sample our Friday night service. They can do this via Zoom, or that can join via Facebook Live via the Temple’s Facebook page. You’ll get the Zoom information in your weekly temple mailing that you can share. You can also recommend that folks contact the Temple office for information.

We also want you to go beyond asking local friends and family to meet her and our temple. First, you can spread the word on those social media sites you use. Spread the message on Facebook about our service. Look at the Temple’s Facebook page for information to share. Second, you can  introduce Rabbi Becky to your neighborhood using nextdoor.com . If you already have an account, you are ready.  If you need to register / create a new free account, click here:  https://help.nextdoor.com/s/article/How-to-join-Nextdoor?language=en_US. Once you have your account:

1. Go to your account on nextdoor.com
2. Select “General” under “Neighborhood”
3. Post a story about Rabbi Becky

We also encourage you to go write a review of the Temple on Yelp. Jews across the Valley look to Yelp for reviews and recommendations for all sorts of products, services, restaurants and even which temple to join. If you were asked to recommend TAS, what good things would you say? Now is a particularly good time to write your review, with Rabbi Becky joining us and Cantor Ken continuing to make our musical moments magic. In case you wish to share your opinion and add a review on the TAS Yelp page, it is simple and easy:

1. Go to   http://www.yelp.com
2. In “Find” type “Temple Ahavat Shalom” and in “Near” type  “Northridge”
3. Then click on “Temple Ahavat Shalom”
4. Then click on “Write a Review”
5. Select Your Rating of   *****    (5 stars is best!)
6. In your own words write a review / answer the question “Would do you love about being a member Temple Ahavat Shalom?”

Here are some suggestions for things to mention in your post or review:

• Temple Ahavat Shalom is a 54 year old warm and welcoming Jewish Reform Congregation in Northridge.
• Mention how long you have been a member.
• Join us for a dynamic Shabbat service with our new rabbi, Rebecca Hoffman, and provide the date and time.
• Invite people to come check us out.
• For more information on our Zoom service or attending via Facebook Live, call Ben Tenn at (818) 360-2258 or contact Aaron Solomon at (818) 360-2258.

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6. MRJ SPEAKER: Akiva Tor on SUN SEP 13 – Despite a Pandemic, the Holy Fire Will Burn

Listen to Akiva Tor’s interview with Media Line about a fiery Christian Orthodox ritual uninterrupted for ‘at least the last couple of centuries: the “Holy Fire” ceremony on April 18 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. The Media Line interview explores the annual ritual – and how it has been changed by Coronavirus. Akiva Tor is the head of the Bureau of World Jewish Affairs and World Religions of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

After listening to the interview, join MRJ as we host him for a conversation on Sunday, September 13th at 1 p.m. ET. Register today.

Akiva Tor is the Head of Bureau for World Jewish Affairs and World Religions at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously he served as Consul General of Israel for the Pacific Northwest, Director of the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Deputy Director for Palestinian Affairs in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and as World Jewish Affairs Adviser to the President of Israel in which capacity he began the organization of the World Jewish Forum, an initiative for creating a pan-Jewish strategy for stemming assimilation and decline in Jewish life.

Akiva is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and holds an MA degree from Hebrew University in Jewish political thought and a BA from Columbia University in general philosophy. He has written and lectured on Jewish values in the foreign policy of Israel and on ethical considerations in international relations. He served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces and as an infantry captain in the IDF reserves. He is interested in running, mountain biking and ascending high places. Akiva is married to Naomi, a community social worker. Their home town is Beit Shemesh, near Jerusalem, and they have four children – Yonah, Zohar, Yehudah and Roni.

Read his blog pieces in the Times of Israel, including “Building a Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” You can also read his piece, “Pope Francis in Israel.”

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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!

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