In This Issue:
- REGISTER NOW FOR CHINESE FOOD ON XMAS – SU 12/25
- GAMES DAY – SU 1/8
- MOTAS SHABBAT – FR 1/20
- LUNCH & LEARN: ALZHEIMERS AND MEMORY LOSS – WE 12/14
- MOTAS POKER TOURNAMENT – SUN 2/19/23
- HONORING OUR MEN OF THE YEAR – SU 1/22
- DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
- IN CLOSING
From the Editor: The goal of the Weekly is to get MoTAS members the information they need on upcoming activities, and then get out of the way. If you have any information on MoTAS activities you need to get out to the membership, please contact the Weekly Editor at cybermaven@tasnorthridge-motas.org.
1. REGISTER NOW FOR CHINESE FOOD ON XMAS – SU 12/25
What could be better than a movie and some great Chinese food? Luckily, MoTAS has a solution — at least for the dinner. MoTAS is coordinating a Chinese dinner for you, and we’re making the reservations. All you need to do is pay in advance, and show up. The goal is to make this win-win: We’ll have a pre-ordered dinner with the restaurant, and they get paid with a single check. This makes life easier for them. We’ll have a reservation already made, and the pre-ordered dinner means we should be served faster even with the crowds. This is a win for us.
- Where: Mandarin King, 17092 Devonshire St, Northridge, CA 91325
- When: Sun, December 25 at 5:30pm
- How Much: $30 per person, including drinks. See the menu below.
- Deadline: Reservations must be made AND PAID by Thursday, December 22 at noon. There are no exceptions and no walk-ups. If you are not paying on-line, your check or payment must be received by the close of reservations on Dec 22. You can also reserve online and pay via Venmo or Zelle to treasurer@tasnorthridge-motas.org.
This event is open to the entire family; it is not restricted to just the men of MoTAS. The more, the merrier!
Dinner Menu. The following is our planned dinner menu (number and variety of appetizers and entrees will depend on the number of people responding):
- Appetizers: Egg Roll, Vegetable Roll, Paper Wrapped Chicken
- Soup (your choice): Hot and Sour, Egg Flower, Wor Wonton
- Entrees (we’ll choose from the following, depending on number attending):
- Shrimp with Lobster Sauce (GF)
- Mongolian Beef
- Tangerine Beef
- Pineapple Chicken
- Cashew Chicken
- Sautéed Mixed Vegetables with Tofu (GF)
- Mandarin Fried Rice
- House Special Thick White Rice Noodles (GF)
- Steamed Rice
- Fruit, Fortune Cookies
- Tea, Soft Drink (your choice)
How To Register: To register for event, click here or visit https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/22-12-motas-jewish-xmas/. If you are not paying on-line, your payment (check, Paypal to onlinesales@tasnorthridge-motas.org, Venmo or Zelle to treasurer@tasnorthridge-motas.org) must be received by the close of registration, Thursday, December 22, 2022.
2. GAMES DAY – SU 1/8
MoTAS is bringing back Games Day … for at least a couple of hours. What is a Games Day? Simple: MoTAS will provide a variety of board games, from old tried and true classics, various party and trivia games, and a large number of modern strategy and table-top games. Feel free to bring your own. We’ll be providing soft drinks and simple snacks (although donations are welcome). This is a free event.
If this is successful, we’ll plan to have more such days, supporting longer games. So we encourage you to come out and demonstrate that the concept will work. RSVPs are encouraged.
- Date: Sunday, 1/8 from 1pm to 3pm
- Cost: Free
- RSVP: https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/2023-game-day/
3. MOTAS SHABBAT – FR 1/20
As you are aware, every year MoTAS has an opportunity to lead the congregation in prayer. We also give the temple our unofficial “State of MoTAS” address, and announce our Man of the Year. In past years, interested men were able to participate in the service, by reading sections in English, prayers in Hebrew, singing in our “choir,” or making brief reflections on their experiences with MoTAS.
This year, our service will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023, 7:00 PM.
Please contact Bob Levine, at tasboblevine@gmail.com if you are able to join in, and what you would like to do. If you are unable/unwilling/not available, please let Bob know as well.
More information regarding what you would be doing will be sent out as soon as the service is put together.
4. LUNCH & LEARN: ALZHEIMERS AND MEMORY LOSS – WE 12/14
Join your TAS family on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, from 12:00pm-1:30pm for a TAS Adult Education program on Lunch and Learn features: Memory Loss & Alzheimer’s: Let’s Talk! with Roxy Kirakosyan ALZLA Community Education. Feel free to bring your own drinks and lunch; alternatively, you can order lunch to be delivered and ready for you at the class. To order, place your order with Debbie Shayer at dshayer@TASnorthridge.org. She will be ordering from Jersey Mike’s Granada Hills. You have three choices, each $10: (1) Turkey Sandwich – regular size – turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mayo/yellow mustard on wheat bread; (2) Veggie Sandwich – regular size – Swiss, provolone, green bell peppers, tomato, lettuce, and mayo; (3) Tuna Fish Sandwich – regular size – tuna, lettuce, and tomato on wheat bread. Dill pickles will be on the side. No modifications. Payment required at check-in. Please do not email credit card information.
Save the date for part 2: Healthy Brain Habits: Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
5. MOTAS POKER TOURNAMENT – SUN 2/19/23
SAVE THE DATE – WE’RE BACK! – MoTAS’ Annual Poker Tournament 2023 is scheduled for February 19, 2023. Open to all, we are planning for a great, fun filled evening. GREAT Prizes – Raffles – 50/50 and Highest Hand of the Night. Space will be limited – Online Registration opens mid-December… or possibly sooner (a birdie — wait, this isn’t a golf tournament — tells me you could probably test the registration system on the website).
Volunteers will be needed to help. Sign up at https://volunteersignup.org/XBD3M .
6. HONORING OUR MEN OF THE YEAR – SU 1/22
We are finally taking some time to celebrate our Men of the Year for the past years with a special Men of the Year Dinner: The dinner will take place at the Olive Garden in Northridge on Sunday, January 22. Honorees are MoTAS Men of the Year for 2020, 2021 and 2022: Les Birken, Hal Bass and Mike Rayfield… and perhaps our 2023 honoree, who will also be honored at the regional MRJ Man of the Year Dinner. More details in a future weekly.
7. DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Date: Sunday, December 10, 2022, at TAS
Presiding: President Larry Pfefer
Members Present: Larry Pfefer (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Les Birken, Joe Blachman, Scott Gore (VP), Brian Hatkoff, Larry Hoffman (VP), Al Lapides, Gordon Lester, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Howard Miller (Past President), Chuck Mondrus, Jeff Neiman, Jim Schwartz, Bill Shapiro, Scott Yollis
Coffee & Breakfast: Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Scott Yollis
Question of the Day: Which direction, forward, backward, or both, would you take if you could travel in time?
President’s Report:
The sanctuary streaming system is being leased from an outside firm. MoTAS has agreed to contribute $1,500 to $2,000 toward the new system.
MoTAS and Sisterhood have partnered for gifts to be presented to adult b’nai mitzvah celebrants on Shabbat morning, December 17. This year’s class has 19 women.
TAS has applied for a grant to implement security enhancements. Additional needs include more efficient entry and exit gate opening, HVAC replacement, water pressure regulators and landscape management.
Roger Lowe’s Treasurer’s Report as of 12/8/2022
- (see emailed minutes)
New Business:
Alzheimer’s & Memory Loss: Wednesday, December 14, from 12:00 pm-1:30 pm. TAS Lunch & Learn Adult Education: “Memory Loss & Alzheimer’s: Let’s Talk!” with Roxy Kirakosyan of ALZLA Community Education. Bring your own drinks and lunch; or you can order lunch to be delivered and ready for you at the class. Place your order with Debbie Shayer at dshayer@TASnorthridge.org. She will be ordering from Jersey Mike’s in Granada Hills. Three choices, each $10: (1) Turkey Sandwich – regular size – turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mayo/yellow mustard on wheat bread; (2) Veggie Sandwich – regular size – Swiss, provolone, green bell peppers, tomato, lettuce, and mayo; (3) Tuna Fish Sandwich – regular size – tuna, lettuce, and tomato on wheat bread. Dill pickles will be on the side. No modifications. Payment is required at check-in. Save the date for part 2: “Healthy Brain Habits: Reducing the Risk of Alzheimer’s” on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
The “Jewish Christmas” dinner will take place at 5:30 pm on Sunday, Dec. 25, at the Mandarin King, 17092 Devonshire St, Northridge. The entire family is welcome. Price per person is $30, including non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations must be made by December 22. To register for the event, click here or visit https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/22-12-motas-jewish-xmas/. If you are not paying on-line, payment—personal check to MoTAS, PayPal to onlinesales@tasnorthridge-motas.org, Venmo or Zelle to treasurer@tasnorthridge-motas.org—must be received by the close of registration, Thursday, December 22, 2022.
The MoTAS Annual Appeal will begin January 1, 2023.
Games Day, Sunday, January 8, 2023. Larry Hoffman announced that MoTAS is bringing back Games Day…for at least a couple of hours. What is a Games Day? Simple: MoTAS will provide a variety of board games, from old tried and true classics, various party and trivia games, and many modern strategy and table-top games. Feel free to bring your own. We’ll be providing soft drinks and simple snacks (though donations are welcome). This is a free event and all temple members are welcome.
If this is successful, we’ll plan to have more such days, featuring longer games. Come out and demonstrate that the concept will work. RSVPs are encouraged.
- Date: Sunday, 1/8 from 1pm to 3pm
- Cost: Free
- RSVP: https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/2023-game-day/
The annual Men’s Shabbat will be Friday evening, January 20. Bob Levine is handling the arrangements. It is at this service that our 2023 MoTAS Man of the Year will be introduced.
Men of the Year Dinner: The dinner will take place at the Olive Garden in Northridge on Sunday, January 22. Honorees are MoTAS Men of the Year for 2020, 2021 and 2022: Les Birken, Hal Bass and Mike Rayfield.
Texas HoldEm Poker Tournament: Howard Miller outlined plans for the poker tournament at TAS, Sunday evening, February 19, 2023. Volunteers are needed and should sign up at https://volunteersignup.org/XBD3M.
Men of Reform Judaism 2023 Meeting: Brian Hatkoff, MRJ VP, said plans are shaping up for an exciting and spiritually uplifting gathering in Providence, RI, from Thursday, June 22 till noon Sunday, June 25. Among the guest speakers will be Rhode Island Rep. David Cicilline, one of the leaders of the House Democratic Caucus and member of a Reform temple in Providence.
Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next MoTAS membership meeting will take place at the temple, Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 9 am. To attend in person, everyone must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and boosted.
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. Join the MoTAS Google Group at https://groups.google.com/g/tas-motas (you may need to be logged into your Google account, if you have one). Come be part of the Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom!
Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom 