In This Issue:
- MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL TIME — LAST CALL*
- NEXT DINING OUT: CHIS CHINESE ON WED JUN 7
- SHABBABAQUE IS COMING – FRI JUN 30*
- MRJ CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION – JUN 23-25
- BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES – JUL 16
- SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH MOTAS – JULY*
- MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES*
- IN CLOSING
(* indicates updated items)
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. MOTAS ANNUAL APPEAL TIME — LAST CALL
Folks, we’re coming down to the wire. The MoTAS Annual Appeal runs until the end of May, and we only have about a week left. Donations have been slow this year because we never got out a paper appeal request. Please help MoTAS do what we do by making your annual appeal contribution. Donating to MoTAS (MoTAS does not collect membership dues) enables us to underwrite our activities, support Temple Ahavat Shalom for unbudgeted activities and emergencies, and participate in the life of the temple by donating to the gala, the Cantors Concert, and “Counting Us In” at the annual meeting. To contribute online or to print a donation form, just visit support.tasnorthridge-motas.org.
2. NEXT DINING OUT: CHIS CHINESE ON WED JUN 7
“Dining Does Good” has returned. Things have gotten more complicated since the pandemic with all the delivery apps and such, so this is DINE IN or PICK UP only. Let’s support MoTAS, and all show our smiling faces at Chi’s Chinese in Northridge on Wednesday, June 7.
Would you like an easy way to help MoTAS financially? How about taking your family to dinner. The MoTAS “Dining Does Good” allows you to go out to dinner, and have the restaurant donate a portion of your check support the Men of TAS. Our June Dining Does Good” will be Wednesday, June 7 at Chi’s Chinese, 9635 Reseda Blvd, Northridge, CA 91324, (818) 886-6928. You can find a flyer for the event at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/dining/ or download it directly from our Box account .
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. SHABBABAQUE IS COMING – FRI JUN 30
It’s back. MoTAS’s Famous Shabbabaque (or, as Larry the Elder spells it, Sha-Bar-BBQ) on Friday, June 30, 2023. Whatever the spelling, Shabbabque, Shabbaque, or Sha-Bar-BBQ (think of it like Chanukah, or is that Hanukkah), it is a MoTAS tradition to usher in summer. Before we go into the details of the event, WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN. We need you to go to https://volunteersignup.org/MBXCD and sign up to help. You can sign up with multiple duties. We need people to shop, prep, cook, setup, serve, take tickets, and cleanup.We can’t do it without you. So again: Volunteer to help at https://volunteersignup.org/MBXCD .
Shabbabaque starts with a service in the sanctuary at 6:30pm, followed at 7:45pm by a delicious barbeque dinner. Last year’s menu included turkey burgers, beef burgers, and hot dogs. Vegetarian items included vegetarian patties, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, watermelon, and dessert. To sign up, visit https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/shabbabaque/, or you can go to the Ticketleap directly at https://tasmotas.ticketleap.com/23-06-shabbabaque/ . The cost is $10; free for religious school families. Reservations are required (and pre-payment is encouraged) by the Tuesday before the event, June 27, at 6:00 PM.
Our grid mavens have informed us that this will be your first official chance to purchase Football Squares for the 2023 Monday Night Football season. Of course, if you unofficially go to the place you always go, you might be able to jump the gun. However, signing up in person allows you to select your square on the grid.
4. MRJ CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION – JUN 23-25
MRJ is celebrating its 100th birthday at a special convention and conclave the weekend of June 23-25, 2023 at Temple Beth El in Providence RI and at the Graduate Providence. Some highlights of the event:
- Our guest of honor and keynote speaker Shabbat evening, Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism.
- Special morning session – Indigenous People/Native Lands. The lands where Temple Beth-El sits as once the lands of the Masswascut—The Land between the two rivers, and the territory of the Meschanticut, which are the ancestral homelands of the Narragansettt, Pokanoket and Nipmuc peoples.
- There will be a special program on Implicit bias, which refers to attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner without awareness, intention, or control.
- MRJ Award Ceremony. Awards range from “service to the Temple community” to “intergenerational” and “adult Jewish Education. To apply, click here.
To register for the event, click here. To register for the hotel, click here.
5. BREAKFAST WITH THE BEATLES – JUL 16
If you are a Beatles fan, Larry P. is looking at coordinating a group to go to the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood on July 16th to sit in on a broadcast of the Sunday Morning Show, Breakfast with the Beatles. Tickets are $50 and include an ‘English Brunch’. Let Larry know at Larry Pfefer <lpfefer@tasnorthridge.org>
6. SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH MOTAS – JULY
MoTAS is exploring bringing back an old tradition: Getting together one Sunday evening in August for a picnic at Warner Park, attending the free VCC Concerts in the Park (you do have to pay for parking). The two shows we are exploring are:
- The Remotes – LA’s Only TV Theme Song Tribute Band with Emerging Artist: Leslie Pereira and The Lazy Heroes. July 16, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
- Queen Nation – A Tribute to Queen with Emerging Artist: Exit 15. July 23, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
If you would be interested in this event, please drop an email to Larry Hoffman <LarryNHoffman18@gmail.com>.
7. MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023, TAS
Presiding: President Larry Pfefer
Members Present: Larry Pfefer (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Daniel Faigin, Scott Gore (VP), Larry Hoffman (VP), Al Lapides, Gordon Lester, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Joel Lowell, Howard Miller (Past President), Jeff Neiman, Russ Rapoport, Bernie Singer, Mike Thornhill, Brandon Williams, Scott Yollis
Coffee & Breakfast: Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Mike Thornhill, Scott Yollis
President’s Report:
The MoTAS Annual Appeal is accepting contributions until May 31. Donations of at least $l00 will be listed on the MoTAS Wall of Honor
The bottle filler in the foyer has been delivered and provides cold filtered water.
The temple’s assisted listening device is no longer operational. See New Business for a proposal to install a new system.
President Larry Pfefer reviewed the MoTAS budget for 2023-24.
Everyone is encouraged to attend the annual congregational meeting on Sunday morning, June 4, and the Gala on Saturday evening, June 10.
Members are encouraged to sign up for and to assist at the Shabbabeque on Friday evening, June 30.
Roger Lowe’s Treasurer’s Report as of 5/15/2023
- (see emailed weekly)
New Business:
From Dining Does Good ambassador Barry Mann. Dining Does Good encourages people to go out to dinner and have the restaurant donate a portion of their check to support the Men of TAS. The next Dining Does Good will be Wednesday, June 7, at Chi’s in Northridge. Find a flyer for the event at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/dining/ or download it directly from our Box account. Be sure to print the flyer and bring it with you to Chi’s.
Election of Officers: Howard Miller chaired the Nominating Committee for 2023-24 MoTAS officers, with Joel Lowell and Mike Thornhill as members. Nominees were Larry Hoffman, President; Scott Yollis, Vice President; Open Seat, Vice President; Treasurer, Roger Lowe; Secretary, Hal Bass; Immediate Past President, Larry Pfefer. The slate was elected unanimously at last month’s meeting and the new officers will begin their terms on July 1.
Auxiliary Functions: Past Presidents Council: Larry Pfefer, Howard Miller, Daniel Faigin, Bob Levine; Weekly Editor/Cybermaven: Daniel Faigin; Dining Does Good Coordinator: Barry Mann; Poker Tournament Chair: Howard Miller; Sports Squares: Bob Levine, Kathy Pullman.
Change to Bylaws re Vice Presidential Terms: At last month’s meeting, Howard Miller introduced, and Brian Hatkoff seconded, a motion to change Section 7, Article 4.7.1, a & b of the MoTAS bylaws with respect to vice presidential terms. Each of the two vice presidents may henceforth be elected and reelected for up to four consecutive one-year terms. The proposal was voted on today and passed unanimously.
Landscape Improvements: Howard reviewed plans presented at last month’s meeting for landscaping enhancements to the planters in front of the rabbi’s office to the west of the sanctuary-social hall complex. A DWP landscape architect engaged by Howard has suggested drought- and heat-tolerant plants. Decomposed granite pathways and new irrigation lines will be installed. Howard has been working with the Beautification Committee headed by Phyllis Bass to bring the project to fruition, hopefully before the High Holy Days. Estimated cost is $12,000-$15,000. Howard moved, and Barry Mann seconded, a proposal that MoTAS provide up to $8,000 of Sports Squares funds for this project. The vote was 14 in favor and 2 opposed. The motion carried.
Congregational Support: The ways in which MoTAS can and will support the congregation was discussed.
Listening Devices: Larry Pfefer introduced, and Mike Thornhill seconded, a motion that MoTAS provide $350 to the temple for an improved system of listening devices for people with impaired hearing. The motion carried.
Annual Congregational Meeting: Sunday morning, June 4.
TAS Gala: Saturday evening, June 10.
Men of Reform Judaism National Meeting: The centennial MRJ gathering will be held in Providence, RI, from Thursday, June 22 till noon Sunday, June 25. Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs will be the keynote speaker. Contact Brian Hatkoff for details.
The MoTAS Shabbabeque will take place Friday evening, June 30. People are encouraged to make reservations online and to pay in advance, although on-site registration and payment will be available at the event.
Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next MoTAS membership meeting will take place at the temple, Sunday, June 11, 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 