In This Issue:

1. DINING OUT – ROSIES BARK & CHAR (BBQ) – THU DEC 14
2. GIFTS FROM THE HEART
3. DECEMBER 2023 MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES*
4. IN CLOSING

(* indicates updated items)

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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. DINING OUT – ROSIE’S BARK & CHAR (BBQ) – THU DEC 14

“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 Rosie’s BBQ in Northridge on Thursday, December 14.

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 Thursday, December 14 at Rosie’s Bark & Char (nee Rosie’s BBQ and Grillery), 8930 Corbin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91324, (818) 349-3055. You can find a flyer for the event at https://wp.tasnorthridge-motas.org/activities/dining/ or download it directly from our Box account (to do this, (1) go to the link or click on the flyer on our dining out page; (2) click on the white DOWNLOAD button; (3) there will be a pop-up about logging in to do more — ignore that. You will be prompted on where to save the download, or it will go into the downloads directory; (4) when the download is complete, open the PDF and print it)..

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. GIFTS FROM THE HEART

It’s time for the Annual children’s toy drive Honoring the Memory of Congregant Fran Rosenfield of blessed memory. Toy drive run by Tricia Spiegel and TAS Social Action.. Campaign Dates: November 9 through December 12, 2023

What you should do: Please donate NEW UNWRAPPED gifts for ages 0 through 18 years Also accepted: Greetings & Christmas Cards & Calendar for next year!

How do you do it: Three Easy Ways to Participate

1. Drop off your unwrapped gift at TAS during office, school, services, or meeting hours. Use the large box at TAS in the main hallway.
2. Purchase a gift through your Amazon account: Gifts from the Heart itanot Mi Libeinu) 2023 wish list. See the weekly TAS Bulletin for link or visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/PTW34LN8TAG4?ref_=list_d_wlJfu_nav_l . Choose a gift or gifts from the list to purchase, then proceed to checkout. Select delivery address for “Patricia Spiegel PhD” and complete purchase. Check that your purchase will arrive by Dec. 12. Order early to assure timely delivery.
3. Purchase gift cards through TAS – call Sophia Redondo at 818.360.2258 x201 by 12/6 to order.

3. DECEMBER 2023 MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES

Date: Sunday, December 3, 2023, TAS Activity Center

Presiding: President Larry Hoffman

Members Present: Larry Hoffman (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Bill Bigelson, Scott Gore (VP), Brian Hatkoff, Gary Lax, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Joel Lowell, Barry Mann, Howard Miller, Chuck Mondrus, Jeff Neiman, Larry Pfefer (Immediate Past President), Russ Rapoport, Howard Schnee, Bill Shapiro, Mike Thornhill, Scott Yollis (VP)

Guests: TAS President Janet Himler, Rabbi Becky Hoffman, Ellen Lowe of the TAS Membership Committee

Coffee & Breakfast: Scott Yollis, Mike Thornhill, Roger Lowe, Bob Levine

Question of the Day: What is your favorite game (as a participant or spectator)?

President’s Report:

• The men’s only discussion on Nov 30 was postponed until Thursday, Jan 18. Brian Hatkoff has offered his home.
• The annual MoTAS Shabbat—during which our Man of the Year is introduced—will take place Friday, Jan 19. Bob Levine is taking the lead and will assign readings to those who volunteer to participate in the service.
• At our Jan 21 MoTAS membership meeting, Hal Bass will do a PowerPoint presentation about the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, one of the events which inspired Hitler’s “Final Solution.”
• On Feb 11, Al Lapides will discuss cars.
• The regional Men of the Year dinner will be held at TAS on Saturday, Mar 9. Daniel Faigin, Scott Gore, Howard Miller, Jeff Neiman and Larry Pfefer have volunteered to serve on the planning committee.
• The MoTAS contribution for the A/C server closet is on hold as Larry Pfefer is looking into a security grant from the California Office of Emergency Services.
• MoTAS will continue to donate $500 annually to the Men of Reform Judaism (MRJ).
• Larry Pfefer announced that new entry gates have been installed on Rinaldi Place, along with a sign warning drivers to approach the exit gates at 5 mph and not to back up.
• Howard Miller has contacted several contractors about enhancing the landscaping around the sanctuary building. In reply to a question from Chuck Mondrus, Howard said that Rabbi Becky and the Beautification Committee headed by Phyllis Bass have been involved in the planning phase. Work will not commence until Spring 2024.
• Members are reminded to photograph events in which they participate, such as today’s general membership meeting, and to send the photos to Membership & Engagement Director Brooke Botwinick.

Roger Lowe’s Treasurer’s Report as of 11/30/2023

• See emailed version

New Business:

• Dining Does Good coordinator Barry Mann announced that this month’s venue to dine in or take out will be Rosie’s BBQ, 8930 Corbin Ave, Northridge, on Thursday, Dec 14. Be     sure to bring the flyer available in the temple’s weekly bulletin and on the MoTAS website.
• We are looking into restaurants that might be available for dinner on Dec 25. The consensus was to approach A & W Seafood Restaurant at 9306 Reseda Blvd, in Northridge. Chuck Mondrus offered to contact the restaurant about establishing a prix fixe menu.
• New lighting is needed for the kitchen. Daniel Faigin introduced the following motion at our November membership meeting, and Barry Mann seconded: MoTAS to fund the new lighting using sports squares money not to exceed $2000. The motion passed unanimously. Larry Hoffman will ask Sisterhood to join in, and he will consult with Larry Pfefer on how best to publicize this donation.
• Larry Hoffman will coordinate with Brian Hatkoff about featuring speakers from the Jewish Federation of Greater L.A.
• Daniel Faigin will talk with a friend in Tucson about selling hamantaschen for Purim, which is Sunday, Mar 24. Until MoTAS hears back from Daniel, no decision will be forthcoming about selling hamantaschen or sponsoring the Oneg Shabbat during Purim.
• Larry Hoffman will consult with Immediate Past President Larry Pfefer about holiday gifts for the custodial and security staffs.
• Larry Hoffman will work on an annual appeal letter.
• Brian Hatkoff has offered to approach Shepherd Church on Rinaldi St & Corbin Ave to hold a discussion with TAS members about Israel’s war with Hamas.

Special Presentation: TAS President Janet Himler addressed the following topics: her visions for the temple, fostering warmth, attracting younger families, diversity, equity & inclusion, inviting non-member friends and family to attend temple events, new member mentoring, and avoidance of calendaring conflicts.

Rabbi Becky explained how lingering anxiety about Covid among younger families and financial constraints, especially in a high-priced real estate market like Southern California, are an impediment to membership growth faced by TAS and other congregations.

Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next MoTAS membership meeting will take place at the temple, Sunday, January 21, 2024, 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. 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!