Author Archives: cybermaven

MoTAS Weekly 10/12/2022: Bernie Singer Anniversary / Veterans Day Shabbat

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  1. VETERANS DAY SHABBAT
  2. CHANUKAH BOUTIQUE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
  3. BERNIE SINGER – 50TH ANNIVERSARY
  4. WANT TO CHAMPION AN ACTIVITY?
  5. ZOOM MASTERS NEEDED
  6. OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES
  7. 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. VETERANS DAY SHABBAT

MoTAS actively participates in an annual Shabbat service to coincide with Veterans Day, which this year will be on November 11. If you are a veteran (active duty, reserves, National Guard), email Hal Bass at hbass@csun.edu. Place in the body of the message your name, branch of service, years of service, highest rank, and whether you served on active duty, reserves or National Guard. Include information about your children or grandchildren who have or may be currently serving.

2. CHANUKAH BOUTIQUE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The annual Sisterhood Holiday Boutique is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 20 from 10am to 3pm. Typically, the Men of TAS helps with the food service. The current plan is that we will be picking up individually wrapped sandwiches and condiments, and providing bagged chips, canned or bottled drinks. We will need people to help pickup (and possibly pre-package) the food. We will need folks to sell and deliver the food. We will need folks to help clean up. If you will be able to help us at this event, you can sign up at https://volunteersignup.org/CBBM3.

3. BERNIE SINGER – 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Bernie Singer shares the news that he and Tammy will be celebrating their 50th anniversary and sponsoring the oneg this Friday, October 14th. They would love to see their MOTAS friends there to celebrate with them.

4. WANT TO CHAMPION AN ACTIVITY?

The MoTAS Board met in early August and discussed a bunch of fun activities, including tossing around a number ideas for new activities. We aim to shake off the stodgy image of MoTAS, and come up with events that will appeal to many potential members. To do that, however, we need volunteers to coordinate activities. If you would like to step up to the plate and help us, drop a note to Larry (president@tasnorthridge-motas.org).

5.  ZOOM MASTERS NEEDED

TAS is in need of a Zoom-Master or multiple Zoom-Masters to manage the broadcast of our Friday Shabbat services. WE WILL TRAIN YOU. Easy to learn, easy to manage, and you are here for services anyway. We would like to have at least 4 volunteers on a rotating basis with a commitment to one Friday a month or less. Call or email Larry Pfeffer and tell him of your interest: motas@TASNorthridge.org or 818.366.2334.

6. OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES

Men of Temple Ahavat Shalom General Meeting Minutes

Date: Sunday, October 9, 2022, at TAS

Presiding: President Larry Pfefer

Members Present: Larry Pfefer (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Daniel Faigin, David Goldstein, Scott Gore (VP), Brian Hatkoff, Larry Hoffman (VP), Paul Issler, Al Lapides, Bob Levin, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Howard Miller (Past President), Chuck Mondrus, Jeff Neiman, Josh Paul, Russ Rapoport, Mike Rayfield, Joe Roter, Bill Shapiro, Will Simpson, Bernie Singer, Alan Stepakoff, Mike Thornhill, Scott Yollis

TASTY Guest: Robert Simpson

Coffee & Bagels: Bob Levine, Roger Lowe, Chuck Mondrus

Question of the Day: Introduce yourself and tell us for how many years you’ve been a TAS member.

President’s Report:

Hal Bass, Bob Levine and Roger Lowe are arranging for the temple’s annual Veterans Shabbat, Friday evening, November 11. Veterans to be recognized will also include members’ children or  grandchildren who are now serving or have served in the past. Hal will communicate with Rabbi Becky and Aaron Solomon after Sukkot and Simchat Torah about possibly including photos of TAS veterans during their service years (active duty, National Guard or Reserves) along with playing a medley of Armed Forces service songs. Meanwhile, Daniel Faigin will post a reminder of the Veterans Shabbat in The Weekly starting Wednesday, October 12.

Larry advised members to read The Weekly, which Daniel Faigin prepares for distribution by email every Wednesday, and the temple’s Weekly Bulletin on Thursday.

Interested in the history of TAS from the temple’s establishment in 1965 to the present? See Temple Ahavat Shalom Northridge – Wikipedia

Roger Lowe’s Treasurer’s Report as of 10/6/2022

The treasurers report is not included in the web posting.

New Business: Twenty-six men participated in assembling the sukkah outside the social hall. The work was completed in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next MoTAS membership meeting will take place at the temple, Sunday, November 13, at 9 am. To attend in person, everyone must be fully vaccinated and boosted and should be prepared to furnish their vaccine card or a photo thereof.

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!

MoTAS Weekly 08/17/2022: Batter Up – Pancake Breakfast, Football Squares, Bat Mitzvah 100th, Sukkah Building, and more!

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In This Issue:

  1. BATTER UP FOR THE PANCAKE BREAKFAST – SUN SEP 11
  2. FOOTBALL SQUARES SALES IN THE FINAL INNINGS
  3. SUKKAH BUILDING AND MEMBERSHIP LUNCH – SAVE THE DATE – SUN OCT 9
  4. BAT MITZVAH AT 100 – SAT AUG 27
  5. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO LEAD ACTIVITIES
  6. MRJ/NCJW WEBINAR: REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 9/22 5PM PACIFIC
  7. TAS MUSICIANS SMALL GROUP NEEDS PLAYERS
  8. SHARE YOUR SIMCHAS
  9. 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.

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MoTAS Weekly 09/30/2021: October and November Planning

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In This Issue:

  1. MESSAGE FROM THE MOTAS PRESIDENT / OCT 10 MEETING
  2. UPCOMING IN OCTOBER: CHANUKAH BOUTIQUE
  3. HONORING OUR VETERANS IN NOVEMBER: SHABBAT 11/12 / DINNER 11/14
  4. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO BUILT THE SUKKAH
  5. SHARE YOUR SIMCHAS
  6. MOTAS “JEWISH CHRISTMAS” PLANNING
  7. SEPTEMBER MEETING MINUTES
  8. ISRAEL POLITICAL UPDATE FROM MRJ – OCT 10
  9. IN CLOSING

Editor’s Note: Sorry for the delay this week. We were still gathering information about October and November activities.

1. MESSAGE FROM THE MOTAS PRESIDENT / OCT 10 MEETING

A note to the constituency – Our October 10th meeting will take place at the normal time, 8:45 in the chapel.  We are looking forward to ‘getting back to normal’ and this will be the first meeting onsite this year, save for the Sukkah raising which was a rounding success.  Please be aware that due to Covid, we will NOT be serving our usual scrambled eggs and lox but we will have Bagels & Cream cheese, Coffee, cookies and oranges and any other prepackaged goodies that Roger can muster up.

We are working on a program for the meeting but it is quite hush hush at the moment and the details are still coming together.   As for upcoming activities, the Sisterhood is organizing the annual Hanukkah Boutique to be held on Halloween and MoTAS has been requested to provide and serve lunch during the activity.  Having spoken with Aaron, we are still not quite clear with the masking/vaccine requirements that the city/county of LA is working to require so be prepared for a bit uncertainty as we get closer to the date.

A couple of other items to note; we are postponing the annual MoTAS Poker tournament, originally scheduled for October 17th,  we are not canceling it.  We would very much like to have it but again there are many restrictions and ‘hoops’ we have to jump through to make it a reality.  Worst case it may not happen until sometime in the spring.  We are also organizing this year’s honoring of our vets to take place at Erev Shabbat services on November 12th.  More on that to follow.

I could go on and on but that’s enough for now.  Come to the meeting and you can get your earful.

 See you on the 10th.

Larry

2. UPCOMING IN OCTOBER: CHANUKAH BOUTIQUE

The annual Sisterhood Holiday Boutique is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, October 31 from 10am to 3pm. Typically, the Men of TAS helps with the food service. The current plan is that we will be picking up individually wrapped sandwiches and condiments, and providing bagged chips, canned or bottled drinks.

We will need people to help pickup (and possibly pre-package) the food. We will need folks to sell and deliver the food. We will need folks to help clean up. If you will be able to help us at this event, you can sign up at https://volunteersignup.org/7LXLR.

3. HONORING OUR VETERANS IN NOVEMBER: SHABBAT 11/12 / DINNER 11/14

MoTAS is planning two events to honor our veterans.

First, on Friday, November 12, Rabbi Becky and MoTAS are planning a shabbat service to honor our temple veterans. The evening service will recognize all temple veterans who have served our country. In the coming weeks we will be providing a form for you to register as a veteran for this service.

Second, on Sunday evening November 14, MoTAS would like to treat all temple service personnel, male or female, who RSVP (up to 50 people) and show up to dinner as a way to thank them for their service. We would also like to hear your story as a Jewish service person. Details on the dinner, location, appoximate cost, and a sign-up sheet will be forthcoming.

4. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO BUILT THE SUKKAH

Thank you to those who participated for a very successful Sukkah raising.  It goes without saying that without your support MoTAS would not be as successful in any venture we undertake. 

(Insert Picture)

5. SHARE YOUR SIMCHAS

If you have a Simcha you want to share, click here for the link to submit your Simcha. Submissions will be due no later than the last day of the month prior to the month of publication. We are now taking October submissions to be listed in November 2021. For more details or questions contact Bob Levine. If you are interested in making a donation to TAS in honor of your Simcha, click here. A donation is not required to submit your Simcha.

6. MOTAS “JEWISH CHRISTMAS” PLANNING

Planning is beginning for the MoTAS “Jewish Christmas”, which is basically when MoTAS members and their families get together on December 25 for Chinese Food. There’s a good possibility this year that, due to COVID restrictions, people may not want to dine INSIDE at a restaurant. One option would be to order Chinese Take Out, and get together at someone’s house and eat in the back yard (weather permitting). If you would be willing to provide your backyard for this space (understanding that, depending on weather, we might have to go inside), please drop a note to me at faigin@cahighways.org. You would be able to establish restrictions, such as a maximum number of people and whether vaccinations/negative tests are required.

7. SEPTEMBER MEETING MINUTES

Date: Sunday, September 19, 2021. Outdoors at the temple as our first non-remote meeting in 18 months. Coffee and bagels were served by Kathy Pullman.

Presiding: President Larry Pfefer

Members Present: Larry Pfefer (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Steve Berlin, Les Birken, Buddy Bregman, Daniel Faigin, Scott Gore (VP), Brian Hatkoff, Larry Hoffman, Ian Kroop, Ed Lapporte (VP), Bob Levin, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Joel Lowell, Barry Mann, Howard Miller (Past President), Chuck Mondrus, Mark Moskowitz, Jeff Neiman, Russ Rapoport, Mike Rayfield, Todd Reznik, Bill Shapiro, Will Simpson, Bernie Singer, Alan Stepakoff, Mike Thornhill, Ken Winters, Scott Yollis

Guests: Erin Faigin, Aaron Lapporte, Kathy Pullman, Roseanna Sculler, Robert Simpson

Installation of Officers: Rabbi Becky acknowledged and expressed appreciation to the 2020-21 retiring officers: Howard Miller, president; Larry Pfefer and Russ Rapoport, vice presidents; Roger Lowe, treasurer; Hal Bass secretary; Daniel Faigin, immediate past president.

Rabbi Becky then swore in new officers for 2021-22: Larry Pfefer, president; Scott Gore and Ed Lapporte, vice presidents; Roger Lowe, treasurer; Hal Bass, secretary; Howard Miller, immediate past president.

President’s Report:

Larry read thank-you notes from two campership recipients: Naomi and Tova Samansky.

Larry announced that the lower floor of the school buildings has been leased to a preschool. The private high school that had leased the upper floor classrooms had to pull out due to lack of enrollment. However, Brian Hatkoff said he had a good prospect for assuming the unexpired lease.

Mark Moskowitz suggested that MoTAS consider sponsoring publication of a temple membership directory in hard copy. Hal Bass noted that the membership directory is available online and can be accessed via username and password. Larry will ask that instructions for perusing the online directory be periodically included in the Wednesday and Friday emails sent to all temple members.

If you have a Simcha you’d like to share, click here for the link to submit your Simcha. Submissions are due no later than the last day of the month prior to the month of publication. We are now taking submissions for listing in October. For further details contact Bob Levine. If you’re interested in making a donation to TAS in honor of your Simcha, click here. However, donations are not required to submit a Simcha.

Electrical assistance needed for temple projects can be provided by Scott Gore, Roger Lowe, Joel Lowell, Alan Stepakoff and Scott Yollis.

Treasurer’s Report as of 09/19/21, Submitted by Roger Lowe:

  • (see emal)

Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next meeting will be held Sunday, October 10, 2021, at 9:00 am. Following adjournment, a team of MoTAS Sukkah builders headed by construction maven Mike Rayfield assembled and decorated the Sukkah.

Respectfully submitted,

Hal Bass/Secretary

8. ISRAEL POLITICAL UPDATE FROM MRJ – OCT 10 (NEW DATE)

The MRJ webinar has been rescheduled! This one will present an update on the situation in Israel from Rabbi Gilad Kariv, a member in the 24th Knesset, is a member of the 36th Israel government and Chair of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and the 1st Reform Rabbi elected to the Knesset.

The webinar is now scheduled for October 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. Click here to register.

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!