Now that football season is officially over, it’s time for basketball and the craziness known as the Final Four, in early April. Once again, MoTAS is happy to offer you the opportunity to help raise some needed funds for special TAS projects, and maybe you’ll earn some $$ along the way. You are receiving this email because you so generously supported our Sports Squares program sometime in the last year, and we want you to have first opportunity to play now. To get all the information (and in some cases, more than you could ever want), go to http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ where you’ll find the instructions, a sign-up form you can print, and a link if you wish to order your spaces online.
To summarize: each name on the board can have up to 3 spaces. The squares are priced at $36 each. The game is for both the men’s and women’s tournament (semifinal two games each, and final games), so there are 12 opportunities to be a winner, since there is a winner at the half and final score. If the board is fully subscribed at all 100 spaces, the payout is $150 per win. Once again, we’ll use our “tie-breaker” method to determine a winner if a winning square is unsold (If there are unsold squares, the payouts will be adjusted.) The tie-breaker is your prediction of the total number of points both teams will score in any game, for example, if you think the final score will be 82-61, your number = 143. Here’s a hint for those who are unfamiliar (or don’t really care….): the average score for the men’s tournament for the last two years was 147, and the average score for the women’s tournament was 134. You get only one tie-breaker per person, so choose wisely.
By now, you have received your MoTAS Appeal Letter. You’ve read about all MoTAS has done to support TAS over the past year, and how the COVID environment has limited our fund raising options. You know that our appeal is even more important this year for us to do what we do. Luckily, it is easy to support MoTAS. Just visit our support webpage: http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. There you can read the appeal letter, make your donation online, or download a form to mail with your check to Roger. Without all of our usual activities, MoTAS needs your support even more to be able to support the temple and its needs during these extraordinary times. MoTAS does not charge dues to its members; we depend on your donations to be able to do what we do.
Just visit http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ to donate.
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 February submissions to be listed on in March 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.
Traditionally, our March meeting is where we assemble the Yellow Candle boxes for mailing, in lieu of a speaker. But this year our March meeting is virtual, and Zoom is not conducive to assembling candles. So March will be a normal virtual speakers meeting—but we still need to assemble candles.
The approach we will take is to have each volunteer assemble a small number of candles, and return the assembled and labeled boxes to Howard. If you would be willing to help assemble candles, please let Howard know at president@tasnorthridge-motas.org.
In the mailing for the Annual Appeal, Howard included a tenative date for the MoTAS Seder. If we are actually doing the event, and how it might look, and who we might do it with, is up in the air. Your humble Newletter editor is the coordinator for the event, and I’ve prepared a short SurveyMonkey survey to see what people want. After a week or two (or I get 10 responses), and if there is a desire to actually do something, I’ll drop a note to Mark Singer and see if he wants to pass it to his membership and we can continue the coordination. You can find the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5CXJ28W .
For reference: You can find the updated draft version of the MoTAS/TBHLA Haggadah (cut down from the first trial year) at https://app.box.com/s/gbh0aydqshh4omtb3ac8gf4pta3iy1vk . Note that we would not do everything in the service, especially if we do a discussion-only (no meal) event. You can find the 2007 version of the MRJ Haggadah at http://www.menrj.org/sites/default/files/articles/files/MRJ%20The%20Mens%20Seder%20highres.pdf .
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!
In This Issue:Our February 21 MoTAS Meeting will feature our own Al Lapides speaking on The History of Advertising and its Effect on Society. The presentation will cover the early roots and history of advertising to the 21st century. Much of advertising can be applied to discussions on the ideas and ideals we believe in. The key is to identify your target, and engage and motivate the people or groups you desire to help your cause or buy your product. The debate includes whether advertising should entertain and/or irritate (yes that too) your audience, as well as inform them. Al will also cover the 5 different types of advertising:
Zoom details will be in next week’s Weekly.
By now, you have received your MoTAS Appeal Letter. You’ve read about all MoTAS has done to support TAS over the past year, and how the COVID environment has limited our fund raising options. You know that our appeal is even more important this year for us to do what we do. Luckily, it is easy to support MoTAS. Just visit our support webpage: http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. There you can read the appeal letter, make your donation online, or download a form to mail with your check to Roger. Without all of our usual activities, MoTAS needs your support even more to be able to support the temple and its needs during these extraordinary times. MoTAS does not charge dues to its members; we depend on your donations to be able to do what we do.
Just visit http://support.tasnorthridge-motas.org/ to donate.
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 February submissions to be listed on in March 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.
At the January MoTAS Shabbat, our Man of the Year for 2021 was announced: Hal Bass. For those who don’t know Hal, or who missed the Shabbat, here is the introduction to the announcement from our 2020 Man of the Year, Les Birken:
Anyone who meets our honoree soon learns of his deep convictions and passionate observations of the world’s current and past events. He likes to read and share his ideas not only with family and friends but also readers of the Los Angeles and New York Times where he has had more than 200 letters published. I know he is an avid reader of the L.A. Times because he acknowledged me when I had a letter published. He keeps current in his field even after retiring and I have no doubt he could step in today without missing a beat and run circles around colleagues half his age.
Our honoree was born and brought up in a well-known Midwestern city where he learned a strong work ethic from his parents, who owned a “mom and pop” store. He joined his brother in working in the store on weekends and peak seasons and absorbed his parents’ political and ethical standards that guide him to this day. His first vote was for JFK in 1960 and has not missed an election since.
He met his bride at a young adult mixer in Chicago’s Blackstone Hotel in August, 1960. Within three weeks they were engaged and married ten months later. She worked as a high school French and English teacher while he completed medical school and residency. He graduated from The University of Chicago with his MD degree and a Masters in pharmacology. He found time to study genetics and used that skill as a clinical professor at UCLA and later at a well-known HMO where he was a pediatrician.
Thanks to the U.S. Air Force, the couple found themselves at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. The base needed his medical specialty so desperately that he missed out on basic training. He never learned to shoot or properly salute but he took his military duty seriously and you can often see him proudly wearing his Air Force Veteran’s baseball cap. That is, when we were seeing anybody!
Our honoree and his wife have enjoyed travelling throughout the U.S. and abroad. He had a burning desire to visit all 50 states. He often took a Greyhound Bus to and from national genetics meetings. Between these and other trips he and his wife took, by the late 1990’s he was missing only one state. His wife booked a cruise to Alaska to help him complete his dream to visit all 50 states. I am impressed!
Our honoree and his wife have been members of TAS since 1974. Both have served the Temple in various capacities including serving on the Temple Board, working to build our sanctuary-social hall building, and other committees. In addition, both our honoree and his wife have taken leadership positions within MoTAS and Sisterhood and fervently believe that the synagogue is the foundation for Jewish survival. They have passed this belief to their two daughters and four grandchildren.
Since retiring, our honoree has devoted even more time to MoTAS. He is currently serving his fifth term as secretary, providing us with highly detailed and accurate records of our meetings. As part of our monthly meeting programs, we have learned from him through presentations on a variety of subjects including genetic birth conditions, the 1956 Sinai War between Israel and Egypt, and the Armenian Genocide and its connection to the Holocaust. He also developed and helped organize our November Veterans Day salute where we identified and honored all of our TAS veterans. If all of this were not enough, we can always count on him to help both in front and behind the scenes for many other events such as our Shabbabaque, mailers, poker tournament and wherever else he sees a need.
I am not sure how effective I have been in trying to hide his identity but nonetheless, it is my honor and privilege to present you with The Men of TAS 2021 Man of the Year: Dr. Hal Bass.
Congratulations, Hal.
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!
In This Issue: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. This year, our service will be held on Friday, January 22, 2021, 6:30 PM, via Zoom. If you are participating in the service, you should have already received an email from Bob Levine. Those participating should log into the zoom meeting by 6:15 so we can do a sound check, practice unmuting/muting, and have general announcements related to the service itself. The service will begin at approximately 6:30. Open the Service and scroll down to find your name on the slides, which indicates how you will participate.
We know we’re going to have a great, meaningful service, as MoTAS shares with the community inspiration and news of our continued work for the temple. And, by the way, Howard will announce our newest Man of the Year. He will not be accepting contributions to MoTAS for you to get advance information.
Here’s the information on the Zoom service:
Tu B’Shevat, which celebrates the birthday of the trees, starts on the evening of Wednesday, January 27. This year, we’re not hosting the MoTAS Tu B’Shevat service for the congregation or the school due to COVID, but that doesn’t mean the holiday isn’t here. If you would like to celebrate Tu B’Shevat with our service and your family, visit our Tu B’Shevat Seder page. Ignore the date and the flyer, and scroll to the bottom. There you will find a link to our Tu B’Shevat Seder. You can also go directly to https://app.box.com/s/8m3gd5mro3z91k53o53j1a4v8hx6p9pb and download a copy for yourself.
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 January submissions to be listed on February 10, 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.
The Monday Night Football season is over, and now is the time to buy a Superbowl Square. The cost is only $25 per square, and you can help Temple Ahavat Shalom while potentially rewarding yourself. The price is the same as last year, although on-line registrations now have a small handling fee from TicketLeap that we used to absorb — this allows reduces the cost to MoTAS and allows us to do more for TAS. Payouts are the same: $230 for each quarter, and $460 for the final score. A full board of 91 squares pays out $1150 to players, and $1125 to MoTAS. You can find the rules of the game, register and pay online, or find a form that you can print and mail in, at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. Squares must be purchased by the Tuesday before the Super Bowl.
Our February 21 MoTAS Meeting will feature our own Al Lapides speaking on The History of Advertising and its Effect on Society. The presentation will cover the early roots and history of advertising to the 21st century. Much of advertising can be applied to discussions on the ideas and ideals we believe in. The key is to identify your target, and engage and motivate the people or groups you desire to help your cause or buy your product. The debate includes whether advertising should entertain and/or irritate (yes that too) your audience, as well as inform them. Al will also cover the 5 different types of advertising:
Zoom details will be in a future weekly.
Date: Sunday, January 10, 2021 via Zoom due to social isolation related to the pandemic
Presiding: President Howard Miller
Members Present: Howard Miller (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Les Birken, Daniel Faigin (Past President), Ken Feldman, Scott Gore, Brian Hatkoff, Fred Kimmel, Al Lapides, Ed Lapporte, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Joel Lowell, Chuck Mondrus, Mark Moskowitz, Jeff Neiman, Russ Rapoport (VP), Bill Shapiro, Bernie Singer, Alan Stepakoff, Sandy Stern, Ben Tenn, Mike Thornhill, Ken Wolf, Scott Yollis
Guests: Rabbi Becky Hoffman, Mel Birken, Karen Davis, Cheryl Hatkoff, Gloria Katcher, Fran Lapides, Laurie Mondrus, Kathy Pullman, Sheila Reback, Debbie Schwartz, Tammy Singer, Cindy Tenn, Tyree Wieder, Sandy Zonnis
President’s Report:
Howard began the meeting by asking members what they wish to happen to them and their families in 2021.
Howard thanked Hal Bass for last month’s presentation on the Armenian Genocide.
MoTAS provided $500 in support for two families in serious financial straits. Howard informed the group that as a result of hearing this, two other individuals have donated to TAS to help such families.
Howard encouraged members to purchase Super Bowl Squares, explaining that income from Sports Squares helps finance special projects and other activities not funded by the temple. Prior examples include an emergency water heater replacement, synthetic turf for the ECEC playground, foyer restroom upgrades, and WiFi enhancements.
Bob Levine announced that 29 Super Bowl squares are still open. Squares are available for $25 each–up to two squares per person or four squares when a spouse or partner is included.
The annual MoTAS Men’s Shabbat is in the planning stage. It will take place on January 22. Members were asked to notify Bob Levine by email at tasboblevine@gmail.com if they wish to participate in the service. It is at the Men’s Shabbat that our MoTAS Man of the Year is announced.
Our 2020 Man of the Year, Les Birken, was presented with a plaque by Howard in a ceremony recorded on video at the Birkens’ home, since the annual regional awards dinner could not be held last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Bob Levine will publish simchas in the temple’s Wednesday and Friday eblasts. Email your simchas to Bob at tasboblevine@gmail.com. January 31 is this month’s deadline for publication on February 9.
The 2021 MoTAS Annual Appeal will be announced shortly. This activity provides funds for Avodah, camperships, b’nai mitzvah and confirmation gifts, and our annual commitment to TAS.
Howard’s mid-year MoTAS budget review anticipated total income of $8,800 and expenses of $9,392. Hopefully, the Annual Appeal will erase the $592 shortfall.
Treasurer’s Report, as of 01/06/21:
Income: $0
Expenses:
Sports Squares Distributions:
Sports Squares:
Prior Years Sports Squares Balance: $5,145
2020-21 Football Squares:
Income $4,828; Winners paid out <$1,925>; Winnings donated back $125; Net $3,028
2021 Super Bowl
Income $425; Winners paid out $0; Net $425
Total Sports Squares Funds Available for Distribution: $8,598 ($5,145+$3,028+425)
Rabbi Becky’s Presentation:
Rabbi Becky began by asking the men and women present to list what they considered to be the temple’s greatest strength. Many of the responses touched upon camaraderie, innovative programming and rabbinic leadership. She said TAS is poised to be the most vibrant Jewish force in the North Valley and directed people to the Mission Statement on the TAS website’s home page.
Rabbi Becky enumerated the temple’s myriad strengths: MoTAS, Sisterhood, small groups, havurot, Caring Community, Melton program participation, online Shabbat services via Zoom and on Facebook, Meditation & Music, Religious School, weekly Torah study, Zoom to Commune, Social Action Committee, High Holy Days food collection, and voter information.
Our challenges provide multiple opportunities. Many young families with children in school or even younger are struggling, and the temple leadership is working to form small groups of these young families based on the ages of their children or their grades in school. We strive to provide dynamic services, obtain outside speakers, engage in social justice, and develop a new paradigm for services and other activities once the pandemic has been brought under control.
Rabbi Becky’s presentation was very well attended and greatly appreciated by all who listened to her and asked follow-up questions.
Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next meeting will be held by Zoom, Sunday, February 21, 2021, at 9:00 am. Al Lapides will do an educational presentation entitled, “History of Advertising and Its Effect on Society.”
Respectfully submitted,
Hal Bass/Secretary
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!
In This Issue:We have finalized planss with Rabbi Becky to speak at our January 10th meeting. Rabbi Becky will be giving us a half year update. She will talk about her experience in getting to know the temple and its members, what she has learned and where she would like to see for TAS in the future. As always, the business meeting will start at 9am with Virtual Lox and Bagels (meaning we’ll show you pictures of them), and our speaker will start between 945am and 10am.
Here is the Zoom information for our Jan 10 monthly meeting. MoTAS members should join at 9am; guests are invited to join at 9:45.
Join Zoom Meeting: Contact Howard Miller at president@tasnorthridge-motas.org for meeting information.
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 January submissions to be listed on February 10, 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.
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 we’ll be virtual so the structure is still being worked out, but we hope to have something similar.
This year, our service will be held on Friday, January 22, 2021, 6:30 PM, via Zoom
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. (Return to Top)
The Monday Night Football season is over, and now is the time to buy a Superbowl Square. The cost is only $25 per square, and you can help Temple Ahavat Shalom while potentially rewarding yourself. The price is the same as last year, although on-line registrations now have a small handling fee from TicketLeap that we used to absorb — this allows reduces the cost to MoTAS and allows us to do more for TAS. Payouts are the same: $230 for each quarter, and $460 for the final score. A full board of 91 squares pays out $1150 to players, and $1125 to MoTAS. You can find the rules of the game, register and pay online, or find a form that you can print and mail in, at http://squares.tasnorthridge-motas.org/. Squares must be purchased by the Tuesday before the Super Bowl.
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!
In This Issue:At our October meeting program, Dr. Hal Bass will present a review of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23 and Hitler’s comment on the eve of World War II, “Who speaks today of the extermination of the Armenians?” Hal will also take note of the recent Armenian-Azeri war over Nagorno-Karabakh, in which Israeli-made drones sold to its ally Azerbaijan played a major role in Armenia’s defeat. Our meeting begins at 9am via the Zoom instructions below and those interested in attending the meeting program can join on the same Zoom call at 9:45am (promptly).
Join Zoom Meeting:
Contact Howard Miller at hmiller12@socal.rr.com for URL
Meeting ID: xxx xxxx xxxx
Passcode: ******
Dial by your location if connecting via cell phone:
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose and Los Angeles)
You are invited to join the Men of Reform Judaism on December 21, 2020 at 5pm Pacific for a very unique and insightful examination of the election results: “The Election: A Jewish Perspective“. Our speaker will be Rabbi David Saperstein, and he will be talking about the effects of our relationship with Israel, and our relationship with other denominations.
For 40 years, Rabbi Saperstein directed the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing the Reform Jewish Movement, the largest segment of American Jewry, to the U.S. Congress and Administration and currently serves as its Director Emeritus. Designated by Newsweek Magazine as the most influential rabbi in America and by the Washington Post as the “quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill,” for over two years (2015-2017), Rabbi Saperstein served as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, carrying out his responsibilities as the country’s chief diplomat on religious freedom issues. Also, an attorney, he taught seminars on Church–State law and on Jewish Law for 35 years at Georgetown University Law Center. In 2019-2020, Rabbi Saperstein served as the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the international arm of the Reform Jewish Movement.
The meeting will be held over Zoom, and you MUST register in advance. To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yoj4_U5oRta8glIPeVjkPQ .
Get your Hanukkah necessities at our TAS Sisterhood Judaica Shop. The TAS Sisterhood Judaica Shop is open for private appointments, Monday through Friday during business hours. Masks are required and temperature will be taken by office staff. Proceeds benefit the many programs that Sisterhood provides TAS and the national Women of Reform Judaism. To arrange your private appointment, please contact Laraine Miller at 818-631-8199 or tzlady@socal.rr.com. Your patronage is appreciated.
Our MoTAS Christmas Night tradition has been to meet for Chinese after going to a movie. Well, neither of those are going to happen this year. However, we can still get together for something different via Zoom. Shabbat services for that Friday will be held at 5pm. For those that are interested, we can Zoom a special movie at 7:30 and discuss it or just pass stories after the movie. If you are interested, please email Howard at hmiller12@socal.rr.com and Larry at lpfefer@tasnorthridge.org. Let us know if you would like to view a comedy, action, or drama, or recommend a specific movie for that night (as long as it exists in the Pfefer archives).
Our annual MoTAS Shabbat service will be held on January 22. More details will follow in future MoTAS Weeklies. Who will be our 2021 Man of the Year?!. (Return to Top)
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!
In This Issue:Please mark your calendar for our next membership meeting on Sunday, December 13 at 9am. We are still finalizing the speaker, but you can trust that we’ll have a virtual breakfast that can’t be beat (because you get to make your favorite food).
You are invited to join the Men of Reform Judaism on December 21, 2020 at 5pm Pacific for a very unique and insightful examination of the election results: “The Election: A Jewish Perspective“. Our speaker will be Rabbi David Saperstein, and he will be talking about the effects of our relationship with Israel, and our relationship with other denominations.
For 40 years, Rabbi Saperstein directed the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, representing the Reform Jewish Movement, the largest segment of American Jewry, to the U.S. Congress and Administration and currently serves as its Director Emeritus. Designated by Newsweek Magazine as the most influential rabbi in America and by the Washington Post as the “quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill,” for over two years (2015-2017), Rabbi Saperstein served as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, carrying out his responsibilities as the country’s chief diplomat on religious freedom issues. Also, an attorney, he taught seminars on Church–State law and on Jewish Law for 35 years at Georgetown University Law Center. In 2019-2020, Rabbi Saperstein served as the President of the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the international arm of the Reform Jewish Movement.
The meeting will be held over Zoom, and you MUST register in advance. To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yoj4_U5oRta8glIPeVjkPQ .
Get your Hanukkah necessities at our TAS Sisterhood Judaica Shop. The TAS Sisterhood Judaica Shop is open for private appointments, Monday through Friday during business hours. Masks are required and temperature will be taken by office staff. Proceeds benefit the many programs that Sisterhood provides TAS and the national Women of Reform Judaism. To arrange your private appointment, please contact Laraine Miller at 818-631-8199 or tzlady@socal.rr.com. Your patronage is appreciated.
Date: Sunday, November 15, 2020 via Zoom due to social isolation related to the pandemic
Presiding: President Howard Miller
Members Present: Howard Miller (President), Hal Bass (Secretary), Les Birken, Daniel Faigin (Past President), Ken Feldman, Scott Gore, Brian Hatkoff, Al Lapides, Ed Lapporte, Bob Levine, Roger Lowe (Treasurer), Barry Mann, Chuck Mondrus, Mark Moskowitz, Larry Pfefer (VP), Russ Rapoport (VP), Todd Reznik, Bill Shapiro, Bernie Singer, Sandy Stern, Mike Thornhill, Ken Wolf, and Scott Yollis. Guests: Mel Birken, Sue Cohen, Cheryl Hatkoff, Annette Held, Janet Rice, Fran Lapides, Debby Lieber, Andy Mann, Laraine Miller, Elaine Pfefferman, Sheila Reback, Tyree Wieder, and Sandy Zonnis.
President’s Report:
Howard began the meeting by asking MoTAS members about their Thanksgiving plans.
Howard thanked Scott Gore for last month’s presentation on NASA’s Mars project.
Howard expressed gratitude to Hal Bass, Bob Levine and Roger Lowe for planning the well-attended Shabbat service honoring our veterans on November 13, and he has also emailed a note of appreciation to Rabbi Becky.
Mark Moskowitz volunteered to explore the feasibility of providing a plaque containing the names of military veterans among the TAS membership.
The Sisterhood Hanukkah Boutique this year is a virtual event thru December 31.
MoTAS is sponsoring a station at the Hanukkah drive-by on Friday, December 11. Four to six volunteers are needed to pass out boxes of potato latke mix. Howard requested that members contact him with ideas for MoTAS projects or educational presentations.
Debby Lieber has asked people to make their Count Me In campaign contributions, if they have not already done so.
A kashrut task force is in the planning stage.
The temple’s new clergy assistant, Debbie Shayer, comes to TAS with a considerable background in the field.
The access control project will shortly be implemented.
Howard and Daniel Faigin are looking into holding a Zoom dinner for “Christmaskkah” on December 25.
Bob Levine will publish simchas in the temple’s Wednesday and Friday eblasts. Email your simchas to Bob at tasboblevine@gmail.com. November 30 is this month’s deadline for publication on December 9.
Brian Hatkoff announced that the Men of Reform Judaism is presenting a webinar on December 21 featuring Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C.
Treasurer’s Report, as of 11/10/20:
Income: $0
Expenses: $0
Sports Squares Distributions:
Sports Squares:
Prior Years Sports Squares Funds: $5,645
2020-21 Football Squares:
Total Sports Squares Funds Available for Distribution: $9,548 ($5,645+$3,903)
New Business: Howard moved, and Al Lapides seconded, a motion to contribute $180 to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund in recognition of Rabbi Becky’s involvement in the Veterans’ Shabbat service on November 13. The motion carried.
Howard Miller moved, and Larry Pfefer seconded, a motion to contribute $300 to sponsor a station of 4-6 MoTAS volunteers at a Hanukkah drive-by on Friday, December 11. MoTAS members manning the station will pass out boxes of potato latke mix. The motion carried.
Educational Presentation: Janet Rice, a member of the TAS Board of Trustees, discussed the veterans’ homeless crisis and plans to provide housing on the West Side VA campus. Janet literally grew up at TAS. Her parents, Bess & Gary Himler, of blessed memory, were founding members of the congregation in 1965. Janet graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UCSB and went on to receive a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. She has had extensive experience working with the Department of Defense in a civilian capacity. She is currently the western regional director for The Craddock Group, a service-disabled-veteran-owned firm that specializes in capital planning and real estate development. The Craddock Group is one of several companies engaged in an attractive four-phase project to provide 1,691 residences for homeless veterans on the grounds of the VA center in West L.A. Janet pointed to the urgent need for housing homeless veterans across the country. In L.A. alone, there are 555,000 rent-burdened households. Some 83,000 individuals in Southern California are currently homeless, 3,900 of whom are military veterans primarily from Vietnam and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adjournment and Next MoTAS Meeting: The next meeting will be held by Zoom on Sunday, December 13, 2020, at 9:00 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Hal Bass/Secretary
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!
In This Issue:At 2pm on Sunday October 18, TAS Sisterhood and our Social Action Committee will be hosting our own Fran Lapides, a representative of The League of Women Voters. Fran will be describing the 2020 General Election propositions and ballot measures we are all going nuts trying to figure out on our own.
Contact TAS for meeting information
A team of marketing students from The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge, are conducting a survey of everyone who receives this Temple Ahavat Shalom newsletter. We encourage you to take this survey and share your experience with TAS! The survey will help the CSUN Marketing Class with recommending suggestions to TAS regarding membership acquisition and retention strategies for the purpose of growing and maintaining our wonderful community. TAS member, Ben Tenn, is our liaison with this CSUN effort. You are welcome to contact him if you have need of more information.
Click here to take the survey.
Rabbi Becky and MoTAS (Roger Lowe, Hal Bass and Bob Levine) are planning a shabbat service to honor our temple veterans. The evening service will recognize all temple veterans who have served our country. The Temple Weekly publication will request the names of current TAS members or immediate family who are veterans (active duty, National Guard, Reserves). We will also ask for the veteran’s highest rank, branch of service, years served, and whether they plan to attend services Nov 13. MOTAS looks forward to honoring our veterans. (Return to Top)
Janet Rice (of TAS), Western Region Managing Director for The Kraddock Group and member of the TAS Board of Trustees, will describe the ongoing homelessness crisis experienced by many military veterans in Los Angeles and current plans to improve the situation. The plight of many veterans is quite sad in America and locally, as many cannot afford housing, medical care, or find jobs. Janet is working on a project that will help alleviate this situation for many such veterans in the Los Angeles area. Zoom information will be provided in a future MoTAS Weekly. (Return to Top)
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!
In This Issue:Starting at 9:00 am, our October meeting will be very special as we are in for a real treat. TAS’s own space scientist from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Scott Gore, will be presenting a talk on the mission to Mars, including the Perseverance Rover and the Mars Helicopter. Scott’s presentation will be held at 9:45 sharp so that anyone interested in one of the nation’s most visible space programs can participate at that time.
Scott’s career has been in electrical, electro-mechanical, and electronic parts. His work was mostly in radar, missile, and communications systems until he came to JPL in 2017, when he started applying his experience to space components.
Since starting at JPL, a big part of his work has been on the Mars 2020 program, which recently resulted in the launch of the Perseverance Rover that is now on its way to Mars. He will talk about the flight – distance, speed, duration, and where Perseverance is going on Mars. He will also talk about the Perseverance Rover, the instruments on it, and the science goals for the mission. If there is time, he will talk about some of the challenges for robotic exploration of the solar system, and future missions planned.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Contact Howard for Meeting Link
Meeting ID: xxx xxxx xxxx (if needed)
Passcode: xxxxxx
Dial by your location if connecting via cell phone:
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose and Los Angeles)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York).
Perseverance Rover with Mars Helicopter
Europa mission visualization
At 2pm on Sunday October 18, TAS Sisterhood and our Social Action Committee will be hosting our own Fran Lapides, a representative of The League of Women Voters. Fran will be describing the 2020 General Election propositions and ballot measures we are all going nuts trying to figure out on our own. Information for participation via Zoom will soon be provided in the TAS weekly publication.
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!
