Temple Beth Ami.  Three simple words, but put together mean so much to so many of us.  Don’t they?

As I started to write this article I was sitting in an airport in Phoenix waiting for my connection back to Los Angeles.  Early this week I was on the other side of the country attending a dear relative’s funeral; a very untimely death.  A young man at 65 years old.  A man in perfect health, a nice business and a wonderful wife and family.  Gone.  Just like that.  No medical explanation.  No good reason.  Very sad and tragic.

Although I was family, I had a unique perspective.  I am sure all of you have had at one time or another that experience while attending the event, but I really knew very few people.  I was able to participate as a family member yet watch everyone as an outsider.  What I noticed was how lucky my relative was because he had so many family, friends, business associates and fellow congregants attend his services.  He was a rich man in many ways.  We should all be as fortunate as he.

The Rabbi, a young fellow about 31 years old, did a wonderful job for each service, just like our Rabbi Blazer does.   In the evening after the services ended I introduced myself to the Rabbi.  I told him I was impressed how he handled himself … for a 31 year old Rabbi.  We shared a few chuckles.  Naturally, I asked him how his congregation was handling the current economic environment and he advised that they were having the same issues many other congregations were having.  For example,  maintaining membership, trying to determine the right membership model, how to increase revenue and reduce expenses without cutting important programs that affect the entire organization and finally how to meet their annual budget. I was somewhat surprised because these are the same issues TBA is addressing and working through.  Believe this or not, based on my conversation with this Rabbi and our own Rabbi, TBA is doing a very good job managing itself in many ways now, especially, financially.  We are, at this time, within our budget and if we all do what we promised we would do at the start of the fiscal year, we will end the 2013-2014 fiscal year within budget.  

Now for some big news that I have been waiting to tell you for some time now, because the transaction has been completed.  I am very proud to say that we have refinanced our property. The refinance will save the congregation about $9500 annually.  It is my intent, as I promised you during High Holidays, to pay down our debt with this savings.   Thank you’s are in order for our Treasurer Jennifer Ihrig and Dan May.  Dan’s 11th hour expert assistance and critical support were essential in seeing the transaction through.  Additionally, the refinance could not have been completed without the guidance, assistance, patience and of course the money of the Bank of Santa Clarita whose team worked with us through the long and arduous process.  

Even though I was not able to attend the event, my sources reported to me that the Purim Carnival was a success.  I would be remiss if I did not thank Debra Block and her Purim committee for a job well done!

Even though we may not see eye to eye all of the time, I consider myself a very lucky person to be part of our congregation.  As I sit here finishing this article I am constantly reminding myself how fortunate I am, we are, to have the community we have, the loving family and friends that we have, the clergy that we have as well as staff that we have.  We really do have a lot to be thankful for during this time of Passover…





L’Shalom,

John Stulman

President





PS.  If you’d like see TBA provide a service or function and would like to champion the idea, please let us know.

March already….can you believe it?  It was just New Year’s Eve, wasn’t it?  I was just watching the Super Bowl, wasn’t I?  Are the 2014 Olympics over already?  Is professional baseball season about to start?  Amazing how time just flies.  One thing is certain: time stops for no one and certainly not for me. 

However, with that said, things at TBA are getting done and our organization is staying on budget.  You may have noticed we have replaced and or repaired all of our outdoor lighting, created additional storage space, and repaired our iron gate.  Additionally, we are preparing for three (3) large spring social events: a scavenger hunt, the Purim Carnival and the annual poker tournament.

After many failed attempts, all of which I take ownership of, and for the first time ever, I had a “Past Presidents’ Meeting.”  Rosemary Watson, Joyce Stein and Daniel Levine made time in their busy schedules and were able to attend. There was no set agenda and we all checked our ego’s at the door.  The net result was the free flow of discussion and ideas for almost two hours that resulted in some solid thoughts on where TBA goes from here….We are going to try and meet again in a few months. 

Our most recent board meeting covered many agenda items and I was happy to see a few new faces join us to see how our organization is managed.  It would be nice to see more of our congregants take an active interest and participatory roles in our congregation.  At the end of the day, this is our community and we all have a vested interest in its future.  Our next Board Meeting is scheduled for May 1st at 7pm.  Please schedule it and try to attend.

We are preparing for our Annual Board Meeting which is tentatively slated for May 29th.  During this meeting we will approve our 2014-2015 budget, vote on any amendments to the By-Laws that may be presented, elect our board of trustees and have a question and answer session.  If you have an interest in serving on the board, please contact any current board member or myself with any questions.

And, as always, if you have an idea or event for TBA that you’d like to champion please let me know.

L’Shalom,

John Stulman

President

[email protected]

2014 has started out great!  Our new member Shabbat service was a complete success thanks to the hard work of our membership trustee Francine Van Scoyoc.  Even though there was a power outage we managed to have a candle light Shabbat with a full band and a terrific oneg.  A huge shout out to Francine and the Membership Commitee (Tracy Blazer, Diane Gilden, Ceil Aron, BJ Kaufman and Donna Alvarad-Casey) along with Nancy LePore and Debra Block for a job well done ,to the Rabbi, Cantor, the Cantor’s family and Eileen for making it very special for us all.

There is so much more to look forward to during the next five (5) months.  Please check out the TBA online calendar located on our home page located at http://www.templebethami.org/.  We are trying to use our website for more and more communication.  It’s an easy and simple method.

The next Board of Trustees meeting is February 6th at 7pm.    Our annual meeting is tentatively set for May 29th at 7pm.  All members in good standing are encouraged to attend and participate. 

As always, if there is something you’d like to see happen at TBA and would like to champion the idea, please let me know.

L’Shalom,

John Stulman

President – Board of Trustees

Email:  [email protected]

As provided for under the Temple Beth Ami By-Laws I have changed the board of trustee meeting from a monthly meeting to a quarterly meeting.  Any issues that arise in between board meetings will be dealt with through executive committee and addressed at the next board meeting.  Our next Board of Trustee meeting will be held Thursday, February 6th at 7pm.  All members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to attend.

TBA has a lot going on before the end of the year, Hanukkah, Vodka and Latkes with the Rabbi and his wife,  tot and adult Shabbat's, adult learning, sisterhood meetings, Torah study as well as Eat for TBA at Chili's on December 17th.  Certainly, something for everyone.  If you'd like to see TBA offer a service and are willing to champion the idea please let me know.

On a final note I'd like to thank Doreen Hawbecker for her time, work and energy as the former membership trustee.   I want to welcome Francine Van Scoyoc as the new membership trustee.  Francine has the energy and enthusiasm of six people.  Francine has hit the ground running and I want to wish Francine the best of luck in assisting TBA grow throughout 2014 and beyond.

Best of luck to you all for 2014.  Please, as always, contact me with any questions. 

John Stulman

President

How can we assure that Temple Beth Ami will be a viable and relevant organization of faith long after we have all gone?  

A very powerful question, isn’t it? 

Prior to the start of this year’s high holidays an old buddy of mine and I connected as we always do during this of year to catch up and wish each other L'Shana Tova.

My friend knows how involved I have been with Temple Beth Ami and during the conversation he mentioned that he wanted his son, a new university student, to utilize Hillel on his campus since we was new to the school and so far away from home.  My friend told me that he was a bit sad because his son thought he was forcing him to be religious.  My friend let me know that he told his son in no uncertain terms, "I can't make you do anything.  At the end of the day, you have a choice.  It's there if you need it.  You have a choice." My friend then revealed how jealous of me he was.  That statement took me a bit off guard.  Jealous, of me, why is that I asked him?  He said that he was jealous of me because I was so involved in my congregation - he said I was so much more "Jewish" than he was at this stage of our lives.  He admitted that he never goes to his shul for social events and only goes on high holidays or bar or bat mitzvah; that was about it.   My friend had made a choice.  You need to know, when it comes to being Jewish, my friend is more Jewish than I have ever been or ever will be.  He knows the prayers better than I do, he can read Hebrew better than I can and he knows our history more than I do so I was very surprised at his statement, but then, in a flash, it made perfect sense to me.  You see, my friend belongs to one of those Beverly Hills "thousand member" congregations with 2 rabbis, 2 cantors, a facility that fills a city block and filled with congregants he and his family did not know.  You get the picture.  At that very moment the conversation paused.  It was not an awkward pause, but a instant moment of reflection, for both of us.  I could hear it in the silence, just like that we went from young men in our 20's, with our entire lives ahead of us, to middle aged men with families, businesses and responsibilities.  The only big difference between us, to tell you the truth, is that I made a choice long ago to be more involved in my congregation.

Had someone told to me, earlier in my life, that sometime later in my life I would carry the torah during high holidays, make a trip and travel to Israel with my family, climb Masada and travel into Jordan to view one of the seven wonders of the world with my Rabbi and family, be on the board of trustees and hold a leadership position in my congregation and be here, speaking to you today, I would have said, "you're nuts". 

Leadership is about making decisions – often tough decisions under difficult circumstances.  Only those that have walked in these shoes understand the stress of the President’s job.  One bad year could undermine all of the hard that has been accomplished since TBA’s inception long ago.  One of my many responsibilities is to assure that the path of sustained relevance and viability for Temple Beth Ami is not hindered nor blocked by movable obstacles

Debt will eventually cause the gears of any organization to grind to halt.  Servicing unproductive debt, restricts cash flow and cash flow, as you may know, is the life blood of any viable organization.  I am committed to making difficult decisions, if needed, but they can be avoided.  You see, sometimes the cure may seem much worse than the disease, but we cannot rid ourselves of the disease without taking our medicine.  We are at a critical time in Temple Beth Ami's history.  We must take a stand now in order to avoid extremely difficult decisions in the very near future. 

A bit of history here will provide the background.  Many years ago the board of trustees had little choice but to take on debt to service the Pre-School, a program that we had all hoped would serve our congregation in many ways.  After throwing many life rafts to the program we did the responsible thing, made a tough decision and closed the program.  The program did not survive, but the debt did. 

I need you to trust me.  Trust me when I say my commitment is to the entire congregation and not just to a single member nor program.  Trust me when I say we need more money.  Trust me to guide the board in doing the right thing with the money that you give.   This is another appeal for you to dig deep, face your fear of giving, confront it and don’t flee from it.  Rest easy, you are not alone.  Many people share of fear of giving or donating.  Trust me when I say we will not fail you. Not on my watch. 

It is not reasonable to ask you to donate money to solve a lingering issue without giving you a concrete plan to avoid it again in the future.  I am asking you to trust me, I am asking you to make a donation to TBA and in turn I make this pledge to you:  I am going to ask and urge the board during our October 2013 board meeting to agree to amend our bylaws in a manner that will limit and prohibit the ability of future boards to borrow money without the specific approval of the majority of the congregation. 

Wilshire Boulevard Temple has recently raised $118,000,000.  Yes, they have raised 118 million dollars not only for facility restoration, but for community outreach and other needed programs. 

Why can't we raise just .1% of what the "big boys" can raise? Oh, we can say they have more affluent members; they have more money than we do.  Maybe they do, maybe they don't.  But does it really matter?  At the end of the day, it’s not about them, it’s about us and we need to free up cash flow by retiring debt. 

Our beloved friend and fellow congregant Al Ponce who most of you know recently passed away, was generous enough to leave Temple Beth Ami $15,000.  His gift provides additional support that we need.  As I asked during High Holidays, how many of you will admit to buying a fancy cup of coffee, or two, or if you are like our Immediate Past President Daniel Levine, 5 or 6, every day?  How much does that cost you?  $5 a day, more?  Drink your coffee at home.  Give up buying it from an outside vendor for a year.  365 x $5 = $1825.   Give TBA that money.  Surely, TBA needs the money more than the coffee corporation?  In all fairness to my friend Dan, he would be the first to admit he spends way too much on coffee.  

In fact, Dan and his family, like me and mine, were among the first to support the Chai campaign when we kicked it off two years ago with a sizable donation!  Many of the former Presidents have stepped up the plate and made considerable donations to assist us move this obstacle.  I share this not to brag.  Nor do I share this to embarrass anyone.  Like me, our past presidents are private people who go about their business and do not need pats on the back.  We all know that leadership requires us to set the example from the front.  

Will you step up and follow our lead? 

What if each and every person in the room during Yom Kippur wrote TBA a check for $250 or even $1,000.  Will you miss the money that much?  Will it make that much of a difference to your everyday lives?   

Do you know when a city put up a stop sign?  Well, it's generally not when its citizens ask for one, it is when someone gets hit by a car and that someone is usually a child. 

How many shuls have closed after the High Holidays because the President failed to include in his appeal that immediate action was required?  I will not make that mistake. 

Since I have been a member of TBA, so many of you have told me that you love Temple Beth Ami.  You have told me it means so much to you and your family.  You have told me that Rabbi Blazer is simply the best and you have told me that there is no better Cantor than Cantor Kenny.  The time for words is over.  Please don't tell me anymore, it's now time to show me. 

Annual budgets are fluid.  Things happen and things change.  For members of TBA, your membership dues are not enough to cover our annual expenses and for non-members who are joined us for high holidays, the price of your ticket does not defer the many costs and expenses we have in running TBA.

Temple Beth Ami is our shul.  We are all partners in it success.  We have a solemn obligation to support it, to keep it in business......to be a viable and relevant organization of faith long after we have all gone.   Let us, right here, right now, do what needs to be done to make this happen.  Let "retiring unproductive debt" never be a topic of discussion again.  This obstacle needs to be moved to clear our path of forward progress.

What a shame it would be, if in 10, 20 or even 30 years our kids or even our grandkids were saying, do you remember Temple Beth Ami, remember what great things people said about it?  What happened to it, where did it go?

As mention during Rosh Hashanah, we are doing good things at TBA, but we can do more.  Let us set the example for all small congregations everywhere.   Yes, we have challenges and yes some people might be tempted to give up in the face of this challenge, but long ago I quickly learned "never give up; never give in." 

Failure is not an option. 

Our lights are currently still on….History will be our judge.

Shalom,

John Stulman
President
[email protected]

Last Saturday night I had the great pleasure to travel to Westminster’s Temple Beth David for the annual Men of Reformed Judaism (MRJ), “Man of the Year” dinner. The wine was flowing and the food was great, but that was only a side benefit of my attendance. The highlight of the night was getting the opportunity to stand and applaud for Temple Beth Ami’s Man of the Year, Jeff Stein!



Jeff Stein (2nd from right) being honored by MRJ representatives
and Rick Kaufman (2nd from the left) MRJ Western Region President
 
Perhaps summed up best by our own TBA Trustee and MRJ Western Region President, Rick Kaufman, during his introduction speech, “there are three distinct tracks of Jewish life at Temple Beth Ami – the religious; the cultural; and the social. Jeff can be found at the center of each track.”  While most TBA congregants participate in one, or maybe at best, two of these tracks, Jeff is one of the few congregants who have found a way to combine all three into a wonderful Jewish sundae, and his commitment to mitzvot is the cherry on top! 

Members of Temple Beth Ami since 2000; Jeff is the 2010 PASHA award recipient and is a regular at virtually every TBA religious study program including Talmud and Torah Study. He and his wife, Immediate Past President Joyce Stein, are a continual presence at Shabbat and religious holiday services. When it comes to social events that TBA host like the recent Casino Night or our annual Kosher Turkey Bowl football game, you can count on Jeff to be there – warmly greeting old friends and kindly welcoming new ones. And no matter where the cultural event we are hosting – from the trips to Israel led by Rabbi Blazer to being in attendance at one of our many guest speakers’seminars hosted at TBA, Jeff will be there! 

Simply being there is not enough for Jeff – he becomes part of the fabric of events. From manning the grill at the recent TBA Purim Carnival to setting up or breaking down chairs for group events, Jeff can be counted on! And if that weren’t enough, Jeff is a founding member of the Men’s Club and has been the Treasurer for three years running! 

What makes Jeff all the more special is that he embodies the character traits we hope for our children to grow up with! Jeff is a fighter as evidenced by his courageous battle against, and victory over Bladder Cancer! Jeff is a mentor to his son David (yet one more Stein making TBA proud by way of his service in the US Navy!)! Jeff is, to sum up, a true Jewish role model!
 
If you did not know Jeff and were to simply read this article you might imagine him to be a “larger than life”character – and you would be right! Don’t misunderstand me; Jeff isn’t “larger than life” because he is boisterous. You see he doesn’t need to be the loudest man in the room to be among the most respected, because Jeff has earned his respect through his deeds. So please join me in applauding our man of the year, Jeff Stein! 

In November, the President's Post focused on the many mitzvot and social opportunities which Temple Beth Ami supports and promotes.  As part of our modern tradition of reflection towards the end of the secular New Year, Daniel Levine, Temple Beth Ami President, agreed to sit for an interview that focuses on the 'economic state of Temple Beth Ami'. 

Interviewer: Daniel, thank you for sitting down with me today to discuss the 'Economic State of Temple Beth Ami.'  I understand that you are a very busy man having a full time job, being a family man, and presiding over the Temple Beth Ami board of trustees.

Daniel: It is absolutely my pleasure. In fact, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity.  I have always found Q & A sessions a great way to organize my thoughts and communicate to a wider audience.

Interviewer:  You are coming to the end of your second term as President.  Have you spent any time reflecting on what has occurred during your tenure?

Daniel: Yes, in fact I try after any major decision or event to take some time to reflect.  Leadership is often thought of in terms of future events and for good reason – after all, a leader does just that, 'leads' people to new territory.  However, in my opinion and experience, to efficiently lead into new areas, one must have an understanding of both where we are now and how we arrived there. 

Interviewer: I noticed you used the word 'efficiently' in your last answer.  You and I have chatted in the past and that is something that seems to be a focus of yours.  Can you expand on that concept for the readers?

Daniel: Yes, of course.  Fundamental to effective management and leadership is the concept of 'efficiency.'   History has thought us that virtually anything can be accomplished.  Monuments can be raised and empires can be built.  But all that stands the test of time is that which is built with efficiency in mind.  One must understand that there are certain 'laws' that must be observed such as the economic law of scarcity – that all resources are limited.  All successful ventures are built on the foundation of this knowledge.  We should demand that our leaders keep this concept at the forefront in all planning.  Failing to understand this simple concept will eventually result in ruin, no matter how successful the venture initially appears.

Interviewer: Looking back, as you close in on your second and final year of being TBA President, what has been your most satisfying accomplishment?

Daniel:  Without any doubt or hesitation I can answer this question – but it may not be the answer that most people would think obvious.  When I became President, our operating budget was severely in the red. The congregation was having difficulties meeting our basic monthly obligations.  Through a combination of budget austerity, modestly increased revenue, and money generously donated to the Chai Campaign (a fund established for the specific purpose of ridding TBA of all debt), we have been able to come current on all our financial commitments and put ourselves on track to complete the year without having to borrow from our future. I am very proud that we have righted our financial ship. But that is not the accomplishment of which I am most proud.

Interviewer: Really? Ok if it is not that, than what is it?

Daniel:  It is something subtle.  Something that is difficult to measure and even harder to accomplish. I am proudest of the fact that we have begun the process of changing the culture of the governing board.  We have begun to alter the fundamental way the board collectively thinks.   Because of the transient nature of boards, specific accomplishments, such as having a balanced budget are far less significant than a 'culture' shift of an organization.   

Interviewer: So what is the 'culture' of Temple Beth Ami and what was wrong with it before?

Daniel: Let me be clear – there was nothing wrong with the culture of TBA prior to me coming on-board. Temple Beth Ami's founding mission is to 'worship God, to promote Jewish education and the fundamental principles of Judaism, to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people, to cultivate love, understanding and enjoyment of our Jewish heritage and to encourage community involvement.'   Each board since our inception has worked to further this mission in the here-and-now.  The culture shift I speak of is one where we think in terms of our future; one where we stop borrowing from our future and begin thinking in terms of how we achieve our collective mission now and in the future.  

Interviewer: 'Borrow from our future.' You mentioned that twice in this interview.  Can you explain what you mean by that?

Daniel:  I am glad you are paying attention!  Over the last several years that is exactly how TBA boards have balanced the congregation books – by borrowing from our future.  Each year we came up short and asked congregants to pre-pay the future year's membership dues.   The following year we would come up short of funds earlier than the previous year.  This was clearly an unsustainable cycle.   When I became President I vowed that by the end of my presidency this cycle of borrowing from our future would end.  And I am glad to share that we are on track to do just that!  While there are still challenges to achieving this, it appears we will end this year without having to ask any congregant to pre-pay future year's dues!   

Interviewer: Earlier you credited the Chai Campaign for helping to payoff debt.  Can you update the congregation on the campaign?

Daniel:  We are off to a good start!  But before I give specific numbers let me remind you that campaigns, by their nature, are designed to be successful in the long term.  While the goal of the Chai Campaign is to wipe out all TBA debt, nobody thought this could be done in just a few months.  Understanding this, I can share with you now that Chai Campaign has raised over 10% of the stated goal.  Yes, that is well short of our ultimate goal of paying off all debt and burning the mortgage but what we have done in this area so far is a big deal and we should take a moment to thank everyone who has given to the campaign!  However, like all ongoing campaigns, there is hard work to be done before we can declare ourselves victorious.   

Interviewer:  How can congregants and other contributors be sure the money will be applied towards the principle owed on the mortgage? 

Daniel:  Great question!  The natural temptation or moral hazard if you will, of any governing body is to borrow from a designated fund to fill gaps in the general budget.  We see governments do this all the time.   There should be no confusion that the ultimate goal of the Chai Campaign is to burn our mortgage.  But we have other stops on that journey.  We needed to pay back some back wages owed to staff; we needed to pay back some congregants for personal loans made to TBA in the past.  While I am glad to report that we have accomplished these small milestones, I want to assure you, the congregants, and all those who have been generous enough to pledge that we have instructed our bookkeeper to keep track of every penny pledged to the Chai Campaign in a separate account, held as a liability to TBA until such time as it is used pay down the principle owed.

Interviewer:  So, if I understand you correctly,  we have paid off some back debt which TBA owed thanks to the Chai Campaign?

Daniel: Exactly!  That is exactly why the Chai Campaign was established – to make us debt free.   But to ensure the integrity of the fund the board has asked that any money donated to the Chai Campaign be held on our books as a liability until such time as our mortgage is burned. We are on the path to doing this, burning our mortgage, right now! 

Interviewer:  Daniel, I know we have run past our allotted time.  Thanks once again for your time!

Daniel:  My pleasure. I know you asked me to focus on fiscal issues for this interview, but would you mind if I ended by reminding the readers to always keep in mind why we exist as a congregation?  This board is dedicated to the belief that Temple Beth Ami must have a stable economic foundation, now and tomorrow, so that we can deliver on our collective mission to 'worship God, to promote Jewish education and the fundamental principles of Judaism, to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people, to cultivate love, understanding and enjoyment of our Jewish heritage and to encourage community involvement.' This is our mission – in the past, today, and in our future, for many years to come!

I love lists and have since I was a child. They seem to me an efficient way to organize and measure one's thoughts. Since Thanksgiving is coming up and that day tops my list of "favorite holidays," I thought this would be a great time to share my Top 3 Reasons I Enjoy Being a Member of Beth Ami!

Number 1 – Our Commitment to Social Action!

Temple Beth Ami has become a hub of positive social action. Through the commitment, dedication, and actions of many of our congregants we have positioned ourselves as "the place" to turn if you want to fulfill the sacred commitment of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world!  

As the air has turned chilly and the holiday season is approaching, it is a perfect time to share just two of the mitzvot programs Temple Beth Ami actively supports two opportunities for you to feed a hungry child or keep a family warm during a cold winter night.
 
Family Promise! Family Promise's uniqueness lies in its simple but meaningful model of operation. Twelve religious organizations from the Santa Clarita Valley take turns hosting several local homeless families. Our congregants have the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of real people by simply driving to Temple Beth Ami. It really is that easy!  

These are local homeless families, usually with small children who, without this program, would be sleeping in our streets. In the morning, after leaving TBA, the families we host are hard at work gaining the skills necessary to land a job. During the several rotations Temple Beth Ami has hosted, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand people land jobs, find apartments, and start rebuilding their lives –- Family Promise works!  

I find Family Promise such a meaningful opportunity that I take the entire first evening for my family! Our congregation's week of hosting always starts on a Sunday. Many people would find that the most inconvenient day to volunteer -- but that is exactly why I do it! I want to teach my young sons that we do mitzvot when people are need of help without regard to convenience level.

Temple Beth Ami only hosts once every twelve weeks so do not miss your chance to help. There is NO excuse for not participating:

• You don't have money? No excuse as Family Promise asks you to donate time – that is all! I have been involved with the program for almost two years and not once have I been asked to donate money.  
• You don't have time? No excuse because there are night shifts available and all you have to do is sleep at TBA – you are literally doing a mitzvah in your sleep!  
• You are shy and don't like to interact with people?  No excuse because you can bring breakfast in the morning without so much as seeing or taking to a single person.   One morning I awoke from my overnight shift to a text message from a fellow congregant letting me know that she had left hot breakfast sandwiches at the gate for the families (and they loved them!)!

How do you get involved? Simply, send an email to our current Temple Beth Ami liaison Jackie Fisher using our Social Action Contact Page. Jackie will make sure you are included upcoming events!

SCV Food Pantry!  Santa Clarita is a beautiful area of Los Angeles. I, as do most of our congregants, count among my many blessings the opportunity life has given me to live in such a beautiful, well maintained, and professionally managed area. The high quality of life, well manicured bike paths and walkways, and the family entertainment opportunities that abound in the SCV make it all together too easy to forget that in this valley of riches live many people who face a day-to-day struggle to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.  

The fact is that that more than 16% of the households in the City of Santa Clarita earn less than $29,999 per year. The fact is that many of our senior citizen neighbors live on fixed incomes and are faced with the "Devil's Choice" between purchasing the medications they require or the food they need!  

The SCV Food Pantry is committed to their mission statement that "no child in the Santa Clarita Valley should go to bed hungry!" Year-after-year, the Food Pantry has supplied tons of food to our neighbors in need! How can you help? Easy, you can bring canned foods to Temple Beth Ami's drop off barrel located in the sanctuary or contact our TBA liaison for the SCV Food Pantry, Francine G. Van Scoyoc, using our Social Action Contact Page.

Before I move along on my list of why I enjoy being a part of TBA, I would be remiss if I did not share with you that among the many other ways Temple Beth Ami furthers our collective commitment to Tikkun Olam include hosting groups such as Alcoholic Anonymous, Al-Anon; and Overeaters Anonymous as well as supporting fundraisers including Relay For Life and the Ride to Defeat ALS. 

The list is virtually endless and if you want more information or have questions about any of our Social Action Programs please contact us at via our Social Action Contact Page or email me directly.
 
Number 2 – Fun Social Mixers!

From our two Synagogue Softball teams to the many Sisterhood events such as the recent fashion show, there are many opportunities to simply get together, meet new people, and interact with other congregants of Temple Beth Ami! Let me share two specific events coming up soon!

A Night In Paris – Casino Night! On the evening of Saturday November 17, we will be holding our most important fundraiser of the year which just happens to be a great way to mingle with other TBA congregants. It is open to the entire community so invite your friends, neighbors and family!

This year the event is being hosted at the beautiful Chateau Hann. For those, like me, who normally can not go to these great events for lack of a sitter, there is good news -- this event offers discounted babysitting! Take advantage of this rare opportunity to drop the kids off and enjoy some grownup company! Keep in mind this is an RSVP only event so get in on the fun by reserving you spot at  http://anightinparis.eventbrite.com or call the Temple Beth Ami front office and ask for details!

The Kosher Turkey Flag Football Extravaganza! Hard to believe but this is our fourth annual game! On the day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 23), the men of TBA battle for control the Sid Luckman Memorial trophy! The event is held at Chesebrough Park (23505 Sunset Hills Drive) and there is no charge to participate (but you do have to be a TBA and/or Men's Club to get in the game). 

Here are the details: All men (21 years and older) who are Temple Beth Ami congregants and/or TBA Men's Club members come out for a friendly game of flag football!  The teams are roughly divided by where you live (East of the 5 Freeway or West). All skill levels are welcome and everyone plays. There is an informal children's (12 and under) touch football game starting at 11:00 a.m. The main event kicks off at noon! Bring the entire family to cheer and mingle!    

Out of Town? Follow the action via our worldwide play-by-play Twitter-cast @KosherTurkey or on the live feed at www.facebook.com/TempleBethAmi

If you have questions about this great event please contact the Men's Club.

Number 3 – Very Cool People!

Did you know that our Rabbi and one of our congregants have been named to the Signal's 51 Most Influential People in the Santa Clarita Valley? Kudos to Rabbi Blazer and Shelley Hann on this wonderful and well deserved honor! Rabbi Blazer and Shelley Hann are just two of the fascinating people who call Temple Beth Ami their spiritual home!   

I love going to services and social mixers because it allows me to meet a diverse and interesting group of people.  Every one of our congregants has a back-story and every back-story is just so interesting!  We have congregants who are veterans of World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, The First and Second Gulf Wars, and Afghanistan. We have a congregant who lived through the London Blitz and whose families were involved in major historical events!  Congregants come from all walks of life and all areas of the globe. Getting to know these individuals who collectively make up Temple Beth Ami has enriched my life!

Now it is your turn – send me the Top 3 Reasons you enjoy being a congregant of Temple Beth Ami! You can tell in person at Casino Night, at the Kosher Turkey Bowl, or during services. Or contact me directly! 

The actions we have taken as a board have the potential to change the trajectory of our Temple Beth Ami community in the coming years. 

The difficult choices of closing a persistent budget deficit with a combination of revenue increases, top to bottom expense reviews, modest labor expense reductions, and an improved collection of dues via FACT allows your elected board to do what it must. These actions are not taken lightly, but with tremendous deliberation and debate. We owe this to our community and our Rabbi.

I believe our collective goals must be to have a firm financial foundation that will allow our spiritual guide, Rabbi Blazer, to be active inside our temple and in our community. We need Judaism to thrive in Santa Clarita. There is no price on our ability to educate our children and influence our community with mitzvah, to grow our temple and practice our religion free of financial constraint or concern. As we move forward in the New Year, it is my hope that we all embrace our temple and our goals and in the process pursue our dreams.

Our Chai Campaign, where we ask for voluntary tzedakah aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating the facilities mortgage debt by raising funds voluntarily from our members, sponsors and community, and give us greater financial flexibility as we reduce monthly interest expenses. We do not collect separate facility dues like most churches and temples. We rely on volunteers, and we have faith that our members and sponsors will be contributing in large and small amounts to the Chai Campaign to burn our mortgage, clearing out our debt and providing more opportunities for programs and mitzvot and ultimately setting us in a better financial position to build our new temple one day.

I ask that you understand, cooperate and participate in this difficult but hopeful endeavor going forward. The future is bright if we all pull together with a common goal.

Shalom,

Daniel Levine
President, Board of Trustees