The YABA Blog

YABA dabba dairy dinner for Erev Shavuot!

2008-06-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to sign up by Tuesday for our dairy dinner before the Tikkun L'eil Shavuot!

Shavuot is the holiday when we celebrate the revelation of Torah at Mount Sinai. It's traditional to have dairy meals for Shavuot, and that means...cheesecake! And blintzes. And other yummy things. (And Lactaid, perhaps.) It's also traditional to pull a Jewish all-nighter -- we stay up all night studying and learning in what's called a "Tikkun Leil Shavuot," to prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually to receive Torah once again. Our sages teach us that every Jewish soul was at Mount Sinai with the Children of Israel, and every year we come "home" and experience it anew.

So you are cordially invited to join us for Mincha (the afternoon service) at 7 p.m., followed by a very dairy dinner at 7.15. We'll join Temple Beth Am, IKAR, PicoEgal, and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies for a community-wide Ma'ariv (evening service) and Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The study session will start with an opening plenary titled, "Can We Talk? The Deterioration of Public Discourse," featuring Rabbi Daniel Greyber (director of Camp Ramah in California), Rabbi Perry Netter (rabbi of Temple Beth Am), and Rabbi Sharon Brous (rabbi of IKAR), and moderated by Rabbi Joel Rembaum (senior rabbi of TBA). Following that will be study sessions on a variety of topics led by a variety of teachers, including Rabbi Susan Leider (assistant rabbi of TBA) and your favorite YABA Chair (who is not a rabbi!). We'll have Shacharit (the morning service) at 5.15 a.m.

Please, please, please RSVP by Tuesday 3 June 2008 so we have an accurate head-count for the caterer! We'd hate to have to turn people away, which we've had to do at our last few Shabbat dinners.

* details * details * details

What: Dinner and Tikkun Leil Shavuot
When: Sunday 8 June 2008
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles 90035
Time: 7 p.m. Mincha * 7.15 p.m. dinner * 8.30 p.m. Ma'ariv and Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Cost: $10 (for dinner! no charge for the davening or the learning, that's all free...)
RSVP: online or call 310.652.7354 x230 by Tuesday 3 June 2008!

See you then!

Blood & Bone Marrow Drive -- Sunday 1 June 2008!

2008-05-22T15:39:00.000-07:00

One who saves a life, it is as if he (or she) has saved the entire world. That's what our sages teach us, and now you have an opportunity to participate in a truly life-saving mitzvah. In cooperation with Temple Beth Am and the Pressman Academy (TBA's day school and religious school), YABA is co-sponsoring a blood and bone marrow drive. You've heard from us before how important it is to donate blood; in the summer, blood supplies often dwindle to dangerously low levels. But this time, we're adding a bone marrow drive. Ronit Polsky, the daughter of the principal of the Pressman Academy elementary school, has been diagnosed with leukemia, and a bone marrow transplant will most likely be a critical part of her treatment.

Registering as a potential bone marrow donor is quick, easy, and painless -- you'll just swab the inside of your cheek with a q-tip. If you are determined to be a match for someone awaiting a bone marrow transplant, you will be contacted, and the choice to undergo further testing and to make the donation will be up to you.

This is a huge mitzvah and a life-affirming way to support our community. Please sign up today for an appointment to donate blood! (You don't need an appointment to sign up for the National Marrow Donor Registry.)

What: Blood & Bone Marrow Drive
When: Sunday 1 June 2008
Time: 9 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 90035
RSVP: http://www.bikurcholim.net/BikurCholim/Site/Blood/appointment.asp?m=15

See you then!

Shabbat Dinner 28 Feb and Blood Drive 9 March!

2008-02-19T22:59:00.000-08:00

YABA SHABBAT DINNER - 29 FEBRUARY 2008

It's a once-in-four-years opportunity. Actually -- it's a once-in-28-years opportunity -- that's how long it will take for Leap Day to be on a Friday again. So, really, it's a once-in-a-LIFETIME opportunity, because in twenty-eight years, none of us will be eligible for YABA anymore! So you definitely don't want to miss out on this one. We'll have services with the Neshama Minyan at 5.30, and dinner will be at 6.45. Remember, at our last two dinners, we had to turn people away, so PLEASE reserve your spot by the TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2008 at noon!!

And this won't be just any dinner. It's the midst of primary season, and we will be having a conversation about those strangest of bedfellows, religion and politics, with AIPAC speakers from each side of the aisle.

* * *

YABA BLOOD DRIVE - 9 MARCH 2008

Did you know that fewer than 3% of adults donate blood in Southern California? The average adult has about 10 pints of blood. A victim of a major trauma can require up to 100 units during treatment. Our blood drive in November was a success -- we collected nearly 30 pints of blood, and helped save a whole lot of lives. So we are sponsoring another blood drive -- we're looking to do even better this time around, and we need your help! Our second blood drive will be on Sunday 9 March 2008 from 12.30 to 5.30 at Temple Beth Am. We need donors AND publicity! If you're able to give blood, please schedule an appointment (details below). Whether or not you can donate, please encourage others to come donate blood as well! Please spread the word, and together we can save a whole lot of lives.

* * *

DETAILS!

YABA SHABBAT DINNER
What: Shabbat dinner with all your favorite YABAniks
When: Friday 29 February 2008 - 5.30 services, 6.45 dinner
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., 90035
Why: Because you'll never have this opportunity again -- to have a Leap Day Shabbat Dinner with YABA!
RSVP: sign up online * e-mail yaba@tbala.org * call 310.652.7354 x268 BY NOON on TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY!

YABA BLOOD DRIVE
What: A blood drive, in partnership with UCLA
When: Sunday 9 March, 10.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., 90035 - the UCLA Bloodmobile will be parked outside the shul.
Why: To save lives!
RSVP: schedule your appointment: online * e-mail yaba@tbala.org * call 310.652.7354 x268

The Bloodmobile can only handle three donors at a time, so please schedule an appointment so you won't have to wait! (And if you can't edit the spreadsheet from the link at the bottom of the page, e-mail us and we'll help you out!)

Kosher Wine-Tasting, version 3.0

2008-01-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

Who needs the SuperBowl when there's wine to be had?

On Sunday 3 February 2008, instead of watching teams who aren't the Eagles play football (I'm a Pennsylvania girl, sorry) and commercials that aren't interesting (darn that dot-com bust!)...join YABA and our co-sponsors from Congregation Beth Meier for an afternoon of good wine, good food, and good friends.

We'll meet at Temple Beth Am (with an additional stop at Beth Meier), take a bus to the winery, have a self-guided tour and a wine-tasting (complete with yummy kosher appetizers), and of course have plenty of time to check out the gift shop. Then we'll take the bus back to Beth Am (again stopping at Beth Meier), and if people are interested, we might have a group go out for dinner at one of the kosher restaurants nearby.

Details!

What: Kosher wine-tasting with all your favorite YABAniks
When: Sunday 3 February 2008
Time: 1 p.m. - meet at Beth Am (should return between 5.30 and 6 p.m.)
(the bus will stop in Studio City on the way there and on the way back for our friends at Beth Meier)
Where: meet at Beth Am - 1039 S. La Cienega, 90035
Cost: $20.00 per person (includes bus, wine-tasting, and appetizers)
RSVP: by Monday 28 January 2008 - online, e-mail, or phone (310.652.7354 x230)

Shabbat Chanukah dinner!

2007-12-03T07:01:00.001-08:00

Chanukah is just around the corner! Please join us on Friday 7 December at 5.30 p.m. for Neshama minyan services, followed by dinner at 7. We'll have latkes, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), dreidels, and all that good stuff. Who knows, there might even be an impromptu "Dreidel Spin-Off." It's up to you.

Details!

What: YABA Shabbat Chanukah dinner
When: Friday 7 December 2007, 5.30 services, 7.00 dinner
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. 90035
Why: Because at least one of these 8 crazy nights ought to spent with your favorite YABAniks!

Cost: $15

RSVP: by Tuesday 2 December 2007
- online: click here
- e-mail: yaba@tbala.org
- phone: 310.652.7354 x230

* * *
For our Sukkot dinner, we had to turn people away, so don't forget to RSVP by Tuesday 2 December!

Blood Drives and Board Games and Mitzvahs, oh my!

2007-11-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

How often do you get the chance to do the ultimate mitzvah -- save a life -- AND have fun at the same time? On Sunday 18 November from 12-5.30 p.m., we'll be sponsoring a blood drive through Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, held at Temple Beth Am. And we'll have board games, snacks, and music, so stick around and spend the afternoon with YABA.

Did you know that fewer than 3% of adults donate blood in Southern California? The average adult has about 10 pints of blood. A victim of a major trauma can require up to 100 units during treatment. We need your participation! Even if you can't donate, please spread the word to others who can. (And, of course, you're still welcome to join us that afternoon!)

What: Blood drive & board games
When: Sunday 18 November, 1-5 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd., 90035 in Hersch Hall
Why: To save lives and have fun, all at the same time!
RSVP: Click here to schedule your appointment!

And if you know people who are over 18 -- even if they're not in their 20s or 30s -- please spread the word, because we'd love to have as many donors as possible.

Feedback, please!

2007-09-30T08:04:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the 35 of you who turned out for our Sukkot dinner! I hope you're all having a wonderful Sukkot.

We are thinking of doing a YABA-sponsored blood drive on Sunday 18 November 2007. At the moment, it's entirely hypothetical, but we'd really like to make it happen, since we know that the California blood banks are facing a shortage.

So I'm wondering how many of you think you'd come to such an event. You can leave comments here on the blog, or e-mail yaba@tbala.org and let us know. It's not a binding commitment; I'd just like to gauge a general level of interest.

Chag sameach to all!

Tashlich at the Beach, and Sukkot Dinner 3.0

2007-09-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

It's a very YABA New Year!

Join YABA for Tashlich at the Beach. Tashlich is a beautiful, spiritual tradition of "casting off" our sins. Between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, you go to a flowing body of water, and cast a physical embodiment of your sins (usually breadcrumbs or rice) into the water, and recite some short prayers. We will be having our YABA Tashlich service on Sunday morning, 16 September 2007 from 10-11 a.m. in Santa Monica. As before, this is a "Bring Your Own Sins" event (i.e., breadcrumbs are not provided!).

And for the third year in a row, we will be having Shabbat dinner in the Sukkah! On Friday 28 September, please join us for services at Neshama Minyan at 5.45 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 o'clock in the sukkah. Watch your e-mails for an Evite...and don't forget to sign up by Tuesday 25 September! We can't wait to see you all. We're looking forward to a great year, so stay tuned!

Tashlich at the Beach
What: a chance to cast off your sins
When: Sunday 16 September 2007, 10-11 a.m.
Where: Santa Monica, meet at parking lot 4N on PCH
Cost: a bag of sins (breadcrumbs) plus parking
RSVP: not required, but if we don't know you're coming,
we won't know to wait for you!

Shabbat Sukkot Dinner
What: our third-annual dinner in the sukkah!
When: Friday 28 September 2007
Time: 5.45 p.m. - Neshama minyan services
7.00 p.m. - Dinner in the sukkah
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S La Cienega Blvd., 90035
Cost: $10
RSVP: sign up online! or e-mail yaba@tbala.org or call 310.652.7354 x230 by Tues 25 September

* * * Please let us know if you're vegetarian or vegan! * * *

Shana Tova u'Metukah -- our best wishes for a good and sweet New Year!

Looking back, looking forward

2007-07-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

Howdy, YABAniks!

5767 was a great year -- from Tashlich and our Sukkot dinner back in October, to our second-annual winery trip in February, to the long-awaited (by me, at least!) Lag B'oard Games, and all of our Shabbat dinners and lunches. Many thanks to all of you who attended one or more of our events!

As Hollywood does, we're going on hiatus for the summer. But we have planned out most of our calendar for 5768. Once again, we'll kick off with Tashlich at the beach, and we'll continue our tradition of Shabbat dinner in the sukkah. We've got great events scheduled, and we hope you'll join us! We'll advertise in all the usual places as the New Year draws nearer (sooner than you think!) -- here on the blog, on ChosenNet, on the Beth Am website (which is being re-designed and re-launched this summer!), and on the Jewish Journal's site, and of course we'll e-mail you as well.

If you'd like to drop us a note during the summer, feel free to comment here on the blog, or e-mail us at yaba@tbala.org.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. Have a great summer, everyone!

Benefit concert THIS THURSDAY, and Shavuot

2007-05-07T20:59:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to everyone who came out for Lag B'oard Games! I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all. Particularly by those who won Trivial Pursuit. ;)

Those of you who have been to the Neshama minyan at Beth Am for Friday night services have probably heard my little YABA spiel: "We do cool stuff with cool people in their 20s and 30s." Well, we are also part of the greater Beth Am community, and the greater LA Jewish community. So this post is about some upcoming events that aren't YABA events per se, but they're still cool things with cool people, so you may be interested in attending.

Thursday 10 May 2007 - Voices of Healing
Joel Shickman, a rabbinical student at the Ziegler School at AJU (the American Jewish University, formerly the UJ - University of Judaism) has been diagnosed with AML, a form of leukemia. There is a concert at AJU this Thursday evening to raise money for his family, to cover medical costs and other necessities. The concert is at Gindi Hall from 7.30 to 9 p.m. Suggested donation is $18 per person at the door. More information is here.

Tuesday 22 May 2007 - Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
On Pesach (Passover), we are redeemed from slavery. For seven weeks, we journey through the desert, and on Shavuot, we receive revelation at Mount Sinai. There is a tradition that on erev Shavuot, in order to prepare ourselves spiritually for the revelation of Torah that awaits us in the morning, we stay up all night long to study. It's called a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot.

This year, Temple Beth Am is hosting a community Tikkun. We will partner with IKAR, Shtibl, Pico Egal, and the Ziegler School of the AJU for an evening of study. Our focus will be issues of war and peace from a Jewish perspective. There will be two plenary sessions to start, followed by several (simultaneous) small breakout groups. It should be a fascinating evening. More details are here. We'll start at 9.30 p.m. and continue all the way through to Shacharit (the morning service) at 5.30 a.m.

Lag B'Oard Games!

2007-04-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's YABA's punniest event ever. BYOBG (that's "Bring Your Own Board Games!") and join YABA for an afternoon of fun and games.

What: A celebration of Lag B'Omer, by way of Milton Bradley.
When: Sunday 6 May 2007, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S La Cienega Blvd., 90035
Cost: Free! (But please RSVP so we know how much snack food to get!)
RSVP: yaba@tbala.org, or call 310.652.7354 x230 by Thursday 3 May 2007!

Chametz Fest 5767

2007-03-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

Passover hasn't even started yet, and YABA's already planning for the end of it. After eight days of the liberation celebration, you'll be glad we did!

Join YABA at a private home in Cheviot Hills for Havdalah, kosher deli, and - of course - bread and beer. Here are the details...

What: A break-Pesach event
When: Tuesday 10 April, 8.30 to 10 p.m.
Where: A private home in Cheviot Hills; address given upon RSVP
Cost: $5 (cash and checks only, please - pay at the door)
RSVP: yaba@tbala.org, or call 310.652.7354 x230 by THURSDAY 5 APRIL 2007!

*Please let us know if you're vegetarian or vegan -- we'll make sure there's good stuff for you, too!*

YABA Shabbat lunch - 24 March 2007

2007-03-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

Purim's over. Passover is just around the corner. And YABA has a full calendar of events...

Shabbat lunch, 24 March 2007
Join us at the Bait Tefillah service, led by Rabbi Susan Leider. Then stick around for shmoozing and lunch!

What: lunch, of course!
When: 24 March 2007 - services at 9.45, lunch around 12.30
Where: Temple Beth Am - 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. 90035
Bait Tefillah meets in Pilch Hall and lunch will be in Hersch Hall
Cost: $15
RSVP to yaba@tbala.org (or call Desiree at 310.652.7354 x230) by Monday 19 March to reserve your space! If you would like an aliyah or would like to lead a part of the service or read Torah, let us know ASAP.

Coming up:

Break-Pesach, 10 April 2007 -- We'll be having another "chametz-fest" to celebrate the end of Passover. Details to come!

Lag B'oard Games, 6 May 2007 -- It's YABA's punniest event ever. BYOBG (that's "Bring Your Own Board Games!") and join YABA for an afternoon of fun and games.

Purim in the Hood

2007-02-27T20:28:00.000-08:00

It's Purim...Mexican style.

Temple Beth Am, in conjunction with YABA, along with co-sponsors Shtibl, Pico Egal, Nashuva, and Jewish World Watch, is proud to host Purim in the Hood. Premium tequila...the kosher taco cart...a club DJ...and we're raising money to benefit the women of Darfur, to boot.

Who: You!
What: A party...a capital-E Event...a transcendent experience...
When: Saturday night, 3 March 2007, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. 90035
Why: Because it's the place to be for Purim 5767.
Cost: $20 minimum donation at the door.

There will be a cash bar in addition to the tequila bar. Please do bring CASH, since we cannot accept credit cards at the door or at the bar!

All proceeds will benefit Jewish World Watch's Fuel for Action program to provide solar cookers to the women of Darfur.

Check out the flyer. See you there...you don't want to miss this.

Winery photos

2007-02-19T21:55:00.000-08:00

Alright, y'all -- I'm great at writing posts, decent at taking pictures...but pretty bad at remembering to take pictures. So I only have three photos from our wild winery wackiness. If you have any pictures from the event, please do share them with me. Here's what I've got...

Talkin' 'bout Tu B'Shevat

2007-02-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Big thanks to those of you who attended our Tu B'Shevat tree planting event today!

More pictures to come!

YABA Goes to the Winery...2007 Edition

2007-01-29T23:07:00.000-08:00

It's back again, by popular demand -- sign up now for our second annual wine-tasting trip at the Baron Herzog winery!

What: A self-guided tour, followed by a private kosher wine-tasting
When: Sunday 11 February 2007
Where: Meet at Temple Beth Am at 1 p.m. (returning at 5 p.m.)
(We'll take a bus to the winery, which is in Oxnard.)
Why: To prove that not all kosher wine tastes like Manischewitz!
Cost: $25 -- includes the tasting, appetizers, and transportation

RSVP to yaba@tbala.org or call Desiree at 310.652.7354 x230 by Tuesday 6 February!

This was a great event last year. Don't miss out!

* * * * * * * *

Also, check us out on ChosenNet!

Tu B'Shevat, Tree-Planting, and YOU!

2007-01-29T23:04:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the birthday of the trees with a YABA tree planting!

What: Planting trees with TreePeople
Followed by a quick (kid-friendly) Tu B'Shevat seder
When: Sunday 4 February 2007, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Runyon Canyon
Cost: Free!

Space is limited -- so even though it's free, we still need you to RSVP to yaba@tbala.org or call Desiree at 310.652.7354 x230 by Thursday 1 February. Precise location (and directions) will be given when you RSVP. Also, let us know if you're interested in car-pooling, and we'll see what we can arrange.

Our first-ever AIPAC speaker

2006-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

What does YABA have in store for 2007? I'm so glad you asked!

On Friday 19 January, we'll be having a Shabbat dinner following services. Elliot Brandt, the Western States Director of AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) will be speaking. My sources tell me he's one of their best speakers, so it should be a great evening. Details (and I admit, I have to double-check these!) --

When: Services at 5.30 p.m. with the Neshama Minyan
When: Dinner at 6.30 p.m.
Where: Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Cost: $18
RSVP: to yaba@tbala.org or call Desiree at 310.652.7354 x230.

As always, let us know if you're vegetarian. See you then!

What's to come

2006-12-19T06:39:00.000-08:00

Howdy, YABAniks --

As 2006 draws to a close, we are busy planning lots of great YABA events for 2007. You'll be getting e-mails about these in the coming weeks, but here's just a little preview for you...

Friday 19 January 2007 - YABA dinner (after services) with a speaker from AIPAC.

Sunday 4 February 2007 - Tu B'Shevat tree-planting with TreePeople, followed by a short (and family-friendly) Tu B'Shevat seder.

Sunday 11 February 2007 - Our Second Annual trip to (drumroll, please) the Baron Herzog Winery! This event was amazing last time. Don't miss out!

December to Remember

2006-11-28T22:37:00.000-08:00

hi all,

We've got great stuff coming up in December...

Friday 15 December 2006 -- Davening, Dining, and D'rashing

* Who: Young Adults, and also Prof. Arnie Eisen, the soon-to-be Chancellor of JTS.
* What: Services (davening), a yummy meal (dining), and a speech by the Chancellor-Elect (d'rashing).
* When (davening): 5.30 p.m. - Services with the Neshama minyan
* When (dining): 6.30 p.m. - Dinner
* When (d'rashing): 8.00 p.m. - Prof. Eisen's speech

This should be an amazing evening, y'all, and we really hope to see all of you there. If you sign up through YABA, dinner is only $18, so RSVP today to yaba@tbala.org! RSVP deadline is Monday 11 December. Don't forget to tell us if you're vegan or vegetarian!

* * * * *

Sunday 17 December 2006 - A (kid-friendly) Chanukah Party!

* Who: Young Adults who are kids at heart, Young Adults' kids
* What: Singing, crafts, latkes, and all that good stuff
* When: 4-6 p.m.
* What else: Bring your own Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah) if you'd like -- we'll supply the candles!
* Cost: $20 max per family -- $7 for adults, $4 for kids 4-10, FREE! for kids 3 and under.

RSVP today to yaba@tbala.org, so we know how many latkes to fry and how many candles to buy! RSVP deadline is Monday 11 December.

* * * * *
Thursday 7 December 2006 - Silent Auction

(I know it's out of order chronologically...sorry.)

This isn't a YABA event, but we promise that young adults (and their money) will be warmly welcomed. $25 gets you in the door -- with dinner, to boot. Such a deal, I tell ya...It should be a great time. Watch this space for details...a list of items to bid on should be appearing shortly. RSVP to Lisa for this one.

Take a chance with the chancellor

2006-10-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

howdy YABAniks - just wanted to give y'all a heads-up. The Shabbat of December 15-16, Temple Beth Am will be hosting Arnie Eisen, the new chancellor-elect of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conservative rabbinical school in New York. On Friday night 15 December, we will have a YABA dinner in parallel to the shul's non-YABA dinner, following Neshama minyan services. After dinner, we will join with the rest of the shul to hear Professor Eisen speak. It should be an amazing, engaging, and fascinating evening, and I hope to see you all there. Watch this space for details!

Sukkot 5767: Back in the Hut

2006-10-03T19:19:00.000-07:00

It seems like just yesterday, fifty-plus of the coolest YABAniks gathered in the Beth Am sukkah for our very first YABA event. And now LA's newest Jewish Young Adults group has been around for a whole year. Which means, of course, it's time to celebrate! And what better time? Sukkot is called Z'man Simchatenu, the time of our rejoicing. So rejoice, y'all, because you are cordially invited to...

The second-annual YABA Shabbat Sukkot Dinner!

when: Friday 6 October (as in, this Friday night!)
time: 5.45 p.m. Mincha (afternoon service)
6.00 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv with the Neshama Minyan
7.00 p.m. dinner in the sukkah
where: Temple Beth Am, located at 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. (at Olympic)
cost: $18
RSVP: e-mail yaba@tbala.org
or call Desiree at 310.652.7354 x 230
deadline is Wednesday 4 October! (sorry this is so last-minute...)

Last year, this event was so popular we actually had to turn some people away. So get your RSVPs in ASAP! Don't forget to tell us if you're vegan or vegetarian.

Tashlich at the beach

2006-09-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

We'll be having our Tashlich service in Santa Monica on Sunday 1 October at 10 a.m.

Meet us at the southeast corner of Lot 3N (on PCH -- the beach side, not the inland side -- and the pier-side). You can park anywhere you'd like, but this will be our meeting place. We'll have a YABA sign and we'll wait until about ten after to start walking down to the water together. Please RSVP so we know to look for you that morning!

Some info and reflections about Tashlich can be found here.

Anticipation

2006-09-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Howdy YABAniks! We've got some great stuff to look forward to...

Tashlich - Tashlich is a beautiful, spiritual tradition of "casting off" our sins. You go to a flowing body of water, and cast a physical embodiment of your sins (usually breadcrumbs or rice) into the water, and recite some short prayers. We will be having our YABA Tashlich service on Sunday morning, 1 October 2006, probably at 10 a.m. It's the morning of Erev Yom Kippur, so we promise not to drag it out too long. We'll be meeting in Santa Monica, possibly somewhere along the pier, and we'll walk to the water's edge together to perform our service. It's "Bring Your Own Sins" (i.e., breadcrumbs are not provided!).

Sukkot - We will have our Second Annual Shabbat Sukkot dinner in the Beth Am Sukkah on Friday, 6 October 2006. Some of you may recall that last year's Sukkah dinner -- which was attended by over 50 people! -- was our very first YABA event. I hope to see all of you there this year.

If you're interested in High Holidays at Temple Beth Am, you can get all kinds of info (including a link to the ticket order form) here. Or you can e-mail Desiree Gaines, who is Rabbi Leider's assistant.

And finally, if you're interested in joining the YABA steering committee, please let us know! We'll be meeting about once every two months to discuss events, plan events, and figure out what we want to do. So if you want to see YABA move in a particular direction, now's your chance.

I hope y'all have had a great summer, and we look forward to another great YABA year!

Yo, YABA!

2006-06-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Howdy YABAniks! Just to let you know -- the YABA calendar for 5756-5757 has mostly been set, and we've got lots of great stuff planned: Shabbat dinners and lunches, our second annual winery trip, and (at long last) Lag B'oard Games. Watch this space (and your e-mail inbox) for more details! Next up is a Shabbat dinner on Friday 28 July, following the Neshama Minyan. Mark your calendars now...details will follow soon.

Shabbat Shavuot!

2006-05-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Howdy, YABA folks!

Sad to say, we had to cancel "Lag B'oard Games" because of a lack of space. But mark your calendars now for "Lab B'oard Games 5767" -- with a year to plan, I'm pretty sure we can make it happen!

And in the meantime, mark your calendars for Shabbat lunch with YABA on Saturday 3 June 2006, the Shabbat of Shavuot. Details to come.

Speaking of Shavuot, there will be an amazing Tikkun L'eyl Shavuot (all-night study session on erev Shavuot - Thursday 1 June - to help us prepare for the revelation of receiving Torah) at Temple Beth Am, featuring Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson as the keynote speaker. Once again, I don't know how to upload PDFs, but if you e-mail us, we'll send it to you. It's not specifically a YABA event, but y'all are welcome to come!

Hope y'all are doing well. Feel free to comment. On blogs, comments = love. And you want to make your YABA co-chairs feel loved, don't you?

Post-Pesach Post

2006-04-23T23:41:00.000-07:00

howdy, YABA folks -- wanted to thank those of you who came to the break-Pesach event at my place. Yay for bagel pizzas. Our next event will be Lag B'oard Games...watch this space (and your e-mail) for details!

Oh, and if you haven't yet taken our SURVEY, what are you waiting for?

Chag sameach!

2006-04-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to wish all you YABA folks a happy, healthy, and kosher Passover! Over a dozen of you have already signed up for the break-Pesach -- remember that space is limited, so RSVP sooner rather than later. May all your matzot be unbroken...

Margaritaville

2006-04-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who came to the YABA service and dinner! I had a blast, and I hope all of you did, too. Feedback? Leave us a comment, or e-mail us at yaba@tbala.org.

Oh, and if you haven't already -- please take a moment to fill out our super-quick survey.

Watch this space for details on upcoming YABA events!

Rumor has it...

2006-03-30T06:08:00.000-08:00

...there will be margaritas at the YABA dinner tomorrow night.

...there are still a few seats left at the YABA dinner tomorrow night.

...there is still a chance for you to call Amy at 310.652.7354 x224 or e-mail yaba@tbala.org to RSVP.

So what are you waiting for?

Just a reminder...

2006-03-19T22:38:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to sign up for our Mexican Shabbat dinner! All the cool kids will be there...(Hmm, does peer pressure work on folks in their 20s and 30s?)

If you haven't seen the flyer for this dinner, which has all the details, e-mail us (or leave a comment) and we'll send it to you. I can't figure out how to upload the PDF, unfortunately. It seems there's a limit to my web-savviness, after all.

When: Friday 31 March 2006 - Neshama Minyan at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7.15 p.m.

Where: Temple Beth Am: 1039 S. La Cienega, LA, 90035 (just south of Olympic)

Why: to meet cool people and eat good food. What more could you possibly want?

Cost: $15 per person.

How: RSVP to yaba@tbala.org, or call Amy at 310.652.7354 x224, or mail a check to Beth Am at the address above. And let us know if you'd like a vegetarian meal.

Picture perfect

2006-03-08T22:49:00.000-08:00

Back in January, YABA went wine-tasting. Were you there? If so, you just might be immortalized...

March madness

2006-03-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

Howdy, YABA folks! Remember our fabulous Shabbat dinner in the Sukkah, back in October? (Alternately, remember how bummed you were that you couldn't make it to our fabulous Shabbat dinner in the Sukkah, since you knew all the cool kids were there?) Well, we're doing it again, minus the Sukkah. Y'know, since it's not Sukkot anymore. But we are having another YABA Shabbat Dinner -- on Friday, 31 March 2006. Details and a flyer to come, but mark your calendars now!

Also, the YABA Steering Committee is meeting on Wednesday night, 8 March 2006, at 7.30 p.m. at Temple Beth Am. You - yes, dear reader, you - are cordially invited to join us for this meeting. If you'd like to attend, please leave us a comment or e-mail us at yaba@tbala.org.

And if you haven't taken our survey yet, please do. It'll take you less than 5 minutes. (3 minutes, if you read fast.)

Welcome!

2006-02-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the YABA blog!
Please fill out our very first YABA survey!
The survey can be found at the following link and should take about five minutes to complete: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=65071750027

AND NOW....Here are the top 5 questions about YABA:

Q1. What is YABA?
A1. YABA stands for Young Adults @ Beth Am.

Q2. How do you define the "YA" part of YABA?
A2. YABA is open to young adults in their 20s and 30s, single, married, with kids, without kids. We're very open-minded.

Q3. I have kids -- can I bring them to YABA events?
A3. We love kids! But only sometimes. Some of our events -- like a Tu B'Shevat picnic and hike -- are kid-friendly. Other events -- like wine-tasting at the Baron Herzog winery -- are not. Unless your kids are 21+. In which case, feel free to bring them along.

Q4. Where can I get more information about YABA?
A4. You can leave us a comment, or e-mail us.

Q5. Will you make t-shirts that say "YABA DABA DO"?
A5. Maybe. If you're lucky.