This is my annual Super Bowl column, and I want to begin with the fact that I despise the NE Patriots. I have a really good reason for this animosity- my favorite football team is the NY Jets, and about 20 years ago the Jets head coach was Bill Parcells. Bill Belichick was the assistant coach at the time. Under their leadership the Jets almost won the Super Bowl, making it to the championship game. Shortly thereafter Purcell retired, naming Belichick his replacement. Belichick accepted the position, but was the head coach for the Jets for only a few days before he quit, joining the NE Patriots. I know that all of those NE championships could have been my team’s wins if only Belichick hadn’t gone to New England, so that is why I have such justifiably malevolent feelings for the Patriots!
However, I also have to tell you about the Patriot’s owner, Robert Kraft. Bob Kraft was recently awarded the $1 million 2019 Jewish Nobel Prize (the Genesis Prize) in honor of his philanthropy and commitment to combating anti-Semitism. The prize is awarded each year to a person who serves as an inspiration to the next generation of Jews in recognition of his/her professional achievements and commitment to Jewish values. The money will be used to support initiatives combating anti-Semitism and attempts to delegitimize Israel.
Bob Kraft is a generous philanthropist and a strong and long-standing supporter of Judaism and Israel. Two local sisters, Elissa and Jessica Sagoskin, made Aliyah and played flag football for the Israeli team at the Kraft Family Stadium; the football stadium donated and named for Kraft. The Yardley natives were on the team that won the American Football in Israel championship in Germany in 2013. After their win, Kraft invited the team to the US to tour the NE Patriots stadium and meet and have photo ops with him and the players.
For several years Kraft has led ambassador-type trips to Israel with football Hall of Famers to increase American football’s popularity in the region and to introduce the players to the land of Israel. Jerome Bettis, Jim Brown, Joe Montana, John Stallworth, Roger Staubach, and others are among the players who joined one of these excursions, and all said that the impact on them was enormous.
Bob Kraft also involves himself in Jewish issues that are not as light-hearted as football, and recently attended Shabbat services at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh after the massacre there. He was in Pittsburgh for a game, but said that the services meant more to him than the game. Of course, while he was there he also gave four tickets to the Sunday game to the Mitzvah who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at the synagogue that weekend!
Upon seeing a photo of an American man who served in the Israeli army and was killed in service Kraft wrote a letter to the young man’s family expressing his sympathy and saying, “we are with your son, too,” signing his name in Hebrew.
Robert Kraft is indeed an example for all of us- he is a proud Jew, a philanthropist, and a supporter of Israel. So, maybe it is fitting for his team to win all of these championships, since he is a champion himself.
L’Shalom-
Rabbi Ira Budow
2019 Annual Matching Campaign
2019 Annual Matching Campaign
Donate Online:
9:00 am February 5, 2019-
9:00 pm February 6, 2019
This year’s annual campaign marks the 20th anniversary of the annual 8th grade trip to Israel, and there is no more fitting theme for the year and our annual fundraising event.
Please join Abrams in celebrating and commemorating this auspicious occasion by participating in the annual fundraising campaign. Your support will enable Abrams to continue to foster a love of Israel and a culture of Zionism at the school for many years to come!
Every dollar you donate to our 36 hour campaign
will be quadrupled thanks to generous donors and the members of the Abrams board of directors.
To qualify for the match all donations/pledges must be received by Tuesday, Feb 5, 2019-Wednesday, Feb 6, 2019.
Donate on-line at charidy.com/abrams for 36 hours beginning 9:00 am February 5, 2019.
You may also donate NOW by sending your check and/or credit card information to the school office.
You will receive further information about participating in our upcoming annual fundraising matching campaign and helping to achieve our goal very soon. Please consider volunteering to help the school and our children!
Please direct questions to Debra Goldfarb, Director of Development; dgoldfarb@abramsonline.org.
Parents Information for Campaign
Our annual fundraising campaign is quickly approaching! Abrams needs everyone’s help to make this ambitious $600,000 goal a success. Please donate and volunteer in whatever capacity you can- Abrams is depending on all of us!
Please click on the links for more information about our 2019 annual campaign.
THIS Sunday, January 27, 2019 Abrams will hold a town meeting and brunch to discuss the current and future needs of AHA. This is an opportunity to meet in an informal setting to discuss important issues that are vital to the present and future of our school. We are asking as many people as possible to attend this meeting- we all care about Abrams and its future, so please take the time to come to the meeting, brainstorm, and help to ensure the existence of AHA for many years to come!
Topics to be discussed:
The Annual Matching Campaign
The campaign will be held Tuesday, Feb 5-Wednesday, Feb 6, and volunteers are needed to make calls and help Abrams achieve its goal of $600,000. We can’t do it without our parent body participating, and we need volunteers to succeed.
EITC
EITC is the future of the school. Abrams has enrolled 9 new participants adding $140,000 to our EITC funding just for the November/December round of EITC funds, and that is truly wonderful. However, the more participants we can enroll the more money the school is awarded, so we really need everyone to participate themselves or identify friends, family, business associates, etc. who can. Abrams needs more people who are able and willing to perform this mitzvah for the school as they earn a tax credit for themselves, so please help!
Recruitment
Recruitment is a vital part of any school’s longevity, and the Measuring Success surveys in which Abrams has participated consistently conclude that word of mouth is the best recruitment tool. This meeting will discuss ways to recruit new families and encourage others to join the Abrams community. We all agree that Abrams provides the best secular and Judaic education to our students- why not let your friends, neighbors, and family enjoy the same benefits for their children?
Have your ideas and opinions heard, ask questions, and collaborate with other AHA families to help Abrams to continue to grow and thrive in its home on the hill for many more years.
**Please join the Rabbi and his wife THIS Sunday, January 27, 2019 for this very important meeting.
Thank You!
AHA Alumna Gavriella Weinstein
Wins Girl Scout Silver Award
Abrams Alumna Earns Girl Scout Award
Gavriella Weinstein and her teammates built eight six-foot convertible benches for the AHA outdoor classroom, earning her the Silver Award from the Girl Scouts. Her achievement was recognized in the Bucks County Courier along with other Bucks County Sandy Run Girl Scout award winners.
Gavriella demonstrated her leadership skills and ability to conceptualize and implement a complicated project to benefit the Abrams community, and Abrams is grateful and proud of yet another exceptional AHA alum.
Grades 1-4 made “Flower Cupcakes” from ingredients imported from Israel as part of their Tu B’Shvat activities. Thanks to Mora Sonia and the Judaic Studies teachers for organizing this fun project.
Homefront Donations Needed
4th Annual Drive
Canned Goods/Socks
Donations to Homefront
Ms. Abramowitz and her English classes are holding the the 4th Annual Drive to benefit Homefront, a NJ organization dedicated to helping homeless families become self-sufficient. Homefront offers services and assistance to over 14,000 families a year.
You can participate by purchasing or donating canned goods and new socks with tags on them. The canned goods and socks will be delivered by a group of students and their teacher directly to Homefront.
Support Abrams by purchasing a commemorative brick on the wall in the Link for a $100 donation. The bricks are made of colored Plexiglas and visibly located on the wall outside the gym.
Buy a brick to commemorate a special occasion- it is a wonderful and lasting gift to celebrate a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, birthday, anniversary, graduation, or to recognize the memory of a loved one or friend.
Your donation will be acknowledged to the recipient, and Abrams will benefit from your donation.
Please contact the office if you would like to purchase a brick.
**********
Recruitment
“New Family Recruitment”
Open houses in people’s homes is an effective way to meet with families who are potentially interested in enrolling their children at Abrams. Rabbi Budow and a small group of faculty members are happy to travel to meet informally with your friends and neighbors to discuss the advantages and opportunities that Abrams offers to Jewish children.
If you would like to volunteer to host one of these gatherings, please contact Rabbi Budow.
Safety and Security Reminders
Reminder- AHA Security Procedures:
All parents should use the front door to enter the school with key cards and not the back doors. Parent swipe cards only work at front door.
Please do not ask students to open any doors– parents must report to the front office and check-in before entering the school.
No student or other person should use the lunchroom doors other than for dismissal or emergency purposes.
These rules are for our children’s safety.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Cell Phone Rules
REMINDER: Cell Phone Rules
Electronic devices have become a common means of communication and information access in today’s society. However, these devices have the potential of disrupting the orderly operation of school. Our cell phone/personal electronic devices policy is designed to keep the focus on education.
At the start of the school day, all cell phones MUST BE TURNED OFF (NOT IN SILENT MODE) AND STORED IN THE STUDENT’S LOCKER OR BOOK BAG FROM 8:30 AM UNTIL 3:30 PM. Students are not permitted to carry them on their person or to use them to make or receive any calls or text messages during the given time.
If a student has an emergency, and needs to be in contact with someone, she/he must use a school phone, or have the permission of a faculty member, to use his/her cell phone. Parents should contact the school office, if they have an emergency message for their
Child(ren).
Electric devices, such as iPods, or hand-held gaming devices may be used on the bus/van transportation to/from school, prior to school, and following school. Students must turn off and place these items in their locker/backpack during school hours.
If any of these items are out at the inappropriate time, they will be confiscated by staff, and given to the director of discipline.
Students will be allowed to bring cell phones on school trips for emergency use only. Any hand-held gaming device will be the responsibility of the students on a school trip.
The school is not responsible for lost, misplaced, damaged or stolen electronic devices/cell phones.
CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE ABOVE RULES:
1st Offense – Phone confiscated, and returned at the end of the day.
2nd Offense – Phone confiscated, returned at the end of the day, and written notification that requires parent signature.
3rd Offense – Phone confiscated, and parent must pick up phone from director of discipline.
4th Offense – Suspension from school
Support AHA Donor Businesess
Abrams is greatly appreciative of all of the benefactors who donate generously to the school through participation in EITC, LLC, grants, cash donations, etc. Many of these donors are business owners, and Abrams encourages the AHA community to support the businesses of these people whose largess supports the school.
* This is not a complete list- we will add businesses throughout the year!
Thank you very much to all of our supporters!
Oorah
Abrams thanks Oorah, a nonprofit organization located in Lakewood, NJ for all of its financial support to our students.
Oorah sponsors numerous programs that all share the common goal of opening doors for Jewish children and families. The mission is to reach out to Jewish families everywhere with opportunities to make their Judaic heritage more personal, relevant and meaningful.
Abrams received $100,000 in scholarship aid for qualified families this year from Oorah and is extremely grateful for the generosity of this organization.
School Lunches
Please do not send meat lunches or snacks to school with your children.
Food sent from home must be
dairy or Pareve only!
Thank you very much for your cooperation
Car Pool Rules
All Parents who Car Pool:
Please note that the car pool line is for grades N and K only. All other students are to be dropped off in the front of the building.
Parents who use the back for drop off should follow the directions of the teachers in the parking lot. They are there to assist students and maintain a safe environment.
Under no circumstances are parents to park their cars in the middle of the line and leave them unattended to walk students into the building.
** We ask that parents refrain from cellphone use in the parking areas while dropping off and picking up their children.
Abrams Dress Code
Dress Code
Studies have found that appropriate dress influences behavior and learning. Abrams strives through the dress code to maximize the learning environment.
Respect for the sensitivities of others requires that students/parents/guests follow reasonable standards of modesty and privacy. We ask that students/parents/guests dress in a manner befitting a Jewish day school when entering the building.
Dress Code for Grades 1-8
Clothing cannot advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco or weapons.
Clothing cannot display writing or pictures that are obscene or suggestive.
No writing or pictures on the back of pants.
No sleepwear or bedroom slippers to be worn at any time, unless pre-approved for a special occasion.
Heavy linked chains may not be worn as jewelry.
No extreme hair colors are permitted.
All boys must come to school wearing a kippah. Baseball caps and other head coverings are NOT permitted.
No sleeveless shirts, tank tops, halter tops, spaghetti straps, tube tops, crop tops, belly shirts, or tight shirts.
Dress Code for Boys Grades 5-8
Shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, and tee-shirts should be appropriate for school. Students may not wear undershirts.
Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor. Pants will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight or over-sized.
Shorts must be to the knee.
Pants/shorts will not sag, as underwear may not be visible.
Boys are to be clean-shaven.
Hair is to be well groomed. Partially or fully shaved heads and ponytails are not allowed.
Piercings of any kind are not allowed.
Dress Code for Girls Grades 5-8
Dresses/skirts/shorts must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
Pants or denim jeans must be properly hemmed and not dragging on the floor. Pants or shorts will not have rips, holes, or fraying and will not be too tight.
Leggings of any type are not permitted to be worn in place of skirts or pants, but may be worn under clothing. If worn, they must be accompanied by a fingertip length or longer, dress, skirt, or top.
Clothing that exposes any part of the midriff, cleavage (front or rear), or any clothing excessively revealing may not be worn.
Clothing materials for tops and bottoms must be opaque (not see-through).
Consequences for Students Who Do Not Follow the Dress Code:
1st Offense – Explain to student what is wrong with his/her attire. Student must change into appropriate clothing.
2nd Offense – Written notification that requires parent signature. Student must change into appropriate clothing.
3rd Offense – Student must change clothes to follow guidelines and parent is called on the telephone immediately.
4th Offense – Suspension from school.
Parent conference required for student to return to school.
Abrams Notes
Birthday Celebrations at School
When sending birthday treats into school to celebrate that special day for your child, please consider sending in a healthy treat, such as frozen fruit bars, rice cakes, fruit salad or cups, sugar free pudding snacks, yogurt cake or pie, cheese sticks, light popcorn or air popped popcorn (when age appropriate), pretzels, carrots/celery (when age appropriate).
Please do not send anything with nuts due to allergies.
In order to maintain a consistent kashrut policy and to avoid confusion, ALL orders for birthday cakes/cupcakes MUST be ordered from Cramer’s Bakery, 16 E. Afton Avenue, Yardley. Cramer’s will deliver the order to the school at a discounted price.
Please call Kim Pierce at 215-321-5707 to place your cake/ cupcake order.
Celebrate Your Simcha at Abrams
Abrams Hebrew Academy is a perfect choice to host your family or social affair, business meeting or athletic event. Whether you’re looking for an inviting space to celebrate a special occasion; a meeting area with state-of-the art technology; a fun, safe environment for a child’s birthday; or a gym or athletic field for a sporting event, Abrams can accommodate your needs and your budget. For more information on room rentals at Abrams Hebrew Academy, call (215) 493-1800 or e-mail info@abramsonline.org.
Check Your Child’s Assignments with Homework Now
Parents- all homework will be posted on-line by all teachers grades K-8 by Sunday evening each week.
Instructions for use of homeworknow.com:
Click on homeworknow.com
Click on Parent and Student
Click on find school
Click on Pennsylvania
Click on Abrams Hebrew Academy
Click on your child’s teacher
View homework assignments
Share Abrams News With Others
Is there a family member (such as a grandparent) or friend who would be interested in hearing about everything going on at Abrams? Sign them up for our e-mail list today! Please contact the Main Office.
Information about the Extra
Please submit any information to be considered for inclusion in the Extra to Dale Sattin, Director of Communications: dsattin@abramsonline.org. (215) 493-1800 ext. 22 by
