Tom Petty died last week, and I was one of his many fans. Interestingly, he was one of the first musicians to visit Israel in 1987. During the tour he met with Avraham Rosenblum, leader of a Hasidic band called the Diaspora Yeshiva Band that blended rock and bluegrass with religious lyrics.
In an article written last week in a Jerusalem Post article about Tom Petty, there was a quote from a musician- songwriter Peter Himmelman, who is the son-in-law of Bob Dylan. Himmelman, a performer and prolific songwriter who has not achieved the same fame as Tom Petty or his father-in-law, Bob Dylan, was quoted saying that Tom Petty was an inspiration to him throughout his musical career.
It was particularly interesting to find out that Bob Dylan’s son-in-law is also an Orthodox Jew, particularly since Dylan’s relationship to Judaism is complicated and rather confusing. Although he wrote the song “Neighborhood Bully” in 1983, speaking ironically about Israel and the false accusations it faced and still faces of being the “bully” in the region, he also embraced Christianity and converted to the faith in the late 70’s. There is much debate about whether he is Jewish or Christian.
However, there is no doubt about Peter Himmelman’s religion. He is an Orthodox Jew who became involved with Chabad 30 years ago and is still observant today. He does not tour extensively, since he is committed to spending Shabbat and holidays with his family (a wife and four grown children), and lives his life as an observant Jew. Unlike Matisyahu, who seems to have given up some of his religiosity in favor of mainstream fame and fortune, Himmelman once turned down the opportunity to appear on David Letterrman’s show because it was Sukkot.
During this time of celebrating Jewish holidays I would like to recognize and laud someone who embraces his Jewish faith and provides an example to us all- kudos to Peter Himmelman.
L’Shalom-
Rabbi Ira Budow
Sukkot Trips
SCHOOL TRIP DAY
Abrams students enjoyed trip day celebrating Sukkot in Washington, DC and Lakewood NJ- Many thanks to Rabbi Tesser and Morah Bracha for welcoming Abrams to their homes and visiting their Sukkahs. Special thanks Bracha’s mother Miriam for being such a generous, gracious hostess.
A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!
Washington DC, Delaware. and Baltimore
Lakewood, NJ
Tri-State Sukkah Visits
Abrams Students Visit Sukkahs in Three States on Trip Day 2017
Due to inclement weather the Sukkah at Abrams was not used during the holiday of Sukkot this year, but our students were able to perform the mitzvah of visiting and eating in Sukkahs in three other states!
Lower School students visited the sukkahs of Morah Bracha and Rabbi Tesser in Lakewood, NJ where they were able to perform the mitzvah of saying the blessings over the Lulav and Etrog, hear Sukkot stories, and eat!
The Middle School students visited sukkahs to and from their trip to DC. Their first stop was at the Chabad Center in Wilmington, DE where they were hosted by Rabbi Flickstein, an Abrams alumnus.
Abrams is using a NEW company for school pictures. Life Touch School Studios will be at AHA on Thursday, 10-26-17 to take student photos.
More information will follow
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!
2017 Soccer Schedule
Game Schedule
Tuesday September 26 AHA @ Pen Ryn
Thursday, September 28 Life Center @ AHA
Monday, October 2 Newtown Friends @ AHA
Tuesday, October 3 AHA @ Life Center
Monday, October 9 Princeton Charter @ AHA
Monday, October 16 AHA @ Doane
Wednesday, October 18 AHA @ Barrack
Tuesday, October 24 Pen Ryn @ AHA
Thursday, October 26 Doane @ AHA
All games will start approximately 3:50 pm and end at 5:00 pm
Bus transportation is provided
back to AHA for away games only. All home games are played at Macclesfield Park on
River Road. All practices will be held at Abrams Hebrew Academy.
Please contact Mr. Gowton with
any questions, kgowton@abramsonline.org.
Practice Schedule (3:45 pm-4:45 pm)
Sept. 14, 18, 19, 25
Oct. 19, 23
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
Safety and Security Reminders
Just a reminder of 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!
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 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 Development & Communications: dsattin@abramsonline.org. (215) 493-1800 ext. 22 by
