Brotherhood News
Congratulations to Dean Bogin, Dmitry Dymarsky, Steve Farrara,
Greg Georgianna, Steve Graber, Bernard Lieberman, Alex Mandel, Jeremy Pashak,
Harris Pike, Evan Rosen, Stephen Rosenblatt, Jonathan Segarra, Gordon Stein,
Jon Wolf and Mitchell Zelmanovich on their initiation. A warm welcome to our newest brothers!
Fall term has been one of excitement and growth for our chapter. It began, as always with the return of brothers to classes and co-ops, while the rising sophomores came back from what could very well have been their final summer vacation. We have worked hard as a chapter to ensure that every week has been action packed with brotherhood events and activities. During the first week, we held a historic one-of-a-kind philanthropic fundraiser right in the heart of Drexel's campus, known as "AEPi in Your Eye". Any passerby could purchase a whip cream pie for $1 and pie one of our lucky brothers in the face. A total of $400 was raised in a matter of hours, and all proceeds went to the Genocide Intervention Network for Darfur. As for football, where the Eagles have depressed, this season Delta Rho has made a statement and set a standard for future generations with impressive victories in four out of our five regular season IFC and flag football games. We held our first ever Brother Olympics this term where teams of brothers and pledges were formed and competed against each other in several magnificent feats of knowledge, strength and of course eating. This fall also presented the unique opportunity to interact with a future AEPi group from the College of New Jersey; we were honored with a visit from this up and coming colony in order to host the initiation of two founding fathers. Not to be outdone, our very own chapter saw a tremendous effort by the brotherhood in recruiting and inducting fifteen great men and fifteen future brothers. As 2008 approaches, we are nearing our 13th year on Drexel's campus. In commemoration of this milestone, we are hosting a Bar Mitzvah celebration May 3rd for our entire undergraduate chapter, our alumni and all parents! Planning has already begun for an event that is sure to be a fantastic and meaningful celebration full of 13 years of good times, good memories and unsurpassed brotherhood that started with just five founding fathers. Now with a Delta Rho chapter size of over 150 brothers and growing, our Bar Mitzvah will certainly be an experience of a lifetime! After an incredible fall, we look forward to an equally rewarding winter.
One year removed from full fraternal recognition within the eyes of the Interfraternal Council, Delta Rho was presented with the opportunity to move into permanent residence within the loose confines of Greek Row, which was finalized in the later months of 1999. Located at 204 North 34th Street, our chapter house has, for the last eight years, served as a central hub for our undergraduates, brothers young and old, and perhaps more importantly, a haven for our alumni, many of whom still reside in the greater Philadelphia area and neighboring cities and states and are considered to epitomize what moral and ethical character Delta Rho has attempted to impress upon its brothers, which, in accordance with our rhetoric, works in an effort to prepare and support future Jewish leaders. It is crucial, therefore, to acknowledge the importance our chapter house signifies in its current state; it is a representation of what our chapter has worked towards since its inception, a setting that cultivates these previously-mentioned elements pertaining to personal growth and development. It is of great importance, therefore, to highlight what changes have occurred, a focus on the last half-year, in terms of various projects and accomplishments. An example of such change might invoke our front lawn; over the summer, Brother Master Roman Zubarev and House Manager Benjamin Perwien worked in conjunction to install greenery, which highlights the red-brick tone of the house's exterior, illuminating its natural beauty. Among others, Brother Daniel Zimmerman played a large role in laying down the fertilizer, whose work was continued by a large percentage of our brotherhood; this 'laying of fertilizer' is almost a symbolic act, in the sense that our chapter both literally fertilized the earth as a collective unit, as well as fertilizing this aforementioned element of brotherhood, of trust and commitment to one another.
Venturing within the house and into our Brotherhood Room, it is of note that, due to the strenuous and consistent work of current House Manager Michael Birnbaum, each pledge class paddle is visibly displayed, as well as our most recent composite. As a whole, the room has never before appeared to be as clean and well-maintained as it is currently, and this is largely credited to Brother Michael's resolve and consistency. Wall-mounted collages which depict a juxtaposition of Brotherhood, of Philanthropy, and the like can now be seen on the second floor of the house, which are the source of great praise and nostalgia. The remainder of the house, clean and accessible, remains largely unchained.
The purpose of this writing is a mere reminder of what this chapter has built upon and what role our chapter house has served throughout this evolution; it is why we are considered to be one of the most productive and most emulated chapters in the guise of standards dictated by our national offices; it is why we are considered to be one of the fastest growing forces on Drexel's campus, whether it be recognition through Philanthropy, through achievements regarding sports, through our interactions with other elements of Greek Life; it is why we succeeded in taking home the very prestigious 'Outstanding Chapter of the Year' award in 1999, one of the youngest chapters to do so. Take heed of this writing; let us not forget our roots, from which we came, while keeping a steady on the present and the future.
For about sixty years we have been able to call a slight sliver of land that sits on the Mediterranean the 'Jewish State'; for less time, about forty years, we have been able to say that Jerusalem is our capital. In the great span of the existence of the Jewish people we have not been able to make either claim. However, one mantra that has connected the exiled Jews has been "If I forget Jerusalem, may my right hand lose its cunning [and my tounge stick to the roof of my mouth]". In the early years of Zionism, thousands of Jews bared the hardships of living under the Ottoman Empire and reviving a forgotten land. And the Jews of the world knew their hardship and viewed them with hope. "Hatikvah", 'the hope' of our people, has always been to live in our land and rule over ourselves, something which had not happened since Jerusalem was attacked and fell to Babylon subsequently. Even the warriors of the Shoah could not quiet our voices and our dreams for a Jewish state. Finally, after more than 2,000 years of exile, we could finally return. The years following the establishment of the State were turbulent ones; war was a constant reality.
Surrounded on all sides by enemies, Israel survived again and again against all odds. From the Golan to the Sinni and from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, a tiny country inhabited by our brothers and sisters changed the modern world. Every day, news from the Middle East was broadcast on TVs and announced in synagogues; we were connected to our brothers struggles and we feared for them. When several Israeli athletes were mercilessly butchered in Munich during the 1972 Olympics, we felt anger; at the outset of the rescue at Entebbe four years later, we sang and wept. In the Jewish community, names like Begin, Meir, and Dayan were commonplace. Israel would win its wars, display its dominance and we, as American jews, stopped listening. We were unified by pain, brought together by hardship, but once we were established, we became involved in ourselves. The future Jewish leaders grew up without the fear of losing Jerusalem or, to a greater extent, Eretz Yisrael, becoming complacent. However, Israel remains in danger every day, from every side. Israel Update was started at Delta Rho so that we would not stand by, ignorant, while events effecting our homeland transpired. As future leaders and scholars, what we know will dictate how we interact with the world. And we cannot forget Israel. Our connection to the land runs deep and it still continues to be our 'Hope' that Israel will forever exist and prosper.
In the guise of what is considered a rather traditionalist Anglo-American perspective, the 13th year of any young man's existence isn’t, excluding mitigating circumstances, considered special, or even remarkable. However, within the context of a Hebrew/Jewish-American lifestyle, the 13th year generally commemorates an important transition, from child to man, through the celebration of ones Bar Mitzvah, an experience that is both extraordinary and unforgettable.
This May 4th, 2008, our fraternity will honor its own 13th anniversary following this aforementioned ritualistic convention by the organization of a collective Bar Mitzvah, with festivities throughout the entire day for family, friends, and alumni of the Delta Rho chapter. The day will start with morning services at Congregation B’nei Abraham in Philadelphia; this historic building is the oldest synagogue in Philadelphia that was built as a synagogue. The services will also be led by members of Alpha Epsilon Pi. After services, there will be a light kiddish followed by a Parent and Alumni Lunch celebration at one of Philadelphia’s premier hotels.
The brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi wish to invite all alumni and family to these great events to help us celebrate this once in a lifetime occurrence. Look out for formal invitations and RSVP as soon as possible. L’Chaim!
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