Looking Ahead Toward Winter RUSH!

    This week has kicked off a series of exciting events for the Delta Rho chapter of AEPI on Drexel's campus. On Saturday, the 23 upstanding gentlemen of our Beta Delta pledge class were initiated to full-blown brotherhood status. It was also nice to see alumnus Marc Blumberg, and Ben Olen at the ritual. A big congratulations to brother pledge master Raeli Savitt and his assistants Josh Buchalter, Daniel Endo, and Mark Koh on a wildly successful pledge class. 

    The timing could not be more perfect as winter rush will be starting on Monday. We are all wishing a hearty good luck to brother rush chairman Josh Buchalter on his endeavors during this period. Some events to look forward to are Dodgeball at the DAC and Shabbat at AEPI. Brothers are also hard at work, giving back to the community during the elongated MLK Jr. weekend. On Sunday morning a group of undergrads and alumni volunteered with Jewish Relief Agency, packaging and delivering boxes of food and supplies for senior citizens in the Philadelphia area. Things could not be better (or busier) for Delta Rho. Have a great week! 

January Birthdays and Happy New Year

Undergrads

Andrew Blinn on Friday January 3rd

Ian Shinbrot on Monday January 6th

Josh Haghighi on Tuesday January 28th

Scott Sugarman on Tuesday January 28th

Alumni

Robert Neff on Friday January 3rd

Adam Saslow on Sunday January 5th

Peter Eizen on Monday January 6th
Robert Wexler on Wednesday January 8th

Roman Zubarev on Thursday January 9th

Adam Powers on Thursday January 9th

Adam Feldman on Sunday January 12th
Jeff Ginsburg on Monday January 20th

Evan Steinberg on Tuesday January 21st

Kraig Turner on Wednesday January 22nd

David Brouda on Wednesday January 22nd

Brandon Miller on Friday January 24th

Rabbi Levi on Tuesday January 28th

Rich Anderson on Friday January 31st

An exciting winter term!

While the weather takes a turn for the frigid, AEPI's Delta Rho chapter on Drexel's campus refuses to delay its exciting plans for winter term. This week, both brothers, pledges, and alumni will be congregating in our house for a welcome back Shabbat dinner, led by our chapter rabbi, Shimon Kay.

Our chapter is also gearing up for the second rush period of the year. Best of luck to rush chairman Josh Buchalter. We have absolute faith in these gentleman to create and educate another great pledge class!

December Birthdays

Undergrads

Jeff Weiss on December 3rd

Jesse Rosenstein on December 4th

Jake Barufkin on December 9th

Sam Farley on December 15th

Adam Heckelman on December 17th

Alumni

Joe Bokobza on December 7th

Gabe Sussman on December 7th
Ari Silver on December 10th

Jeffrey Carey on December 17th

Matthew Rosen on December 20th

Steven Wolfson on December 21st

Dan Zimmerman on December 25th

Happy Holidays from Delta Rho

    As Thanksgiving approaches, it's hard not to think of about the big Thursday night football game, family, turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. This past Saturday, current undergrad brothers were able to face off against Alumni in an epic football game. In the end, the Alumni came out on top, winning the game 19-12. Luckily, the defeat didn't cause any feelings of malice as both groups joined together on Sunday for a Delta Rho tradition: traveling to Edison, NJ, the home of Harold's Deli. Here, brothers and pledges of all ages were able to chow down on humongous deli sandwiches and pancakes while sipping on gigantic milkshakes.

  

    A group of undergraduate brothers and pledge Ari Gutman ventured to New York City on Sunday to attend the Zionists of America gala, a night full of food and inspirational speakers such as Congresswoman Michelle Bachman, Governor Mike Huckabee, and businessman Sheldon Adelson. Hopefully, more brothers will be able to join in next year for such a wonderful event that demonstrates the importance of a Jewish homeland. 

   While the term will soon be coming to an end, our current pledge program has only picked up momentum. This past Tuesday, the Beta Delta pledge class serenaded the lovely sorority ladies of Drexel with the Backstreet Boys classic "I Want It That Way." Click here to view the video. A big congrats and thank you to brother Raeli Savitt for his extensive and successful pledge program thus far. He truly is raising a great group of future brothers! 

  In other Jewish news, the first day of Hanukkah will be falling out on Thanksgiving day. Once classes reconvene on Monday, brothers will be able to celebrate the festival of lights together thanks to a 9 foot tall menorah, purchased by our dedicated Yid chair, Ariel Arbely. We hope to see the lighting of this massive candelabra become a brotherhood tradition for years to come. We will also be hosting a Hanukkah celebration with our neighbor AXP, sponsored by the Chabad on campus. In addition, there will be a kosher Hanukkah BBQ the day after, using our brand new kosher grill! 

AEPi gives back to the community

Earlier today the brothers of AEPI Delta Rho volunteered with the Jewish Relief Agency, an organization dedicated to delivering care packages to the elderly. Since its founding in 2000, the JRA has attracted all kinds of people (Jewish and non Jewish) with its selfless and heartfelt mission.


Despite having to wake up early in order to attend, there is always a great turnout from active brothers, alumni, and pledges at the venue in Northeast Philadelphia. Volunteers are welcome to partake in complementary bagels, confections, and coffee before packing, loading, and delivering boxes with kosher food and other supplies for senior citizens who are not able to make it outside the house.

Congrats to Michael Rovner, our current community service chair for getting 26 undergraduate brothers, alumni, and pledges out to volunteer on such a beautiful day on November 17th!

An exciting time to be in AEPi

It is currently an exciting and action-packed time for the Delta Rho chapter of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity on Drexel University's campus. This past friday, we held our first formal since last winter. Planned by Past Master Zachary Cohen, the event was held at the Merion, one of New Jersey's prime reception halls. With plenty of friends, food, and a fantastic ice sculpture it was truly a night to remember. 

   

      Sunday saw the grand old time of the Delta Rho 18th year gala, celebrating 18 strong years of AEPI's presence on Drexel's campus in the famed Frank Lloyd Wright synagogue in Elkin's Park. In attendance were currently active brothers, the gentleman of our current pledge class (Beta Delta; the largest pledge class in our chapter's history), beloved alumni, and even 4/5 founding fathers of the Delta Rho chapter. This event was chock full of a delicious deli buffet, as well as speeches from various brothers and esteemed guests. A huge thank you to brothers Raeli Savitt and Joshua Glass for planning such an amazing time! 

    This coming Friday we are happy to announce "Shabbat Across AEPI!" where the brothers will cook and enjoy a lovely shabbat meal on Friday night in our chapter house. Brothers are invited to prepare the meal at the house of our awesome chapter rabbi, Shimon Kay. The dinner, the first of its kind, gives the brothers a chance to really take a break from the stress of college life and celebrate Shabbat with one another. Thank you to brother Ariel Arbely for putting the event together.

    Who wouldn't want to be an AEPI brother right now?! Have a fantastic week!