Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy

Full-time private Islamic school in Philadelphia, PA.

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Al Aqsa Basketball Team Play at the Wells Fargo Center

December 21, 2016 By Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy

Before the 76ers and Sacramento Kings Pro Game November 30th, 2016 at 7 p.m. the Al Aqsa 7th and 8th graders played with a team from Temple Beth Hillel Beth El. The teams were blended together so they could get to know each other.The boys from both teams first played in the late afternoon, then had a tour of the Wells Fargo Center (in South Phila.), ate dinner, watched the pro teams practice and then watched the teams prepare to go to the court.

The basketball game began with the awkwardness often characteristic of 12- and 13-year-old boys.

On the court, one boy’s mother forced the two teams together for a group picture. They barely intermingled – a few boys put their arms around each other, and only about half smiled.

But the same couldn’t be said for the game’s end.

As part of his bar mitzvah project, Ari Abramovitz, 13, of Merion, gathered his friends from Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El in Wynnewood to play with boys from the Al Aqsa Islamic Academy in North Philadelphia. The boys were mixed together and split randomly into two teams, then scrimmaged on the 76ers’ court in the Wells Fargo Center.

By halftime, players from the synagogue and the school were enthusiastically introducing themselves and high-fiving after they scored. After it ended, they took selfies together on the court.

“This is a historical kind of event in Philadelphia,” said Abdur Rahman, principal of the Al Aqsa Islamic Academy. “Middle school kids from a Jewish congregation and our kids in the Islamic tradition coming together and showing unity. It’s truly wonderful.”

Rahman said Abramovitz’s mother, Meirav, called him about a year ago to explain her son’s idea. Right away, he was interested.

“Ari is a magical boy,” Rahman said. “This is so awesome, for this boy to have this idea, and have great parents like he’s got to support him like this. This is really unreal. It’s beautiful.”

Sinice Williams, 32, watched her 12-year-old nephew, Muhammad, play in the Wednesday afternoon game, which she said was fun and meaningful.

“Sometimes people have religion be a barrier of them even interacting,” Williams added. “I always want to let him know, just because someone’s belief is different, it doesn’t mean that they’re opposite to you as a person.”

Abramovitz started a partnership between his synagogue and the Islamic Academy that will continue long after his bar mitzvah ends Saturday, Rahman said. He and Rabbi Neil Cooper of Beth Hillel-Beth El met in September for coffee at Delancey’s in Wynnewood to discuss future plans for cooperation.

The exact iterations of the partnership between Cooper and Rahman are not yet clear, Rahman said.

“He and I, both of us, we don’t have a clue, but let’s take advantage of the momentum,” Rahman said. “Given what’s happened in the nation, there’s so many divisions now. Anything that can promote unity is welcome.

“We have a natural reason to be here together,” he added. “It’s a message of the heart.”

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20161201_Merion_teen_hosts_interfaith_basketball_game_on_Sixers__court.html

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Al-Amana Grocery Store


Al-Amana Grocery Store

Connected to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy and Society is the Al-Amana Grocery Store which provides a variety of Middle Eastern and Oriental foods. Halal meat and poultry are also available. Read More

Contact Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy

Contact Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy
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School Activities

5th Grade Poetry

Ms. Jessica Eldredge’s 5th grade class has written some truly wonderful and powerful poems. Muhammed Hope is like a breeze in the air Nice winds are happy everywhere Birds chat and tweet all day I like the sounds of wind It feels like a relaxing vacation Blowing trees make my day Today was a blowing […]

4th Grade Claymobile Project

4th graders from Ms. Nuri Abdus-Salaam’s class showing off their pottery bowls that they made with the help of the Claymobile Project that will be on exhibit January 11th. The Claymobile group are artists with the ArtWell Institute and they come each Thursday afternoon.

Mural by Al Aqsa Student Artists

Four talented Al Aqsa high school student artists created a mural that will be presented on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Girard College where they met the Mayor, Mr. Kenny, and other dignitaries with their murals.. The project was supervised by Mr. Parish Stanacell.

Claymobile Fun!

Ms. Nuri’s 4th grade class has a blast preparing clay models. The Claymobile comes each week with three artists as a part of the Artwell Association who adopted our school for this fun activity.

4th Grade Health Lesson Fun

The 4th graders enjoyed making yogurt parfaits as part of a health lesson.

Field Trip to Shady Brook Farms!

K-6th Grades Trip to Shady Brook Farm On October 3, students will have a tour through the Farm and enjoy exciting activities such as rides around the farm, picking their own pumpkins and other hands on activities. Cost is $15. Children in K-3 must have chaperons.

View More School Activity Posts...

Al-Amana Grocery Store

Al-Amana Grocery Store
Connected to the Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy and Society is the Al-Amana Grocery Store which provides a variety of Middle Eastern and Oriental foods. Halal meat and poultry are also available. Read More

Virtual Hajj at Al Aqsa Islamic Academy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evV5ySX2sLM

Interview with God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBvLFbFdJ4

Al Aqsa Islamic Academy in the News

Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy was interviewed by the Indonesia Voice of America outlet and has the potential to be seen by 30 million viewers in Indonesia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qE0kKv9UT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqQGW0V6Czk

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Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy
1501 N Germantown Ave | Philadelphia, PA 19122
P: 215-765-6660 | F: 215-765-6640