Insider's History of One of the Oldest Jewish Fraternities in the U.S.

Newark, NJ (PRWEB) Febraury 5, 2007 -- A Rutgers University graduate, Bruce Kesselman was determined to document a compelling history of his beloved Rho Upsilon that counteracted the stereotypical views of fraternities. Stepping out of the rat-race for a year to archive and document a non-fiction account, he now releases "46 Union Street: The Untold Story of Rho Upsilon" (ISBN 0977244202, Rho Upsilon AA, 2006).

Inspired by the year 2006 marking the 50th anniversary of the Rho Upsilon chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, as well as the 50th anniversary of Rutgers becoming "The State University of New Jersey," Kesselman used his own experience as a brother of AEPi as a launch point to interview thousands of fraternity members. Flying all over the country, he met with key alumni, and read countless historical documents and issues of Rutgers's daily newspaper and yearbooks to compile his fascinating account of the past fifty years.

"46 Union Street" reveals the inner workings of Jewish fraternity life as well as the campus itself, and shows how real events like the assassination of JFK or the killing of John Lennon coincide with what undergraduates were doing at the time. Humorous anecdotes like the Matzohgate scandal, which parallels the Watergate events, give Kesselman's book an added comical dimension to compliment its chronological viewpoint. Amusing stories aside, Kesselman is forthright in his depiction of life during more serious times such as the Vietnam War and its ensuing polarization of the campus, as well as the fraternity's ongoing battles with anti-Semitism.

"Fraternities are made up of a wide diversity of individuals," says Kesselman. "The leadership skills learned and friendships developed in these unique organizations enable students to be among the most productive, philanthropic and community service oriented individuals in the towns of which they become a part."

In a truly honorable style, Kesselman has dedicated all proceeds from "46 Union Street" to go towards undergraduate scholarships for Rutgers University students who join Alpha Epsilon Pi. His hope is for readers to get a better idea of fraternity life, other than what is typically seen in the media, while providing an academic, historical and comedic portrayal of the fraternity he holds close to his heart.

Bruce Kesselman resides with his wife and two children in Old Bridge, New Jersey.

He received a B.A. with Distinction in Russian, and later went on to found Money Marketing USA, a strategic marketing communications consulting firm in 1986 and subsequently became involved in numerous not-for-profit fundraising organizations. An active member of his synagogue, Kesselman serves as its Executive Secretary and Editor of its award-winning monthly bulletin. He is an active member of the Rutgers Alumni Band and has been involved for many years as a clarinetist in the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra. "46 Union Street: The Untold Story of Rho Upsilon" (ISBN 0977244202, Rho Upsilon AA, 2006) can be purchased at online and college bookstores. For more information, visit www.levinejudaica.com and type in "46 Union St" under the Advanced Search option. Review copies available on request.

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