From Generation to Generation
Jordan Cassway Photography
A Family Tradition
For All Occasions
Formerly of Fleets
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Sizes 2-60
Regulars-Slims Huskies
X-Longs-Portlies The Needelman brothers prepare to board their
B’nai Mitzvah party.
Freiman Family
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RED LION RD. & HUNTINGDON PIKE
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OCTOBER 25, 2018
Celebrating O u ur r 2 1ststs
Ou Anniversary
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Brother Continued from Page 11
and my father. (I have no other siblings). Scott often spends hours
yelling and screaming. He pees his pants and watches old Barney
clips on a loop. He is nonverbal. He exists in his own universe,
governed by a set of rules known only by him. That photo day
shot is a miracle; prompting Scott to follow directions and smile
on command is almost as rare as a day without a fear-inducing
presidential tweet. Bigly.

But Scott also brings us simple joys. He’s exceptionally affec-
tionate, capable of dissipating the headache he gave you with an
unprompted hug or kiss. He has an uncanny sense of direction.

He likes running and is unapologetic in his love of spaghetti.

He has a contagious smile and an even more contagious laugh. He
drops into our day and gifts us precious moments, moments that
become memories, memories that become earnest stories: “Hey,
remember that time Scott did that thing?”
He gave my family one of those experiences on Sept. 8, 2007,
the day of our B’nai Mitzvah. I wasn’t super stoked for my “big day.”
Battling social anxiety, among other pubescent delights, I was ner-
vous about how many of my friends would show up. And if they
did show up, would they have fun? (Spoiler: They did. Of course
they did. The party was on a cruise ship.) For my parents, though,
the B’nai Mitzvah was a crowning moment. A pair of Jews from
Brooklyn, this was the day their boys would shine, in front of grand-
parents and cousins, aunts and uncles, friends and co-workers. The
spotlight was on.

“Two beautiful boychiks,” my father joyously shouted to a hos-
pital waiting room full of family on July 28, 1994. That was the day
we were born, but on Sept. 8, 2007, we would become men.

I had been preparing for this day, whether I liked it or not,
the past four years at Hebrew school. I could read Hebrew, write
Hebrew and speak Hebrew. On the bimah I would have to sing
my Torah portion, and that prospect gave me even more jitters.

(Remember: social anxiety!)
Scott, of course, didn’t have that same dread. Some people with
autism learn to speak later in life, even if it’s just a handful of words
SIMCHAS JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



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From left: Scott and Joshua Needelman
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innovation. or phrases. Scott is not one of those people. My parents felt strong- seeds
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AGE 65
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“Everyone heard you and started crying,” she told me.

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In flipping through the album, one photo sticks out. It’s of me
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control of the moment, tie out of his mouth. He is a man. ❤
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