A year after the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, many in the Jewish community marked the anniversary through rallies, marches and other public events designed to raise awareness of the hostages still held in Gaza, the historical genesis of the conflict and many other important factors. On college campuses, especially, these events were designed to show that the Jewish community will not be intimidated and that the Jewish community will continue to advocate for Israel and show their Jewish pride.
Undergraduates from Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity (AEPi), the world’s largest and leading Jewish college fraternity, advanced those ideals even further by committing to community-service projects on and around Oct. 7. Through a partnership with Repair the World, AEPi chapters demonstrated “Strength Through Service” as undergraduate members organized and conducted philanthropy and community-building programs on campuses across North America.
In total, AEPi brothers conducted 77 community-service events which engaged 3,342 students, including 689 non-AEPi members. The “Strength Through Service” initiative resulted in 4,473 hours, or approximately 186 days, of community service.
“Since Oct. 7, our brothers have often served on the frontlines of campus activism, advocating for Israel and standing up to Jewish hate,” said Rob Derdiger, CEO of Alpha Epsilon Pi International. “They continue to do that, but we are equally proud of their commitment to tikkun olam, making the world a better place in the face of such negativity and hate.”
Some of the Strength Through Service events included:
- Holding a blood drive at Virginia Tech;
- Cleaning up neighborhoods, parks and community spaces at State University of New York-Oneonta, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and the University at Buffalo;
- Cleaning up neighborhoods damaged by the hurricane at the University of South Florida;
- Hosting a joint “challah bake” conducted by the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to raise money for Israeli causes.
Dozens of chapters also organized or participated in programs to mark the Oct. 7 anniversary, working with other campus and community partners.
“Nothing demonstrates AEPi’s mission—to develop future leaders of the Jewish community—better than seeing our undergraduates wholeheartedly take on this initiative at this specific point of time. Our community needs more leaders and our world needs people willing to step up and make a difference, making it better. AEPi’s student members are doing that today and will continue to do so into the future,” said Derdiger.
