Two years after the 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, many in the Jewish community marked the anniversary through rallies, marches and other public events. On college campuses, especially, these events were designed to show that the Jewish community wouldn’t be intimidated and that the Jewish community would 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 and as a part of its National Days of Jewish Service Initiative, 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 146 community service events which engaged more than 6,300 individuals in these events. The “Strength Through Service” initiative resulted in nearly 10,000 hours—or more than 400 days—of community service.
“Since Oct. 7, our brothers have often served on the front lines 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.”
Dozens of chapters organized or participated in programs to mark the Oct. 7 anniversary, working with other campus and community partners. Several participated in “Reverse Tashlich” programs through an additional partnership with Repair the Sea. Eight chapters across Canada conducted a blood drive on their campuses in memory of those lost due to the Oct. 7 terror attacks while undergraduates across the U.S. West Coast organized a letter-writing campaign to IDF soldiers thanking them for their sacrifice to keep Israel free. In San Diego, brothers organized a beach cleanup and chapters throughout North America, partnering with Gift of Life Marrow Registry, to raise awareness among college students about the life-saving potential of blood stem cell and marrow transplants and getting hundreds of their fellow students to join the registry to save lives.
“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.
