Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi)—the world’s largest and leading Jewish fraternity—held a “Day of Strength” on Oct. 16 on more than 80 North American college campuses to educate college students, rally support for Israel and raise money for Israeli causes. Events ranged from campus solidarity walks to interfraternity dinners, a bake sale and everything in between.
In total, the more than 80 events held that Monday activated nearly 10,000 college students and strived to change the narrative of the support for Israel on college campuses. These are in addition to the more than 280 events organized and $150,000 raised for Israeli aid organizations by AEPi students since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
“A Day of Strength” demonstrated the unique position that AEPi plays on college campuses,” said AEPi CEO Rob Derdiger. “Our Brothers reached out to other campus organizations to engage and involve them. Many of those campus leaders were struggling as to how to find factual information about the Middle East, and we were able to help those efforts and to help them understand the atrocities which were committed by terrorists and the role that Hamas plays in Gaza.”
In the last 10 days, AEPi chapters have stepped up to show support for Israel, for those affected by the terror attacks and for the Israel Defense Forces in an unprecedented manner. These include organizing campus rallies and vigils; hosting fundraisers to collect money for organizations providing aid and protection to the Israeli people; and raising awareness about the truth in Israel.
Below are some of the events held in Israel solidarity. To learn more about events held in your community, contact Jon Pierce at: jpierce@aepi.org.
AEPi brothers at George Washington University (Washington, D.C.) organized an event on the campus quad with more than 800 students to “Stand With Israel.”
At North Carolina State (Raleigh, N.C.), AEPi brothers organized an event with the campus Jewish community to cover derogatory statements on the campus’ “Free Expression Tunnel” with messages of peace and solidarity (photos available upon request).
More than 100 Elon College (Elon, N.C.) students participated in an Israel Solidarity campus march organized by AEPi brothers (photos available upon request). At the University of California, Irvine, AEPi Brothers staffed a table on the main campus quad for the full day in order to educate fellow students and have conversations with them about Israel and Hamas.
AEPi is the only fraternity in the world with active undergraduate chapters in Israel. Last week, Israeli undergraduate and alumni Brothers held a series of Zoom meetings with their counterparts in North America and the United Kingdom to express their appreciation for these efforts and to help build even more avenues for support.
“For 110 years, AEPi’s mission has been to develop the future leaders of the Jewish community. We are seeing those words in action right now. I’m so amazingly proud of AEPi undergraduates around the globe who have stood up to the forces of hate and intolerance and advocated for Israel and the Jewish people in so many different ways,” said Derdiger.
Note: For information about local events held in your market, email Jon Pierce at: jon@albanypr.com or call 518.427.1186.
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Alpha Epsilon Pi is the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, operating chapters on more than 150 college campuses in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Israel. Founded in 1913, AEPi has more than 110,000 living alumni. The fraternity’s mission—developing the future leaders of the Jewish communities—is demonstrated every day through acts of brotherhood, tzedakah (charity), social awareness, and support for Jewish communities and Israel.