B'nai B'rith International Partners with AEPi

B'nai B'rith International is excited to announce that it has entered into a formal partnership with Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), the national Jewish fraternity. Through community service, educational programming, and advocacy, we will be working together to encourage brothers to remain involved in the Jewish community after college graduation.

In the spring of 2008, joint programming was rolled out on campuses throughout the country. Our first major program focused on Black-Jewish relations, and was provided in conjunction with Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Ongoing programs will include community service projects, such as Project H.O.P.E., in which volunteers deliver holiday food baskets to those in need, and work with seniors through the BBI senior housing program. This is just the beginning. The opportunities are endless and we look forward to your involvement!

The two organizations have similar histories and organizational structures. Both began as fraternal organizations, both recruit and teach potential leaders, and both rely on Jewish culture to define its missions and shape its communities.

For the past two springs BBI and AEPi have come together to bring Yom Hashoah programming to campuses nationwide. The initiative brings together AEPi’s “We Walk to Remember” with BBI’s “Unto Every Person There is a Name.” We were excited that 65 chapters participated in 2009 and were overjoyed to see that it grew to 70 chapters in 2010.

In the winter of 2010, AEPi chapters took the time to raise nearly $4,000 in the aftermath of the Haiti and Chile earthquakes for the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund. These funds went to support first responders and will be used toward long term projects in the areas affected.

How you can help and get involved?

BBI recently chartered the AEPi Lodge of B’nai B’rith. Members will receive all the normal benefits any BBI member does, such as getting the B’nai B’rith Magazine, being presented with opportunities to engage in our community, national and international programs, and the opportunity to advocate on behalf of issues of importance to the Jewish community. The added bonus of the AEPi Lodge is that you will  support the work we are doing on campus with AEPi to cultivate and engage Jewish leaders of the future.

For more information on this partnership, email us at ypn@bnaibrith.org.

BBI leader and AEPi alumni Harold "Hesch" Steinberg meets with brothers at Univ. of Minn. – Minneapolis.