The History of Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Epsilon Pi was chartered at N.Y.U. on November 7, 1913 as a Jewish fraternity but, from the outset, did not have any religious restrictions. Hyman Shulman, who was something of a Hebraic scholar, was appointed to draft the ritual with emphasis on Jewish traditions and ideals. The idealistic base of the ritual remains the Old Testament, yet in no way does it denigrate the faith of those not of Hebrew ancestry. AEPi welcomes men of all backgrounds willing to support its mission of developing the future leaders of the North American Jewish communities by fostering acts of brotherhood, tzedakah (charity), social awareness and support for Jewish communities and Israel.
Toward that end, Alpha Epsilon Pi is the only college fraternity with its own national rabbi and ongoing philanthropic support of national Jewish causes. It is a partner with the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life / International Hillel. This is highly appropriate, since Brother Lewis Glasser, Illinois '22, was a catalyst in the creation of Hillel, a fact reported in the Journal of B'nai B'rith. Other Jewish causes and issues have included:
Toward that end, Alpha Epsilon Pi is the only college fraternity with its own national rabbi and ongoing philanthropic support of national Jewish causes. It is a partner with the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life / International Hillel. This is highly appropriate, since Brother Lewis Glasser, Illinois '22, was a catalyst in the creation of Hillel, a fact reported in the Journal of B'nai B'rith. Other Jewish causes and issues have included:
- In 1929, there were brutal murders and massacres in Palestine. AEPi brothers responded to the appeal for the Palestine Emergency Relief Fund.
- At the 1937 national convention, chapters were encouraged to give room and board without charge to German Jewish refugee students.
- In 1947, the fraternity voted to request the United States' representative to the United Nations to use his offices to secure an immediate, acceptable solution to the grave international issue of the ultimate status of Palestine.
- In 1948, AEPi went on record expressing its pride and pleasure in the creation of the State of Israel.
- In 1954, the Israeli Student Exchange Program was initiated whereby Israeli men were given scholarships for postgraduate study in the United States. AEPi placed many of these men chapter houses and financed their expenses.
- In 1976, the Supreme Council condemned the U.N. Resolution equating Zionism with racism. Proposed by Rutgers undergraduate Mitch Mallett '78, this motion passed with a unanimous vote.
- Throughout the coming century brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi would continue to contribute to many Jewish causes in both a financial way and with personal voluntary service, including rabbis that have headed their respective denominational movements.
- Today, AEPi is proud of being the largest Jewish financial contributor to the U.S. Holocaust Museum and is prominently listed on its Wall of Honor. It has also contributed to Vad Yashem and sponsors birthright trips to Israel for brothers.
- Alpha Epsilon Pi currently operates on 130 campuses in the United States and Canada.