The Mission Statement of Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded to provide opportunities for the
Jewish college man seeking the best possible college and fraternity
experience. We have maintained the integrity of our purpose by
strengthening our ties to the Jewish community and serving as
a link between high school and career.
Our heritage stems from one source: young Jewish men banding
together in allegiance. The role of Alpha Epsilon Pi has expanded
since its inception in 1913. Initially, the Jewish fraternity
served as a brotherhood of young men who came from similar religious
backgrounds and who had experienced the same prejudices against
their religious beliefs. Alpha Epsilon Pi soon broadened its role
to include serving as the living quarters for some of its members.
The fraternity became a home away from home, providing the same
stabilizing and guiding values that students previously gained
from their families. Armed with these values, Alpha Epsilon Pi
faced changing conditions on the college campus and survived.
Today, Jewish students search out Alpha Epsilon Pi because it
is a Jewish Fraternity. In the fraternity's 90 year history, over
77,000 men have worn the badge of Alpha Epsilon Pi and each year,
over 1,800 undergraduates perform the Ritual of Initiation, which
remains the same ritual adopted decades ago.
Perhaps of greater importance, Alpha Epsilon Pi develops leadership
for the future of the American Jewish community. Tomorrow's Jewish
leaders are in our chapters today. These are the young men who
must be counted upon to support Jewish causes and to prepare to
be one of tomorrow's Jewish leaders, so that they may aid themselves,
their family, their community, and their people. Those students
who enter the mainstream of non-Jewish life on the campus are
far more likely to assimilate and to forsake their heritage. Working
together with the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life/International
Hillel, Alpha Epsilon Pi can play a vital role in helping reverse
the growing trend among our young people to abandon Judaism at
this critical time.
Throughout our history, the fraternity setting has served as
a "learning laboratory", a testing ground for young
men who later become leaders in business, education, government,
religion, and science. A goal of our fraternity is to help each
student to develop character, to learn responsibility, and to
develop a proper set of values through living together in brotherhood.
Alpha Epsilon Pi prepares young men for their role in life as
responsible citizens.
Therefore, our basic purpose is to provide the opportunity for
a Jewish man to be able to join a Jewish organization whose purpose
is not specifically religious, but rather social and cultural
in nature. Alpha Epsilon Pi is a Jewish fraternity, though non-discriminatory
and open to all who are willing to espouse its purpose and values.
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