Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity (AEPi), the world’s largest and leading Jewish college fraternity, has launched a partnership with Community Security Service (CSS), the leading Jewish organization for community-based security and safety training, to provide AEPi members with advanced security training.

The initial training consists of workshops to develop situational awareness, de-escalation skills and security expertise to prevent threats to Jewish campus activities. AEPi’s professional staff are also participating in training workshops in order to provide them with skills they can pass on to undergraduate members.

“We are immensely proud that AEPi brothers are often leading the Israel advocacy and Jewish pride events on their campuses, and we want to make sure we are providing them with all of the training and skills necessary to protect themselves and others in the Jewish campus community,” said Rob Derdiger, CEO of Alpha Epsilon Pi International. “We’re thrilled to partner with our friends as CSS to provide these lessons and skills to our undergraduates to help protect themselves, their houses and the entire Jewish community.”

The training sessions began during the summer’s AEPi convention and have launched on campus throughout the fall semester. Future programs will include training sessions at AEPi’s regional conclaves and more intense training on potentially volatile campuses.

“CSS came to train our chapter at Temple University, and we found it to be extremely beneficial. I never realized that my situational awareness and emergency response management skills were lacking. Living in North Philadelphia can be dangerous at times, but the CSS training provided us with tools and strategies to make us feel safer and more aware. Whether it’s counting entrances and exits of every room I’m in, or even as simple as reading the body language of others, I feel much more confident and prepared to be on campus,” said Temple University AEPi President Sam Fogel.

“We are excited to partner with AEPi to bring our community-based security and safety training programs to their members and facilities nationwide. While we would have hoped that such a partnership would not be necessary, the current threat landscape makes it essential,” said Richard Priem, Chief Executive Officer of CSS. “We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the safety of Jewish students and ensure that AEPi can continue to thrive, providing meaningful Jewish experiences on campus.”

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About Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity

Alpha Epsilon Pi is the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, operating chapters on more than 150 college campuses in the United States, Canada, 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. For more information, visit AEPi.org or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

About Community Security Service

CSS is the national Jewish defense and security agency, focused on training volunteers and the community in basic security procedures to help protect their institutions and events across the country. Through programs developed by foremost industry security experts, and tailored to various levels of interest and ability, volunteers learn to identify suspicious activity and prevent and respond to potential threatening situations in coordination with law enforcement and communal partners. To date, the CSS has a national network of thousands of trained volunteers protecting hundreds of synagogues and events each year, including over 10,000 community members trained across the United States. Visit thecss.org.