March 9, 2026
(March 10, 2026) For 11 years, Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity, the Jewish college fraternity, has held its annual Mensch Madness Bracket Challenge, raising more than $100,000 for select Jewish and Israeli causes. This year, Mensch Madness tips off the first-ever AEPi Month of Giving, encouraging AEPi undergraduate chapters and alumni to recommit to putting the fraternity’s Jewish values into action to strengthen our Jewish communities and the world around us. This is the 12th year for Mensch Madness which combines the excitement of the annual NCAA college basketball tournament with the competitiveness of pitting campuses across the globe against […]
March 6, 2026
For Nate Hara (Iowa, 2029), the path to the University of Iowa has been defined by leadership, community, and a deep connection to Jewish life. A freshman from Northbrook, Illinois, Nate arrived on campus determined to pursue his academic goals, continue his Jewish involvement, and take advantage of every opportunity college had to offer. “I’ve been very involved in the Jewish community throughout high school,” Nate explained. “My whole world revolved around it.” Growing up on Chicago’s North Shore, Hara immersed himself in Jewish life. He was active in BBYO, served as a madrich in Sunday school, and interned with [...]
February 25, 2026
Ah, the 1970s. Vietnam. Watergate. Presidential resignations. On the radio you might hear Al Green, Roberta Flack, Elton, or Led Zeppelin. At that time, I was (and still am) a proud member of AEPi at American University (Sigma Pi chapter) in Washington, D.C. Even then, beyond the camaraderie, I admired my brothers for their values, their work ethic, and for their patriotism. Even as college youths, my AEPi brothers showed leadership: working on Capitol Hill, in the White House and adjacent executive office buildings, and even in broadcast media. I worked for a Congressman from Hawaii and taught Hebrew School. [...]
March 6, 2026
For Nate Hara (Iowa, 2029), the path to the University of Iowa has been defined by leadership, community, and a deep connection to Jewish life. A freshman from Northbrook, Illinois, Nate arrived on campus determined to pursue his academic goals, continue his Jewish involvement, and take advantage of every opportunity college had to offer. “I’ve been very involved in the Jewish community throughout high school,” Nate explained. “My whole world revolved around it.” Growing up on Chicago’s North Shore, Hara immersed himself in Jewish life. He was active in BBYO, served as a madrich in Sunday school, and interned with [...]
February 19, 2026
There are many ways to stand up to antisemitism. Some march. Some write. Some organize. Some advocate in boardrooms and statehouses. Brother Mikey Pauker (San Francisco, 2007) sings. And he sings louder when it matters most. Finding Brotherhood — and His Voice Growing up in Orange County, California, Mikey headed to San Francisco State University intending to major in theater. Music was part of his life, but not yet his mission. During his freshman year in the dorms, he ran into a familiar face: Russell Kipnis (San Francisco, 2005), his former song leader from summer camp. “He said, ‘Do you [...]
February 13, 2026
“I think a lot about stored potential, about how many guys could be doing this kind of work. All of the philanthropy they were part of in AEPi often lies dormant for 15 or 20 years. We need to activate it,” said Brother Danny Rubin (Virginia, 2006). When Danny Rubin enrolled at the University of Virginia in 2002, AEPi felt like a natural next step. “I was very involved in BBYO growing up. I served on the Virginia state board and eventually as state president. When I got to college, I didn’t know much about AEPi, but a friend from [...]
February 25, 2026
Ah, the 1970s. Vietnam. Watergate. Presidential resignations. On the radio you might hear Al Green, Roberta Flack, Elton, or Led Zeppelin. At that time, I was (and still am) a proud member of AEPi at American University (Sigma Pi chapter) in Washington, D.C. Even then, beyond the camaraderie, I admired my brothers for their values, their work ethic, and for their patriotism. Even as college youths, my AEPi brothers showed leadership: working on Capitol Hill, in the White House and adjacent executive office buildings, and even in broadcast media. I worked for a Congressman from Hawaii and taught Hebrew School. [...]
January 29, 2026
Inspired by Levi Fox’s article about the case for joining a Jewish fraternity in the winter 2025 Lion, I saw many similarities to my own situation. Graduating from a public high school in Chicago in 1965 that was 92% Jewish, the majority of my classmates opted to attend either Michigan or Wisconsin. In fact, only one other Chicagoan even came to Indiana. I had initially decided to enter an all-male dorm when the AEPi Master, who lived just two blocks from my house stopped by and invited me to attend a pledge dinner. That evening changed my life. Instead of [...]
January 9, 2026
It was all very familiar. “Who goes there? A rightful brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity and neophytes who desire more light on Brotherly Love…” I had heard those words hundreds of times. But this time was different, almost an out-of-body experience. I had flown 8,118 miles to watch my son, Sam, become our brother. It had been 6,874 days since the first time I held him in my arms. I remember thinking then - among a thousand other emotions - that I hoped he would one day join our great fraternity. And just like that, in what felt [...]
AEPi is always looking for good news and stories about our undergraduates, alumni and partners. We feature such stories on this site’s weekly #FridayPiday section, in our quarterly publication, The Lion, and our monthly digital newsletter, The Roar. Send us some news!
