Rebecca Shapiro Thesis (11 May 2011).pdf - Brandeis Institutional ...

In addition to philanthropic connections, an organization’s partnerships, as well asconference attendance by professional staff, says a great deal about the organization’scommitments and values.AEPI started the first Jewish fraternal partnership when it officially partneredwith AIPAC in 1985. Since 1985, AEPI has officially partnered with ten Jewishorganizations: AIPAC, Aish Jerusalem Fellowships, Bnai Brith International, Chabad onCampus, The Embassy of Israel to the United States, Gift of Life, Hasbara Fellowships,Hillel, Israel on Campus Coalition, and Masa Israel.These partnerships enable AEPI to provide Jewish resources to its undergraduatemembers. In an interview, Andrew Borans, AEPI Executive Director, stated that thesepartnerships create an avenue through which undergraduate brothers can better exploretheir Judaism and what it means to them. He referred to AEPI as the vehicle throughwhich brothers are connecting with Jewish organizations. He concluded, "it is our job totake these kids and get them involved in other Jewish activities." 185 Adam Teitelbaum,AEPI's Director of Jewish Programming and Philanthropy, explained that through thepartnerships, the partner organizations have access to 9,000 young men, and thereforeAEPI provides "bodies for the seats." According to Borans, one-third of male collegestudents in attendance at AIPAC's conference, were AEPI brothers.Regarding conferences, AEPI sends members of its National Staff andundergraduate brothers to both Jewish and Greek related conferences. Jewishconferences include: All Hillel conferences, Chabad's National Conference, The JewishFederation of North America's General Assembly and Tribefest, the B’nai B’rith PolicyConference, and the I.C.C retreat, entitled Israel Amplified. Israel Amplified, a185 Andrew Borans, telephone interview by author, March 23, 2011.57