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

elieves that exclusively Jewish awards alienate and separate what is otherwise acohesive brotherhood.Sigma Alpha Mu (∑AM) annually recognizes an undergraduate student with theRabbi Liebman Award. This award is given to a student who made the "mostoutstanding contribution to religious endeavor in his campus community, regardless ofhis religion." The award is named for Rabbi Joshua Loth Liebman, a Boston based rabbi,author of a best selling novel and a Sigma Alpha Mu alumnus. In addition to itsindividual awards, Sigma Alpha Mu awards a chapter with its Religious EndeavorAward, which is given to a chapter that has made the most outstanding contribution toreligious endeavors in its campus community. 200Executive Director Lee Manders notedin an interview that these awards typically go to a student or chapter that has workedclosely with Chabad or Hillel or other Jewish causes on its campus. It is clear from theterminology, that like ZBT, Sigma Alpha Mu is conscious of inclusivity in theorganization. The fraternity does not enforce or even recommend Jewish programmingfor its chapters. Its programming award is for religious endeavors, keeping in mind itsdiverse membership base.An in-depth analysis of the mission statements, partners, philanthropies andwording of the Jewish awards, reveals the current state of Jewish fraternities. Anorganization chooses to direct its chapters through its public presentations. Oneorganization may choose to infuse Jewish content into its every fiber, while another maymaintain that Judaism is in its members' hearts and not a necessary part of theorganization’s activities. Historically, organizations have debated what it means to be a200 "The Lion." Alpha Epsilon Pi. Summer 2010. Accessed April 28, 2011.http://www.aepi.org/?page=TheLion.65