ALPHA EPSILON PI PARTNERS WITH SYNAGOGUE CONNECT TO PROVIDE COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH NEARLY 1,100 FREE CONGREGATIONAL CHOICES IN 31 COUNTRIES FOR UPCOMING HIGH HOLIDAYS
Alpha Epsilon Pi, the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, working with Synagogue Connect, has established an online system to match college students from around the world looking for a congregation at which to spend the Jewish High Holidays for free. This is the third year of the Alpha Epsilon Pi/Synagogue Connect partnership. The online system is free and is open to all Jewish college undergraduate and graduate students looking to get off campus for a variety of reasons.
Synagogue Connect founders Rabbi Ronald Brown and Rabbi Charles Klein have already gotten nearly 1,100 congregations from all denominations (Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative and Orthodox) and throughout the world to offer free seats to college students. Students merely have to notify the synagogue in advance of the holiday that they will be attending and bring along a college ID.
“There are a number of great resources on campus for Jewish students but we know that some campuses don’t provide those opportunities and sometime students are looking to get off campus for a variety of students,” said Rabbi Brown. “We’re extremely gratified at the number of congregations which have agreed to open their doors.”
Alpha Epsilon Pi built an online database which allows students to search for congregations within a radius of a location of their choice for Synagogue Connect and also hosts the online Synagogue Connect program.
“We want to do everything possible to provide more opportunities for our brothers and all Jewish college students to have a meaningful experience during the upcoming High Holidays. Of course, many of our brothers will participate in on-campus services at Hillel and Chabad and we encourage that but this provides additional opportunities on some campuses and for all students,” said James Fleischer, AEPi’s chief executive officer.
“We’re grateful to our friends in AEPI for helping to make this happen and for keeping this program open and free to all Jewish college students, not just members of AEPi,” said Rabbi Brown.
To access the Synagogue Connect database, go to www.synagogueconnect.com
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Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) is the world’s leading Jewish college fraternity, operating chapters, colonies and interest groups on nearly 190 college campuses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Canada, Australia and Israel. Founded in 1913, AEPi has more than 100,000 living alumni. While non-discriminatory, 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.