Jewish UNC Frat Bros 'Balk' at $515k Party for Defending Flag, Say Money Should be Going to Israel

In interviews, several members of the U.N.C. chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish fraternity, said they were disappointed that the money raised on their behalf was paying for a party. They said they would rather that a significant portion of the money go to a charity that supports Jewish organizations or relief efforts in Gaza.

The "rager," they said, felt callous given that it grew out of a painful moment for both Jews and Palestinians — all as the war in the Middle East continued.

"The use of our actions to promote a narrative that we were some right-wing, MAGA heroes has been a gross misrepresentation and a disservice to many of those who were actually there," said Oliver Levine, a junior at the university and the president of its Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter.

[...] Many of the fraternity members on the quadrangle that day, Alpha Epsilon Pi members noted, had come to show support for Israel and their Jewish faith.

"You have this huge party with all of these people honoring us for what we did for the flag," said Brendan Rosenblum, 23, a senior and a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, "but not as much honoring us for the Jewish piece that was the original reason we were all there."

[...] Zachary Serinsky, 19, a sophomore chemistry major and member of Alpha Epsilon Pi, said that he felt like the counterprotest in April was being made "into a joke" because of the party.

"We went through this horrific day, we were there supporting our faith, our beliefs, and then also supporting America," Mr. Serinsky said. "To put all that money toward a party feels kind of like a slap in the face."

He does not plan on attending.

“Frat bro” reveals his fraternity’s motivations for opposing the pro-Palestine protestors at UNC Chapel Hill:

“We were there first & foremost for our country of Israel."

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