About Avi Schaefer
Avi Schaefer, z''l, was born June 11, 1988 to Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer and artist Laurie Gross. Avi was raised in a loving Jewish home in Santa Barbara, California, with his brothers Noah, Yoav, and Elisha. At age 18, Avi and his identical twin Yoav volunteered to serve as combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. Avi served in the army for three years, first as a soldier in a special forces unit and later going on to train some of Israel's most elite units as a counter-terrorism instructor. Upon completion of his army service, Avi returned to the United States to begin his studies at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
In his few months at Brown Avi quickly distinguished himself as an accomplished student and a trusted voice for Israel and for peace. Avi gracefully balanced his two passions, championing the Jewish state while simultaneously establishing deep lines of communication with students who held differing perspectives. His life and work were tragically cut short on February 12, 2010, when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking near campus. In just 21 years, Avi became a living testament to the idea that one committed individual can truly make a difference. His example leaves an indelible mark on this world in the lives of the people who knew him, and the thousands more inspired by his legacy of activism and compassion. It is now the task of his family and friends to carry on the work he began.
Remembering Avi »
Updates From The Fund
Universities Recognize Campus Hillels with Diversity Awards for Avi Shabbat Program
Rutgers Hillel received an Outstanding Diversity Initiative Award for its Avi Interfaith Shabbat Dinner Program, which brought together an equal number of Jewish, Christian and Muslim students, as well as university deans and clergy of different faiths. Students from each faith tradition led prayers before the meal and explained the rituals of their community. Hillel at SUNY Binghamton won the award for Excellence In Diversity for their Avi Shabbat Program. The Shabbat program at Binghamton included discussions that lasted well into the evening, offering students a relaxed environment to ask questions of one another and learn about each other’s traditions.
Winner of Avi Peace Prize Announced
At the close of the two-day Israel Conference held at Harvard April 19 - 20, Ambassador Dennis Ross (pictured second from left) announced the winner of the Avi Schaefer Peace Innovation essay competition—Harvard Kennedy School of Government graduate student Joel Braunold (pictured left)—for his proposal on ways that Palestinians and Israelis can work to build trust. The idea for this Peace Innovation competition grew out of the Leadership Colloquium held at Brown University in February and was organized by Harvard students Yoav Schaefer and Nusier Yassin (pictured right and far right).
Successfull Leadership Colloquium
The Intercolleqiate Ivy League Leadership Colloquium was initiated with its first year program at Brown University. Student delegations repersenting all eight Ivy League schools participated in deep conversation, learned new skills and explored ways in which they can bring change to the conversation about Israel/Palestine to their home campuses.
