Why I Stayed at Jewish Life at Duke
By Rebecca Ezersky, Assistant Director for Student Engagement, Jewish Life at Duke
The first program I ever planned as a Springboard Fellow at Jewish Life at Duke, over three years ago, was an alternative, meditative Rosh Hashanah service.
I spent weeks preparing: crafting a thoughtful structure for the service, choosing the environment, and devising different ways for students to find it meaningful. When the day finally arrived, I felt both excited and nervous — until only three students showed up.
At first, I was crushed. I wondered what I’d done wrong. But as the service unfolded, I watched something beautiful happen. I watched those three students engage deeply with the experience, sharing reflections and talking about everything from their personal Rosh Hashanah traditions to their class schedule.
By the end, they walked out as friends, and I realized it wasn’t about how big an event was (though I didn’t know then how many big events were on the horizon); it was about the depth of the connections.
That moment stuck with me throughout my two years as a Springboard Fellow. It reminded me why I had chosen this path in the first place: to create opportunities for students to connect with each other, their Jewish identities, and the broader Duke community in meaningful ways.
Whether it was introducing students at Shabbat dinners, helping them create their dream Latkapalooza Hannukah celebration, or getting to know students through one-on-one coffee conversations, I found purpose and joy in creating spaces for students to learn, grow, and be in community with one another — through events ranging from 3 to 300+ students. .
When my Fellowship ended, I knew my work with Jewish Life at Duke wasn’t over.
My time as a Springboard Fellow was filled with the joy of getting to know new students and shaping the JLD community. Now, as Assistant Director, I’m aiming to create initiatives that are inspired by the connections that were pivotal to my experience at Jewish Life at Duke. In this new role, I’m focused on creating opportunities for students to shape their own community within Jewish Life at Duke—whether through forming micro-communities, having coffee with a fellow student, or planning their own programs.
My hope is that everyone has the opportunity to foster connection and growth, like I have had the privilege of doing at Jewish Life at Duke as a Springboard Fellow. Whether it be for themselves or others, whether they be in a formal leadership position or not, every student can play a unique role in shaping the JLD community and bringing others into the fold.
Planning that first Rosh Hashanah service taught me an important lesson: the impact of creating spaces where relationships can flourish. It’s what brought me to Jewish Life at Duke, what has kept me here, and what inspires me every day as I help students shape their own community and build lasting connections.
About Rebecca
Rebecca Ezersky is the Assistant Director for Student Engagement at Jewish Life at Duke. Prior to her promotion to this role, she served from 2021-2023 as Jewish Life at Duke’s first Springboard Innovation Fellow, a two-year fellowship program of Hillel International that brings talented new graduates to campus Hillels throughout the country to build thriving Jewish student communities on campus.
In her time at Jewish Life at Duke, Rebecca has organized an alternative spring break trip focusing on environmental conservation and Jewish values, accompanied students on Birthright trips to Israel, served as an advisor to Jewish student organizations, coached micro-community groups including Jewtinos (Jewish Latin students) and Yarning for Yentes (crafting club), created Jewish graduate and professional student gatherings, facilitated off-campus Shabbat and wellness retreats, planned multiple B’nai Mitzvah celebrations for Duke students, hosted dozens of bagel brunches, and much more.
Giving Tuesday 2024
December 3, 2024 is Giving Tuesday, an annual giving holiday that inspires hundreds of thousands of people globally to donate and make a difference in their communities. This year, in honor of Giving Tuesday and your support, we’ll highlight the programs, students, and stories that make Jewish Life at Duke the center for vibrant Jewish community at Duke.
Whether our students are attending meaningful services, enjoying delicious meals with friends, or expanding their horizons with one of our many educational opportunities, one thing is certain, Jewish Life at Duke is here for students whenever, and however, they need us.
We’re thrilled to share that fellow Duke alumni and parents Lynne Wolitzer T’87, P’16, P’20 and Michael Wolitzer T’86, P’16, P’20 are matching the first $25,000 of donations made on Giving Tuesday, hoping their gift will inspire others, like you, to join them in supporting Jewish Life at Duke!
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About Jewish Life at Duke
Jewish Life at Duke (JLD) is the hub for all things Jewish on Duke’s campus. An accredited Hillel as well as a department within Duke University’s Division of Student Affairs, Jewish Life at Duke is guided by a mission to empower Jewish students to learn and grow intellectually and spiritually; to inspire and nurture personal paths to Jewish identity; and to cultivate community and friendship. Comprising the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and the Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel, JLD takes a pluralistic approach to Judaism to ensure that all Jewish students, regardless of affiliation, are welcome and included.
100% of JLD’s operating budget comes from donations from alumni, parents, and friends.
Become a donor to Jewish Life at Duke today.