Skip to main content

Passover with Jewish Life at Duke

Passover 2025 with Jewish Life at Duke

Passover takes place April 12-20, 2025. We've got you covered with seders, events, and kosher-for-Passover meals across campus. Click here to download our 2025 Passover Guide! [Coming Soon] 

Passover Seders with Jewish Life at Duke

Celebrate Passover with us by attending a seder, a ritual Passover meal. Make sure to sign up to attend a seder by April 7!

Student sit around a Passover Seder tableSaturday, April 12: First Night of Passover

  • Option 1: Student-Hosted Seders Across Campus: Various times and locations, led by student and student organization hosts
      • Take your pick from a variety of student-hosted seders across campus! From "Dress as Your Favorite Plague Seder" to the "Duke Gardens Seder," you're sure to find a perfect seder for you. You do not need to know the host in order to register, but note that some seders are generally themed for a specific audience (i.e. sophomores, seniors, graduate and professional school students, etc.).
      • Jewish Life at Duke provides the kosher food and ritual items for all these student-hosted seders, unless the host has chosen to cook their own food with a subsidy from Jewish Life at Duke.
      • Your host will send you information on exact timing and location, but all seders take place on or near Duke's campus.
      • Encourage a friend or roommate to sign up, too, Jewish or not!
  • Option 2: Communal First Night Seder at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life: 8:00 pm at the Freeman Center, led by Campus Rabbi Elana Friedman & Duke students
      • Are you a recently admitted student in town for Blue Devil Days or a campus tour? We'd love to have you join us! Register yourself and your family members for our communal seder today by selecting the "First Night Communal Passover Seder @ the Freeman Center for Jewish Life" slot on the sign-up form.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13: SECOND NIGHT OF PASSOVER

Seders are open to Duke students, faculty, and staff. Registration for all seders is required by Monday, April 7. Register to attend a seder here! [Link Coming Soon]


Duke Jewish Alumni Network Passover Seder Matching 

Calling all Duke alumni! The Duke Jewish Alumni Network, Duke's official Jewish alumni affinity group, is excited to launch its inaugural Duke Jewish Alumni Network Passover Seder Matching Program.

Duke Jewish alumni in need of a home to celebrate the holiday will be matched with fellow Jewish alumni in their city/region who have extra space around their seder table.

Looking for a place to spend a Passover seder on April 12 or 13, or willing to host a Duke alum in your area? Sign up to host or be hosted by March 14, 2025.


Free Matzah for Students

 Student sit around a Passover Seder tableStudents keeping kosher for Passover are invited to pick up a free box of kosher-for-Passover matzah to eat throughout the holiday. Gluten-free matzah available for those who need it, too! Look for the Jewish Life at Duke table:

  • Thursday, April 3:
    • 12:00pm-3:00pm at Brodhead Center main level (West Campus)
  • Monday, April 7:
    • 5:30-7:30pm at Marketplace (East Campus Union/Wall Center for Student Life)
  • Wednesday, April 9:
    • 12:00pm-3:00pm at Brodhead Center main level (West Campus)
  • Monday, April 7 - Friday, April 11:
    • 9:00am-5:00pm Freeman Center for Jewish Life Front Desk

More Passover Fun: Free Shabbat & Matzah Brei Meals

Join us at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life for these free events:

ANNUAL MATZAH BREI DINNER FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF

Thursday, April 17, 6:00 - 7:00pm 

Celebrate Passover with Jewish Life at Duke with our annual Matzah Brei Passover Dinner, featuring this favorite holiday dish! Celebrate Passover and mark the end of the spring semester at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life. Students, faculty, and staff welcome for this free event – bring a friend! No RSVP needed.

PASSOVER SHABBAT SERVICE & DINNER

Friday, April 18, 6:00pm Shabbat Service, 7:00pm kosher-for-Passover Shabbat dinner

RSVP for Shabbat dinner the way you always do! Text "Shabbat" to 984-333-5603 by Friday at noon (in this case, between April 14 and April 18 at noon)

MIMOUNA: A SEPHARDIC POST-PASSOVER CELEBRATION

Monday, April 21, 6:00 - 7:00pm 

Celebrate the end of Passover with Jewish Life at Duke by joining us for our Mimouna celebration, a post-Passover festival with Moroccan origins, celebrated widely in the Sephardic Jewish community. Enjoy an evening of Moroccan sweet treats, lively music, and great company. All are welcome - bring a friend! 

Jewish students at Duke host a Passover seder

Where To Get Kosher-for-Passover Meals on Campus

Keeping kosher for Passover? We've worked with Duke Dining to ensure kosher-for-Passover meals are available for purchase across Duke's campus:

Hot, made-to-order, kosher-for-Passover meals are available for purchase at the Freeman Center Café. Eat in or dine out. Forms of payment accepted: food points/Flex, credit card, Duke board plan dinner equivalency.

Jewish students at Duke share Passover together

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9 - FRIDAY, APRIL 11:

  • Closed in preparation for Passover seders, see Grab & Go options

MONDAY, APRIL 14 - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16:

  • Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
  • Lunch/Dinner: 12:00pm – 7:30pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 17:

  • Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
  • Lunch: 12:00pm – 2pm
  • Dinner: open for free Matzah Brei Dinner only from 6:00 - 7:00pm; no RSVP necessary!

FRIDAY, APRIL 18:

  • Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
  • Lunch: 12:00pm – 2pm
  • Dinner: open for free Shabbat Dinner only (RSVP: Text "Shabbat" to 984-333-5603 between April 22 and April 26 at noon)

MONDAY, APRIL 21:

  • Freeman Center Cafe returns to regular menu and hours
    • Monday, April 21 - Tuesday, April 22: Freeman Center Cafe regular menu, 12:00 - 7:30pm
    • Wednesday, April 23: Blue Devil Bagels Pop-Up Bagel Cafe (Dairy menu), 12:00 - 7:30pm

Grab & Go, packaged, kosher-for-Passover meals are available for purchase in East and West Campus locations April 14-20, 2025 during standard operating hours. All items are prepared, packaged, and sealed in the Freeman Center Café, a kosher dining establishment under rabbinical supervision, operated in partnership by Duke Dining and Jewish Life at Duke.

EAST CAMPUS:

  • Trinity Café (East Campus Union/Wall Center for Student Life)
    • In addition to kosher-for-Passover Grab & Go Meals available April 14-20, regular kosher Grab & Go meals will also be available here April 7-13 while the Freeman Center Cafe is closed in preparation for Passover.

WEST CAMPUS:

  • Gothic Grill (Bryan Center)
  • Beyu Blue (Bryan Center)
  • Devil’s Krafthouse (Brodhead Center)

Grab & Go meals out of stock or running low? Contact 919-660-3900 or dining@duke.edu.

calendar graphic depicting hours during which the Freeman Center Cafe is open during Passover 2024


Kashrut (Kosher Dietary Guidelines)

All Passover food items are prepared, packaged, and sealed in the Freeman Center Café, a kosher dining establishment under rabbinical supervision, operated in partnership by Duke Dining and Jewish Life at Duke.

Questions about kashrut, help with kashering your kitchen or selling your chametz can be directed to jewishlife@duke.edu.

Are you representing a fellow Duke department looking to offer kosher-for-Passover catering options at your event? Contact the Freeman Center Café at freemandining@duke.edu.


Jewish students make a star

Support Passover Programs at Duke

We are glad to provide Passover resources, meals, and events for Duke's Jewish community. Jewish Life at Duke is fully funded by donations from alumni, parents, and friends, who make Passover meals and resources possible.

We welcome your contributions of any amount to keep Passover meals and programs free for students. Thank you for your support!

Parents who donate $360 or more are eligible for membership in our JLD Parents Circle.