High Holidays with Jewish Life at Duke
Each year, all members of Duke community are invited to celebrate the High Holidays with Jewish Life at Duke. For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, both Reform and Conservative-style services are offered at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and are open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members, regardless of background or religious affiliation.
We also offer Tashlikh at Duke Gardens, a ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah in which we visit a body of water and symbolically cast off our sins. Additionally, we offer free holiday meals for students including Rosh Hashanah dinner, kiddush lunches, Yom Kippur pre-fast dinner, and a Yom Kippur break-fast meal at the Freeman Center. Pre-registration for meals is required, but all holiday meals are free for students.
Celebrations, programs and observances are open to all our Duke colleagues and students of all identities and faith traditions.
Check out this year's schedule:
High Holiday Schedule 2026 / 5787
The High Holidays are right around the corner, and Jewish Life at Duke is excited to welcome you to the Freeman Center to observe them. All Duke students, faculty, and staff are welcome to holiday services and meals.
Our services are egalitarian (meaning students of all genders can participate fully in leading and taking part in the service), welcoming, and participatory, led by Campus Rabbi Elana Friedman, our cantorial soloists, and fellow students. There are options for Conservative, Reform, and communal (joint) services. They’re a meaningful and engaging way to observe the holidays together, with plenty of opportunities to sing, reflect, and be part of the service.
Duke students are invited to enjoy free, kosher High Holiday meals at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and Duke Gardens; meals are free for students thanks to the generosity of donors.
High Holiday meal registration is required by Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 12:00pm EST: Register here. Advanced registration is not required for prayer services, only meals.
Rosh Hashanah
Friday, September 11, 2026
Erev Rosh Hashanah
- 6:30pm: Erev Rosh Hashanah Community Service
- 7:30pm: Erev Rosh Hashanah Holiday Dinner (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
Saturday, September 12, 2026
First Day of Rosh Hashanah
- 9:30am: Conservative Service
- 10:00am: Reform Service
- 10:45am (approx.): Communal Torah Reading
- 12:00pm (approx.): Musaf
- ~12:00pm Following Reform Service: Rosh Hashanah Kiddush Lunch (Reform)(Free for students; registration required by September 9)
- ~1:00pm Following Conservative Service: Rosh Hashanah Kiddush Lunch (Conservative) (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
- 6:30pm: Holiday Dinner (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
- 7:30pm: Conservative Service and Kiddush
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Second Day of Rosh Hashanah
- 9:30am: Conservative Service
- 12:30 - 1:15pm: Rosh Hashanah Mindful Movement with Dani Faulhaber, at Duke Gardens (meet at the amphitheater by the Big Pond)
- 1:30 - 2:30pm: Tashlikh Service followed by Holiday Picnic Lunch at Duke Gardens (meet at the Big Pond, lunch at the amphitheater by the Big Pond) (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
Yom Kippur
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Erev Yom Kippur / Kol Nidre
- 5:30pm: Pre-Fast Dinner (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
- 6:30pm: Community Kol Nidre Service
Monday, September 21, 2026
Yom Kippur
- All Day 9:00am-10:00pm: Freeman Center Hang Out Space
- 9:30am: Conservative Service
- 10:00am: Reform Service
- 10:45am (approx.): Communal Torah Reading
- 11:30am (approx.): Yizkor Service
- 5:15pm: Musical Reflection with Sarah Jacobs '21 (Sanctuary)
- 5:40pm: Mincha Service
- 6:50pm: Community Neilah
- 7:55pm: Communal Shofar Blowing and Break the Fast Meal (Free for students; registration required by September 9)
Sukkah Build for Sukkot
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Sukkot
- 4:30 - 8:00pm: Help Build the Freeman Center Sukkah + Dinner: Join a crew of students to help build the Freeman Center Sukkah! Dinner will be provided! No prior building experience needed. Feel free to come for as long as you able. Sign up in advance here.
Additional Sukkot events coming soon. Keep an eye out on the Jewish Life at Duke email newsletter and social media for a schedule of Sukkot events.
Duke University Religious Observance Policy
Students are permitted to be absent from class to observe a religious holiday.
For religious observance policy details, visit: trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/religious-holidays
Need help advocating for class absence? The Jewish Life at Duke team is here for you. Reach out to Campus Rabbi Elana Friedman.
Shabbat / Yom Tov Key
If you don't use electricity on Yom Tov or Shabbat due to your religious observance practice, JLD has arranged with Duke Housing and Residence Life to enable you to check out a physical "Shabbat key" to enter your dorm during Shabbat and holidays. Make your request in advance in the standard maintenance request form.
