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 are welcome to holiday services and meals.
Duke students are invited to enjoy free, kosher High Holiday meals at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and Duke Gardens.
High Holiday meal registration is required by Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 12:00pm EST (link coming soon).
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
- 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)
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.
