Passover 2026 with Jewish Life at Duke
Passover takes place April 1-9, 2026. We've got you covered with seders, events, and kosher-for-Passover meals across campus.
Click here to download a PDF of our 2026 Passover Guide!
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 Thursday, March 26!
Wednesday, April 1: First Night of Passover
- Option 1: Student-Hosted Seders Across Campus: Various times and locations, led by student and student organization hosts
- Duke students, sign up to host your own seder on April 1, 2026, with food or subsidy provided by Jewish Life at Duke. Sign up to host by February 23, 2026 by clicking here.
- 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: 6:30 pm at the Freeman Center, led by Campus Rabbi Elana Friedman & Duke students
Thursday, APRIL 2: SECOND NIGHT OF PASSOVER
- Communal Second Night Seder at the Freeman Center for Jewish Life: 6:30 pm at the Freeman Center, led by Duke Seniors, but open to all class years
Seders are open to Duke students, faculty, staff, and prospective students. Registration for all seders is required by Thursday, March 26. Register to attend a seder here (link coming mid-February 2026)!
Free Matzah for Students
Students 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:
- Monday, March 23:
- 12:00pm-3:00pm at Brodhead Center main level (West Campus)
- Tuesday, March 24:
- 12:00pm-3:00pm at Brodhead Center main level (West Campus)
- Wednesday, March 25:
- 5:30-7:30pm at Marketplace (East Campus Union/Wall Center for Student Life)
- March 23-31:
- 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
Tuesday, April 7, 6:00pm-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 3, 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.
MIMOUNA SHABBAT DINNER: A POST-PASSOVER MOROCCAN CELEBRATION
Friday, April 10, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Celebrate the end of Passover with Jewish Life at Duke by joining us for our Mimouna-themed Shabbat dinner celebration, a post-Passover festival with Moroccan origins, celebrated widely in the Sephardic Jewish community. Enjoy an evening of Moroccan sweet treats and great company. All are welcome - bring a friend!
RSVP for Shabbat dinner the way you always do! Text "Shabbat" to 984-333-5603 by Friday at noon.
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 breakfast or dinner equivalency.
MONDAY, MARCH 30 - THURSDAY, APRIL 2:
- Freeman Center Cafe closed for Passover kashering and in preparation for Passover seders
- March 30-31: Regular Kosher Grab & Go meals available at Trinity Cafe (East Campus)
- April 1-9: Kosher-for-Passover Grab & Go meals available on East and West Campus -- see Grab & Go options below
FRIDAY, APRIL 3:
- Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
- Lunch: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
SATURDAY, APRIL 4- SUNDAY, APRIL 5:
- Closed, see Grab & Go options
MONDAY, APRIL 6:
- Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
- Lunch & Dinner: 12:00pm – 7:30pm
TUESDAY, APRIL 7:
- 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!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8-THURSDAY APRIL 9:
- Breakfast: 8:30am – 10:30am
- Lunch & Dinner: 12:00pm – 7:30pm
FRIDAY, APRIL 10:
- Freeman Center Cafe Closed, Kosher Grab & Go meals available for purchase at Trinity Cafe (East Campus)
- Dinner: open for free Shabbat Dinner only (RSVP: Text "Shabbat" to 984-333-5603 to RSVP for dinner)
MONDAY, APRIL 13:
- Freeman Center Cafe returns to regular menu and hours
Grab & Go, packaged, kosher-for-Passover meals are available for purchase in East and West Campus locations April 1-9, 2026 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 1-9, regular kosher Grab & Go meals will also be available here March 30-31 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.
Passover Catering at Duke
Are you representing a fellow Duke department looking to offer kosher-for-Passover catering options at your event?
The Freeman Center Café can cater your events either completely, or by offering a select number of kosher-for-Passover meals in order to accommodate guests who observe Passover dietary restrictions.
Contact Chef Sebastian at freemandining@duke.edu with your request for kosher for Passover meals. Include the date and time of your event, your estimated count of meals needed, and any requests for type of food (i.e. full meals, light bites, boxed lunches).
Kashrut (Kosher Dietary Guidelines) during Passover
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.
During Passover, the kitchen and all associate kitchen and serving ware are kashered for Passover, and all food served out of the kitchen is Kosher for Passover.
Questions about kashrut, help with kashering your kitchen or selling your chametz can be directed to jewishlife@duke.edu.
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.