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Department Spotlight: Freeman Center

Jewish Life center offers space to bring Duke community together

Duke Students and are joined by staff to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in the Freeman Center Sukkah. Staff members Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz (seated) and Rebecca Simons (standing behind Yoskowitz) are joined by program coordinator Amanda Rozycki (s
Duke Students and are joined by staff to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot in the Freeman Center Sukkah. Staff members Rabbi Jeremy Yoskowitz (seated) and Rebecca Simons (standing behind Yoskowitz) are joined by program coordinator Amanda Rozycki (second from left). Photo courtesy of Rebecca Simons.

Department: Jewish Life at Duke

Years at Duke: Established in 1999

Who they are: Jewish Life at Duke is comprised of the Freeman Center for Jewish Life and Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel. The Freeman Center provides a physical home for Jewish Life on campus, while the Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel provides programming for the entire Duke community. The Freeman Center has offices, meeting spaces and offers kosher dining options for students and staff and faculty.

What they're known for: "Amongst students, we're best known for our macaroni and cheese on Thursdays," said Rebecca Simons, director for Jewish Life. And that's not all. All Duke community members can eat kosher meals at the Freeman Center, including three meals a day during Passover, which begins this year in the evening on Friday, April 6, and ends in the evening on Saturday, April 14. Kosher meals consist of food prepared according to Jewish law, which includes a set of rules, like not eating pig, among others. Dinner is served Monday through Thursday with special, free meals for Shabbat dinner on Friday evenings, which is the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath. A weekly menu can be found online.

What they can do for you: Along with dining and Jewish-themed programming, meeting spaces at the Freeman Center are available for use by Duke departments. The building has seminar rooms and a 1,600-square feet sanctuary available for meetings. "We also have parking, which people love," Simons said. To book a meeting area, Duke community members can call (919) 684-0826.

Number of employees: Five full-time employees.

Hidden fact: The Freemen Center offers the only kosher dining area in the Triangle. "Because we're the only option, we don't just have students, but community members who join us and everyone eats together," said Jeremy Yoskowitz, rabbi and assistant director for Jewish Life. "Any kosher meal is also considered halal-style food in Islam, so we have a number of Muslim students who join us too." Halal is food that is permissible to eat according to Islamic law.

Significant achievement: "The first Jewish students came to Duke in 1911 (then Trinity College), and there were only two of them," said Simons, the director for Jewish Life. "Now we have about 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students from 13 countries and 39 states. We've seen such wonderful growth over the years. The Freeman Center symbolizes the permanence of our community on campus."

Big goal: Jewish Life staff at the Freeman Center work to focus on four key initiatives: building community, increasing collaboration across Duke, educating members of the community and fostering leadership. "We want to help students, faculty and staff openly engage, learn about and enjoy Jewish life," said Yoskowitz, the rabbi and assistant director for Jewish Life. "Because we're open to all members of the Duke community, we want to engage people socially and culturally." Yoskowitz added that weekly Shabbat services, which include 45-minute liberal and traditional versions, are open to all, including a free Shabbat dinner each Friday night.

How they make a difference: "We serve as an anchor for the Jewish community at Duke," Simons said. "Through our programs, initiatives and physical space, we work hard to promote Jewish culture, religion and history. It's an amazing feeling when you see smiles on the faces of students and employees because they're simply happy to be here."

Visit Jewish Life at Duke's website for more information about the Freeman Center and the Rubenstein-Silvers Hillel.