I am not Jewish. Can I join the JBA?
Absolutely! Everyone is welcome to join us to learn and participate, and join the cabinet to organize our activities and events. The JBA aims to foster community across Fuqua, Duke, and Durham and spread awareness and education on Jewish culture and traditions.
How easy is it to set up a new event?
The JBA is always open to new ideas and events. Please reach out to the JBA cabinet and we’ll work with you!
Do you host events with other clubs?
Yes! Within Fuqua, we have collaborated with Marketing Club, Tech Club, and other religious and cultural groups to create awesome joint events. We have also organized events with Jewish organizations at other Duke graduate schools and UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School in the past.
What do I need to know about Jewish life in Durham?
There is a small but vibrant Jewish community in Durham and at Duke and Fuqua. Here are some resources to navigate Jewish life in Durham:
Synagogues, Chabad, and Community Centers
- There are synagogues for all denominations in the Triangle. All are very welcoming. Sign up for their email lists to hear about events and service times.
- Reform: Judea Reform Congregation
- Conservative and Orthodox: Beth El Synagogue (houses Durham Orthodox Kehillah)
- There are two Chabad centers in the area. Both host dinners, services, social events, and more. They love welcoming new students and all events are free.
- Durham: For undergrads, led by Rabbi Nossen
- Chapel Hill: For graduates and young professionals, led by Rabbi Zalman (they also host monthly men’s and women’s social events)
- The Durham JCC (Jewish for Good) offers programs for the community, including events specifically for young professionals
- Duke’s Hillel is called Jewish Life at Duke, or the Freeman Center. It’s a great resource for community, and they have a dedicated staff member to plan programs for graduate students. They host a pluralistic, non-denominational Shabbat service on Friday evenings during the school year.
- You will need your Duke student ID to enter Jewish Life at Duke
- Free street parking is available on Faber Street, Hull Street, and Powe Avenue.
- The Freeman Center for Jewish Life parking lot requires a permit on weekdays before 5 pm; if you park in this lot, please be sure to ask the front desk attendant for a free visitor’s parking permit to display in your windshield.
Shabbat Dinner
- You have many options for Shabbat dinner!
- Jewish Life at Duke hosts weekly free Shabbat dinners
- Both Chabads offer weekly free Shabbat dinners
- JBA offers about one free Shabbat dinner per month (make sure you come to this one!!)
- If you would like to host Shabbat at your home, you can receive funding from OneTable
Holidays
- Jewish Life at Duke hosts services for all the major Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover). JBA organizes a group from Fuqua to attend together.
- Chanukah often happens during Fuqua’s winter break, but we make sure to celebrate as a JBA community before heading off campus!
Kosher Food and Restaurants
- Local supermarkets have some kosher dry goods. Kosher meat is available at Trader Joe’s, Food Lion in Raleigh (7905 Falls of Neuse Rd), and by delivery once a month.
- Kosher restaurants:
- Yalla! food truck, usually parked on Duke’s West Campus
- Freeman Center Café, located in Jewish Life at Duke
Other
- There is no mikveh in Durham, but there are mikvehs in Chapel Hill and Raleigh
- There is an eruv in Durham
