Joshua Runyan - Chabad.org

Joined by Rabbi Zalman and Yehudis Bluming, third from right and center, students at Duke University show off their newly-baked challahs for an upcoming Shabbat meal.

DURHAM, NC — The Raleigh-Care Jewish Federation in North Carolina awarded a grant to the Chabad Jewish Student Center serving the University of North Carolina and Duke University to support its weekly Shabbat programming.

Federation Awards Grant to Chabad House Serving Duke University

Joshua Runyan – Chabad.org

Joined by Rabbi Zalman and Yehudis Bluming, third from right and center, students at Duke University show off their newly-baked challahs for an upcoming Shabbat meal.

DURHAM, NC — The Raleigh-Care Jewish Federation in North Carolina awarded a grant to the Chabad Jewish Student Center serving the University of North Carolina and Duke University to support its weekly Shabbat programming.

While the allotment represents only a fraction of the Chabad House’s budget for a year’s worth of Friday-night five-course meals for anywhere from 50 to 70 students each week, federation director Orit Ramler explained that the disbursement ñ the organization’s first-ever grant to the local Chabad House ñ reflected the federation’s commitment to supporting worthwhile Jewish programming.

“We get applications from many different organizations,” said Ramler. “It’s a very difficult process.”

Rabbi Zalman Bluming, co-director of the Chabad House, stressed that the dinner experience is “far more than chicken soup and matzah balls.” Students sing, engage in lively debate and are addressed by inspiring speakers.

Referring to a 2006 study authored by sociologist Barry Chazan, Bluming asserted that “the Shabbat dinner has all the necessary ingredients to transfer the vision and traditions of Judaism to the next generation.”

“To have the Jewish federation as a partner is yet another indication of how broad is the appeal of our Shabbat dinners.”

From Chabad.org News

4 Comments

  • bjj teen campers

    i love the work you’re doing yehudis – even from far you’re still our role models

  • Zepporah Mushka Berger

    What a nice surprise to read about Durham, NC in Crown Heights News! We in Durham think the Blumings are really special and it shows. Just go to their Shabbos. Thank you, HaShem for sending the Blumings to NC.
    Zepporah M. Berger, Durham, NC