Elana Friedman, Campus Rabbi and chaplain for Jewish Life at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has been given the Richard M. Joel Exemplar of Excellence award from Hillel International, the largest Jewish campus organization in the world. She was honored for her outstanding devotion to Jewish students and the Duke campus community.
Rabbi Friedman came to Duke University in 2015 and has since served as the institution’s chief Jewish educator and spiritual leader. In her role, she provides counseling services for students, facilitates Jewish learning opportunities, and serves as a liaison for Duke’s Religious Life division. Outside of her primary responsibilities, she also hosts a weekly music and spirituality show for Duke Radio.
Rabbi Friedman is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she majored in environmental studies. She received her master’s degree in Hebrew letters from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania.