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Stories & Memories of Rabbi Yudi Dukes

By: Amy January 27

Jnet Opening Doors to Return

I joined Jnet in the summer of 2017 at the suggestion of a friend who introduced me to the chayenu newsletter and encouraged me to sign up and learn after I started lighting Shabbat candles again from the tea lights I received every Friday morning with challah rolls. I recall Rabbi Yudi Dukes reached out to me to review how my first few months of learning were going in this new program for me. I was given the gift of matching with an amazing chevrusa who was teeming with love for Judaism and a deep motivation to learn chassiudus together, of which, I have the honor to continue to study today. At the time it was new to me, as someone who grew up Reform, and decided I would give it a chance recalling chassidic tales heard as a child growing up by my hometown congregational rabbi. When Yudi spoke to mean the phone I really felt a genuine interest, concern, connection, inspiration, kindness, and humbleness in his warm and caring voice, which carried with it a certain distinguishable joy for being able to share a platform for others to partake in a fulfilling and transformational Jewish learning experience . Admittedly, it was not at all what I was expecting from the phone call which I assumed mistakenly to be a routine PR effort for the program, which of course I was glad to support. I remember feeling just humbled and awed that someone in his leadership position with the program, would take the time on a busy weekday night, to make a phone call to find out if my recent learning experience had been fulfilling. After three years, I can gladly share that it has changed my life for the better and I still look forward to continuing to learn and grow each week.

 
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