Five Years On, The Impact of Rabbi Yudi Dukes Continues

Whenever Esther K. from Massachusetts travels to New York to visit the Ohel, she makes a point to make another stop nearby: the kever of Rabbi Yudi Dukes A”H, beloved director of JNet at Merkos 302. Standing there, she thanks the man who approached her over a decade ago, not just for the organization he built, but for the personal zechus he gave her to serve as a JNet volunteer. For over ten years, she has found that while she gives time to her partners, she has grown immeasurably herself.

As global Jewry marks Rabbi Yudi’s fifth yahrtzeit today, 8 Shevat, that sentiment rings louder than ever. JNet is not merely a half-hour study session, it is a catalyst for real growth in the Yiddishkeit of both the volunteer and the student. This truth echoes in the emails and messages that flood our inbox daily.

These connections span continents and generations, creating life-changing impact. Recently, David, a 16-year-old from Bucharest, Romania, reached out. A while ago he was paired through JNet with a bochur living in New York. What began as a weekly learning session across time zones gradually transformed David’s entire life. Today, he is fully Shomer Shabbos and maintaining Kashrus, and he is now eager to become a JNet volunteer himself, spreading what he has personally received.

David’s journey highlights what JNet is really all about, these chavrusas aren’t just about learning once a week, they are about deepening Yiddishkeit together. The learning inevitably spills over into real life. Rebecca J., who is learning the laws of Shabbos, shared how her weekly chavrusa influences her decisions even when she isn’t on the phone. As she learns more, her observance is strengthening, week by week.

For others, the impact lies in discovering Yiddishkeit they thought they almost missed. Steven K., a project manager at the Pentagon, decided to explore his Jewish roots at age 68. He wrote to us that a “whole new world” has opened up to him, admitting he never realized the depth of Jewish wisdom truly available. Similarly, Matthew S. learns with a chavrusa to fill a painful gap. Although raised by traditional parents, he often felt lost during shul services and slowly drifted away. Now, he is learning Hebrew specifically so he can return to Shul and comfortably join alongside his family.

“Yudi was passionate and charismatic, dedicated to his mission to unite thousands of Jews across the globe in the study of Torah,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302, the organization under which JNet operates. “Marking his legacy just before Yud Shvat is poignantly apropos; Yudi fulfilled the Rebbe’s call to not only teach Yiddishkeit but also to inspire them to share with others.”

Rabbi Yudi was known for his relentless, loving drive, approaching those around him to join the JNet family until his very last moments. He constantly sought to increase connections with a smile and today, the stories of the matches he personally organized, alongside those created since his passing, continue to tell the story of his life’s mission and the continuing impact.
Today, there are thousands of active JNet chavrusas, each one a testament to Rabbi Yudi’s vision. From Alaska to Australia, thousands dedicate time to spread Torah to a Yid looking for a one-on-one partner.

Just in 2026 alone, over 80 people already signed up to learn with a chavrusa. To continue this mission and ignite the neshama of a fellow Yid, sign up today at jnet.org/volunteer.