My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children’s children..."
These words of the prophet capture one of the most fundamental and important elements of Judaism, education. Countless passages of the Torah, Talmud, ethical teachings of the Sages, ceremonies, and observances make it clear that Education and Judaism are completely intertwined.
For the past 70 years, this essential education has been prohibited to Jews under the oppressive regimes of the former Soviet Union. To remedy this dire situation, FREE offers a number of educational services for Russian Jewish children, youth, and adults. The following is a brief accounting of FREE’s educational programs which are designed to strengthen Jewish identity and empower a Jewish tomorrow:
Based on the age-old Jewish teaching that the best way to educate Jewish children is to immerse them in a wholesome Jewish environment from the beginning. FREE operates the “Mazel Day Care Center,” a full-day early childhood care center that offers a warm and enriching environment, comprehensive educational programming, and kosher food for children ages 1.5 through 6 years old.
In 1969, FREE founded the first Jewish High School for Russian immigrants in the United Stats. This feat was followed in 1974 with the opening of the first Jewish Elementary School for Russian immigrants. Both schools have seen over 7,500 students pass through their halls, helping to grow countless Jewish professionals in every discipline.
FREE’s After School Program known as the “Jewish Kids’ Zone”, allows Jewish public school children aged 6-13 time to catch up on homework, absorb classes on Judaism, and participate in games and activities with their peers.
In an effort to rectify the fact that so many Russian Jews were denied access to the richness of a Jewish education, FREE offers adult education programs which consist mainly of lectures and seminars designed to build Jewish identity and awareness in the Russian immigrant community.
Cong. Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (F.R.E.E.) was founded in 1969 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
Stay informed about upcoming events and alumni reunions @F.R.E.E
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