Printed fromObshina.com
About
Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe (FREE), Inc., has been in existence since 1973. Our mission is to promote Jewish pride, identity and continuity among New American families in the greater Chicagoland area, by providing educational, religious, cultural and social services in a caring non-judgmental environment.

FREE’s programming and services focuses on Jewish family life cycle events and holidays and festivals in the Jewish calendar year. The FREE Hebrew schools, Bar and Bas Mitzvah preparation classes and youth clubs are an integral part of our youth education program. Adult Judaic classes and counseling and Family Shabat Services helps New Americans become proud members of the Jewish community. Our popular Memorial Yizkor and Kaddish programs are important and meaningful avenues that link generations and bridge continents. The widely acclaimed Shalom Magazine, a Russian language publication of FREE, features quality journalism and enjoys avid global readership. All of our programs are provided in the framework of a caring family environment.

At the present time FREE’s primary location is the Bellows Educational and Cultural Center in Chicago with three additional satellites located throughout the Chicago area and in the suburbs.
Learn More
Learning & Inspiration
  • Marking 60 Years Since the Passing of Rebbetzin ChanaThe mother of the Rebbe passed away on 6 Tishrei, 1964 Read More
  • What Can You Learn From the Letter Yud?The tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet Read More
  • “Lekach” Honey Cake for Before the Yom Kippur Fast Read More
Shabbat & Holidays
Candle Lighting Times
Chicago, IL
Light Shabbat / Holiday Candles at
Shabbat/Holiday/Fast Ends
Weekly Torah Portion
Upcoming Holiday
Oct. 11 - Oct. 12
Daily Thought
On such a holy, beautiful day, why do we recite a list of sins again and again? Because one day of the year is not enough. We wish our souls to be united with her Beloved every day of the year. So we read out loud through this list, and one by one, through G-d’s great kindness and love for us, the stains on the clothing of our souls fade away. Then we rise higher, into a yet more intense light in which the stains can still be detected. And so we repeat the list again. Until, by the end of Yom Kippur, we enter the new year in...
Latest Photos