Historic Photos

Capturing the 'Firsts' in the Journey of Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe


Historic Photo section provides telling images that capture important “firsts” in the history of Friends of Refugees of Eastern Europe.

The First Sukkah Mobile

October 1972, FREE's Holiday Awareness Campaign introduced the first Sukkah Mobil, by building a large 20 foot Sukkah... ...

First Gala Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

Sunday August 7, 1973, FREE held its first Gala Bar Mitzvah Ceremony for fourteen young refugees at camp FREE Gan Israel Summer Camp. ...

FREE’s 85th Circumcision

Celebrating FREE's 85th Circumcision at the Grand Ballroom of the Jewish Center 667 Eastern Parkway, on December 28th 1975. ...

Gala Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

One of FREE's Gala Bar Mitzvah ceromonies at Camp FREE/Gan Israel, located in Kiryat Gan Israel, Parksville, NY. Special delegation ... ...

Jan Peerce held his first FREE benefit concert

Sunday, May 25, 1975. Renowned tenor Jan Peerce, FREE’s distinguished late president, held his first FREE benefit concert at the Alice Tully Hall.l ...

Celebrating FREE’s 135th Circumcision

Celebrating FREE's 135th Circumcision at the Main Ballroom of the Brooklyn Jewish Center, 667 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. ...

FREE’s 2000th Circumcision

July 1, 1982: FREE Circumcision Program reached a record of performing its 2,000 circumcision. Pictured is: Rabbi Meyer Schechter. ...

First Gala Pidyan Haben Ceremony

Sunday August 15, 1976, FREE held its first Gala Pidyan Haben Ceremony at camp FREE Gan Israel Summer Camp, Parksville, New York. ...

Jan Peerce o.b.m is honored at FREE’s 1,000th circumcision

Reknowned tenor Jan Peerce o.b.m, FREE's first president is honored at FREE's 1,000th circumcision. ...

House on Wheels

July 1978, FREE's Adult Education Division sent its first mobile home, along with four rabbinical students, on a cross-country, road trip. ...

Opening of the FREE center in Brighton Beach

Opening of the FREE center in Brighton Beach (Sunday, Sep. 18 1988) at the Hebrew Alliance Synogogue 2915 Brighton 6th Street. ...

May 13, 1990, Lag B’omer Parade

May 13, 1990. F.R.E.E's Float passes by the yearly Lag B'omer Parade, in front of the Lubavitch World Headquaters in New York. ...

FREE’s 2000th Circumcision

July 1, 1982: FREE Circumcision Program reached a record of performing its 2,000 circumcision. Pictured is: Rabbi Meyer Schechter. ...

A visit to the Rebbe

FREE's circumcision program arranged over 13,000 Brisin to date. Those that underwent a circumcision, would have the opportunity... ...

9,000th Circumcision

January 8, 1991, FREE Circumcision Program reached the historical milestone of performing its 9,000 circumcision ...

10,000th Circumcision

February 25, 1993, FREE Circumcision Program reached the historical milestone of performing its ten thousandth circumcision. ...

Celebrating the arrival of a 180-year-old Torah Scroll

Sunday, June 18, 2000. Russian Jews celebrated the arrival of a 180-year-old Torah Scroll from St. Petersburg, Russia. To the largest Russian synagogue in the United States – The FREE Synagogue of ...

FREE’s Oldest Bris

January 16, 2003, 82 year old Alexander Getzburg became the oldest person FREE circumcised to date. ...

Gala Bar Mitzvah Ceremony

One of FREE's Gala Bar Mitzvah ceromonies ...

Gala Parade Escorts Two Torah Scrolls To New Home at F.R.E.E.

Sunday, October 24 2004, Two Torah scrolls kept hidden through the years of communist rule in Russia, were escorted to their new home at F.R.E.E. ...

13,000th Circumcision

April 17, 2005, FREE Circumcision Program reached a historic milestone of performing its 13,000th circumcision... ...

Grand Alumni Reunion, a 35th anniversary milestone

Sunday, March 7, 2004, FREE Alumni Association held its first Grand Alumni Reunion, celebrating FREE’s 35th anniversary, at the Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Ocean Parkway.Many prominent guest and alumni turned out in support ...

Torah Completion Celebration at FREE Headquarters

Sunday, February 19, 2006, hundreds gathered at the FREE Headquarters to honor the completion of a new Sefer Torah Scroll. ...