In the spirit of Purim, the Flatbush Community Fund (FCF) once again stepped up for the community, distributing 12 pallets of beautiful costumes to hundreds of families last month. This annual initiative ensures that every child can experience the joy of the holiday with dignity and excitement.
Hundreds of families across Flatbush visited the distribution site, where volunteers warmly welcomed them and helped them select costumes for their children. The event was a true testament to the mission of FCF – supporting the community with care, respect, and dignity. Parents expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to provide their children with festive costumes, allowing them to embrace the Purim celebration fully.
“I can’t begin to describe what this means for my family,” shared one grateful mother. “My children could pick out beautiful costumes, and I didn’t have to worry about how to afford them. Flatbush Community Fund always makes us feel supported and respected.”
The distribution was made even more special by the presence of dedicated volunteers, including Fred Kreizman, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, and NYPD Captain Richie Taylor, who both rolled up their sleeves to help families find the perfect costumes.
Flatbush Community Fund remains dedicated to serving the community’s needs through innovative and compassionate initiatives. Whether through Purim costumes, food distributions, or financial assistance, FCF continues to be a pillar of support for Flatbush families. For more information about Flatbush Community Fund and how to support its programs, visit fcfund.org.
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Visits Magen David Yeshiva
Rabbi Eli Mansour and the Magen David Yeshiva High School Faculty and students had the honor of welcoming the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Shlit”a, to their yeshiva last month.
Rabbi Amar blessed the students and gave inspirational hizuk to those in attendance. The Rabbi spoke to the students about the lessons one can learn from Moshe Rabbenu – and stressed the point that even as large as Moshe was, we shouldn’t look at ourselves as small.
One of the teachers commented, “We are in the golden hour of education, and this is the perfect time for our students to develop the fundamentals and middot that they need for the rest of their lives.”
President Trump Delivers on His Threats, Columbia University Pro-Terror Activist Mahmoud Khalil to Be Deported Following Arrest
In a decisive move that marks a new chapter in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests, federal immigration authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist, last month. This arrest follows Trump’s earlier threats to deport foreign agitators and imprison those leading the charge against the U.S.’s stance on Israel.
Khalil, who played a central role in Columbia University’s student encampment protests, was apprehended in his apartment just blocks from the prestigious Manhattan campus. The immigration authorities, acting under a State Department order, revealed their intent to revoke Khalil’s green card, a dramatic escalation in the administration’s war on radical campus activism.
Khalil, who graduated in December, had been a thorn in the side of both the university and U.S. officials for his outspoken anti-Israel stance. As one of the most visible faces of the pro-Palestinian movement on campus, he had often been vocal about his belief that Columbia benefited from “Israeli apartheid” and vowed that student resistance would persist.
His arrest follows Trump’s recent actions to place additional scrutiny on Ivy League universities, particularly Columbia. On Friday, the Trump administration announced a $400 million cut in grants and contracts to the university, blaming the school for failing to contain anti-Semitism amid campus protests. Trump’s firm stance against anti-Israel activists is clear. He has made no secret of his plan to target individuals who disrupt American interests under the guise of protest, and his administration is now delivering on those promises. As part of the crackdown, Khalil, who holds permanent residency, was detained despite his status as a legal resident, further intensifying the stakes for activists like him.