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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2023
Last week, Jews across the world chanted Parshat Mishpatim, which describes many laws of behavior toward others. In this parsha one of the 53 mitzvot shared teaches about the mitzvah of helping our fellow Jews by lending money without charging interest; “If you lend money to your fellow, do not act like a creditor; do not exact interest from him”[i]. We are also told that “there will never cease to be needy ones on earth”[ii], who are entitled to dignity and respect, and we are commanded to assist them. Maimonides indicated that “A loan is better than charity for it enables one to help oneself with dignity”. The highest form of tzedakah is to help a person help him- or her-self. And that is the ultimate goal of Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego (HFLSD)!
HFLSD is based on, and inspired by, this biblical mandate. Hebrew Free Loan helps members of our local Jewish community become, and remain, self-sufficient through interest-free loans that meet a wide variety of personal needs (See www.hflsd.org). When we help each other, we are united through our acts of kindness.
At the end of Parshat Mishpatim shabbat, HFLSD hosted our first ever in person Havdalah Happy Hour at the beautiful new UCSD Glickman Hillel building. We gathered members of the community that have helped us grow, loan recipients that are excited to be part of the Hebrew Free Loan family, staff members that work diligently to help those in our community in need, and board members that are always supporting the mission of Hebrew Free Loan and acting as ambassadors, to celebrate the accomplishments of the first two years, and share our goals for the future. It was so exciting to be surrounded by those that are supporting the mission of HFLSD in the San Diego Jewish community and to hear from current loan recipients as well as recipients from other free loan agencies as they shared how these loans have directly and dramatically impacted their lives. We look forward to hosting this same event next year and hope that our reach doubles, and HFLSD continues to grow and expand. If you have not watched the HFLSD impact video yet, please take 6 minutes to do that – it always makes me so grateful for the work we are doing and the impact we are having. And while you are on the website, make sure you visit the stories page, where you can read about many loan recipients and donors that want to share their stories and passion for HFLSD. Please consider joining us and share the mission of HFLSD in your community, as we continue the journey to empower members of the San Diego Jewish community on their path to financial security.
Looking forward to growing together!
i Exodus 22:25
ii Deuteronomy 15:11 [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”kay”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
BOARD MEMBER HIGHLIGHT – KAY GURTIN
I am excited and proud to be a founding Board Member of Hebrew Free Loan San Diego. Having a front row seat to Jewish community members and those that work in local Jewish organizations pursue their paths to higher education, create life cycle events for their families, or receive a hand-up to secure assistance in this increasingly expensive housing market are just a few of the ways HFLSD makes a positive impact on lives.
At our first in-person event this weekend for HFLSD, I met a borrower who received an interest free loan to secure a newly opened affordable housing unit in SD after a seven year wait! The time frame to secure one of these apartments is immediate – no exceptions, and HFLSD quickly facilitated the loan to make it a reality for the recipient and her child.
Listening to the borrower’s heart felt appreciation, joy and the dignity of securing her new abode was palpable – and further affirmed the importance of our mission.
Kay has had a rich career in recruitment: most recently Head of Recruitment at Gurtin Municipal Bond Management, a PIMCO company; and Co-Founder and President of Executive Options LTD, one of the first executive search firm specializing in placing professionals in part-time and project consulting positions in the country, earning her Entrepreneur of the Year from the National Association of Women Business Owners. Kay serves as a Trustee at the La Jolla Playhouse and is a long time volunteer and former Board Member of Words Alive. Kay graduated with honors from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior and management.
HFLSD is proud to have Kay be an ambassador for HFLSD and be guided by her unwavering support to help our local San Diego Jewish community.[/vc_column_text][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”james”][vc_column][vc_column_text]
JAMES – BORROWER HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
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