by Robert Wiener
NJJN Staff Writer

June 4, 2009

Responding to the economic downturn, the local Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey is offering a three-year, $10,000 grant to make interest-free loans available to women in need of emergency financial assistance.

Applicants must be members of the MetroWest Jewish community or employees, Jewish or non-Jewish, of agencies that receive funding from United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ.

“A very specific need for help in our community presented itself, and the Jewish Women’s Foundation was able to provide the funding,” said Jocelyn Gilman, director of the foundation, an arm of the Jewish Community Foundation of MetroWest NJ, which, in turn, is the planned giving and endowment arm of UJC MetroWest. “We took the initiative to step outside our regular grant-making cycle to make a difference now.”

The money is being allocated to allow the Hebrew Free Loan of New Jersey, administered by the Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, to lend money interest-free.

“This is for women who need a loan not for frivolous reasons but for real needs,” explained Jane Sayowitz, director of operations at JFS and program director of the Hebrew Free Loan program.

Planners expect women to seek loans for a variety of reasons, including tutoring, home health care, and financial needs. Applicants are to be assessed by a loan review committee and must name an endorser — “someone who can pay back the loan if you can’t,” according to Sayowitz.

“If a woman has overdue credit card bills or can’t pay the rent, we would make the loan based on their endorsers’ credit ratings and the endorsers’ ability to pay them back,” said Sayowitz.

Prospective applicants may contact Sayowitz at the Jewish Family Service at 973-765-9050.

The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey was established in 2006 to fund efforts to encourage women’s progress in health, political involvement, and economic, religious, and social achievement.

Past grants include a successful effort to create a Jewish women’s political network, programs to combat violence against women, and self-esteem workshops for women who have completed drug or alcohol programs.

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