Hebrew Free Loan Association Of San Francisco

With support from a generous donor, we launched our environmental loan program to provide interest-free loans that help individuals and small business owners contribute to environmental sustainability. Need-based loans help people increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, conserve resources, protect the climate, or reduce waste. Examples include solar panels, electric cars, double-paned windows, and graywater recycling systems. This program embodies the spirit of two jewish values, tikkun olam (repairing the world) and shmirat ha-adamah (care of the earth), to help address climate change and environmental destruction.

We participated in a joint initiative to provide emergency financial assistance for israeli individuals and families in need due to the events of october 7, 2023. The international association of jewish free loans, plus our agency and 16 other member agencies, made a $3.4 million interest-free loan to ogen, our sister agency in israel. We contributed $1 million to this effort, thanks to a generous donor who made an interest-free loan to us for this purpose. Ogen disbursed all the funds provided, making 350 loans averaging $10,000 each, which positively impacted 1,225 israelis. These loans supported the families of reservists called up to duty, people displaced from their homes, and those suffering other financial losses due to the october 7 attacks.