Letter from Howard L. Jaffe
March 2009
Dear Friends,
In December’s bulletin, I wrote to you about the creation of an emergency free loan fund at Temple Isaiah. This would help provide a safety net for those members of our congregation who, in this time of unusual economic challenge and uncertainty, find themselves in pressing need. I am writing to tell you that this fund has now been established and is available.
The purpose of the fund is to provide immediate emergency assistance to those who have urgent one-time financial obligations and have little or no other resources to call upon. We envision these needs might include, but would not be limited to, paying a utility bill, covering a health insurance premium, providing groceries, helping with a mortgage payment, or having a car repaired. There is no predetermined list of needs which would qualify, nor is there a specific limit to the amount of money that might be available. This will depend, in part, on the funds that are available at any given time. We can also provide a list of other potential resources available to members whose needs might be greater than we can accommodate by ourselves.
It is our hope that those who avail themselves of this fund will, in time, be in a position to repay the loan. However, we recognize that there may be situations where a grant is more appropriate than a loan. We encourage anyone who is in need to come forward now, and not be concerned about obligation to repay the funds until later.
Anyone who wishes to request a loan or a grant should contact me directly by telephone or e-mail. In order to ensure proper oversight, a small, confidential committee consisting of the Temple Isaiah Treasurer, Vice President of Leadership and Community Development, and the Special Arrangements Chair will review the applications.
The true test of a community is how it responds to its members in times of challenge. It is no surprise to me that members of this congregation, without being asked, read about the creation of this fund and stepped forward to offer contributions to get it started. In the months and perhaps years ahead, we will no doubt experience even more challenges. It gives me great comfort, as I hope it gives you, that we who are Temple Isaiah will without question pass this test, and come out even stronger than we are today.
L'Shalom,