The Moses E. Miller Hebrew Free Loan Society has expanded its service area beyond Cincinnati and will now provide interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to Jews in financial need in the Dayton area.

In addition to Jews in need, the free loan society will provide loans to non-Jews in the Dayton area who “have a meaningful connection with the Jewish community,” such as employees of Jewish organizations.

Loans are available for such expenses as health care, business expansion, education, and home improvement.

Borrowers typically have two to three years to repay the loan, depending on the amount borrowed.

Tara Feiner, executive director of Dayton’s Jewish Family Services, says the free loan society contacted her about expanding to serve the Dayton region.

“Someone had actually reached out to them from the Dayton area asking if they would serve here,” she says. “It’s such a great opportunity because JFS has limited financial assistance, and ours is for those who are Jewish and in emergency situations such as for utilities or rent that’s going to keep them safe and sheltered.

“The Moses E. Miller Hebrew Free Loan Society has much more flexibility. It covers those next-level needs: helping with a down payment, getting a car, helping with business startup costs, professional development, even for lifecycle events such as bar and bat mitzvahs.”

The current trustees of the society, the Katz family, are great-grandchildren of Moses E. Miller, who founded it in 1888.

Feiner adds that applications go directly to the free loan society. “It’s confidential. People can come to us if they’re not sure if they want to do it, if they want to learn a little more about the process. But they would still go directly through their website to do it. Their application is very simple. A cosigner is also required.”

Application forms are available at memhebrewfreeloan.com.

To read the complete April 2024 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.