March 7, 2023
Phoenix is Home to the IAJFL Headquarters
Originally published by Jewish Phoenix.
Phoenix is home to many things; the Arizona capital, four major league sports teams, amazing Southwestern food, and the International Association of Jewish Free Loans (IAJFL) headquarters! This group comprised of over 50 Free Loan agencies around the world, creates a network that unifies the individual agencies. IAJFL brings Free Loan agencies together to maximize resources, strengthen programs, and share what is successful for them. Additionally, IAJFL hosts a conference every year that provides mentoring, education, and networking for the staff and volunteers of all member agencies.
The organization was created more than 40 years ago when 4 members of separate Jewish Free Loan agencies, one of which being Harry Adler of the Phoenix JFL, met and decided it would be beneficial to bring together all Jewish/Hebrew Free Loan agencies. The original headquarters was housed in Los Angeles and remained there for 35 years.
Phoenix became the new headquarters in 2018. Tina Sheinbein, the current IAJFL Coordinator, works out of the JFL office in Phoenix. Tina is the only IAFJL staff member, however, there are several volunteers from all over the world who take leadership roles remotely.
Jewish Free Loan is proud to be the headquarters of IAJFL and has a long history with the organization. Out of the 19 IAJFL presidents, 4 have been from Phoenix, including the current president, Ellen Friedman Sacks, JFL’s Executive Director. It is also noteworthy that during the last conference, Phoenix had the largest delegation of representatives in attendance.
Jewish Free Loan looks forward to continuing to represent Phoenix in the IAJFL and proudly serving as the administrative home of the organization for years to come.
For more information about IAJFL please visit www.IAJFL.org.