For more than 120 years, Jewish Free Loan Association has operated around an idea rooted in Jewish tradition: offering interest-free loans to people in need.
Now, for the first time, that resource is available to Orange County residents.
As of July 1, 2026, Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) has expanded its services into Orange County, marking the largest service-area expansion in the nonprofit organization’s more than 120-year history. JFLA’s zero-interest, zero-fee loans are now available to eligible residents of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties.
Unlike a traditional loan that includes interest or fees, JFLA borrowers pay back only the amount they borrow. There is never interest or additional fees added to the loan. As those loans are repaid, the funds can be lent again to help others in the community.
A Jewish Tradition, Put Into Practice
JFLA’s history dates back to 1904, when a small group of Jewish businessmen established an organization to offer loans to people in need without interest or other charges. Some of its earliest loans helped people purchase sewing machines or pushcarts for fruits and vegetables, giving borrowers a way to start small businesses and support themselves.
That approach continues to guide JFLA today.
JFLA’s work is rooted in the Jewish tradition of interest-free lending and the belief that loans, rather than charity alone, can help people become and remain financially self-sufficient. Its mission is to offer zero-interest, zero-fee loans on a non-sectarian basis to individuals and families with urgent needs, including those who may not qualify through traditional financial channels.
Although its mission is rooted in Jewish values, JFLA serves the broader community on a non-sectarian basis. Applicants do not need to be Jewish to apply or receive a loan.
The lending model also allows funds to be used repeatedly. As borrowers repay their loans, that money becomes available to lend again. Today, approximately $23 million in JFLA interest-free loan dollars are circulating through the community, and the organization reports a 99.5% repayment rate.
“For more than 120 years, JFLA has helped individuals and families address financial needs through zero-interest, zero-fee lending,” said Rachel Grose, Executive Director of Jewish Free Loan Association.
“Expanding into Orange County allows us to bring that same model to a new community and help more people access financial support without the additional burden of interest or fees.”
Loans for a Wide Range of Needs
JFLA offers loans across a broad range of needs.
Depending on the program and eligibility requirements, loans can assist with emergency and housing expenses, medical and dental care, transportation, fertility treatment and family building, education, student loan debt, domestic violence recovery, veterans’ needs, disaster recovery, pet care, preschool expenses, small business needs, and more.
Personal and emergency loans are available for qualifying needs, with many programs offering loans of up to $15,000, depending on the number of qualified guarantors. JFLA also offers specialized loan programs for needs including education, and business expenses.
For entrepreneurs, JFLA’s zero-interest, zero-fee business loans can be used for qualifying expenses including startup costs, rent, employee salaries and benefits, inventory, marketing, renovations, and more.
The organization has continued to develop programs in response to evolving community needs. During World War II, JFLA helped families establish new lives in the United States. Following the Watts riots in 1965, it assisted businesses with rebuilding. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, JFLA established an Earthquake Relief Loan Fund for people who had to leave their homes and/or could not access their bank accounts. More recently, JFLA lent out $2 million for wildfire relief, helping individuals, families, and small businesses affected by the wildfires.
Over the decades, JFLA has established loan funds addressing needs including higher education, housing stability, veterans’ expenses, healthcare, fertility treatment, and support for children with special needs.
Lending With Dignity
Eligibility requirements vary by loan program. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, demonstrate a need for the loan and show an ability to repay it. JFLA loans also require qualified guarantors, with the number of guarantors and other requirements varying based on the type and amount of the loan.
JFLA operates virtually, allowing borrowers to complete the process without visiting a public office. Applications and paperwork are handled electronically, client interviews take place virtually, documents can be signed electronically, and approved loan funds can be distributed through direct deposit.
From a JFLA Loan to a Thriving Business
For Yonah Bastomski, CEO of The Sukkah Store, a JFLA Small Business Loan helped address one of the biggest challenges facing a growing business: upfront costs.
The company needed funding to purchase inventory and manufacture its Sukkah kits. An interest-free loan from JFLA allowed the business to make those investments without taking on high-interest debt or giving up equity in the company. Repayment was spread over 36 months, helping the company manage its cash flow as it grew.
By 2024, The Sukkah Store had sold thousands of Sukkah kits to customers across the country and partnered with more than 15 stores nationwide.
“Getting that initial push from JFLA’s Small Business Loan Fund was a game-changer for us because it was interest-free,” Bastomski shared. “This meant we didn’t have to take on high-interest loans or give up equity in our company.”
A New Resource for Orange County
With its July expansion, JFLA brings its more than 120-year-old model of interest-free lending to Orange County for the first time, expanding access to the organization’s zero-interest, zero-fee loans for eligible residents across the county.
Jewish values are at the heart of JFLA’s work. JFLA describes its lending as an expression of Jewish responsibility to care for one another, with the goal of helping people regain stability and independence while strengthening individuals, families, and the broader community.
“Our goal is to offer people a resource that can help them move toward greater stability and independence,” Grose said. “When a JFLA loan is repaid, those funds can then be used to help another borrower, allowing that support to continue within the community.”
For Orange County residents, JFLA’s expansion means a new option is now available when financial needs arise: a loan with zero interest and zero fees.Learn More
Jewish Free Loan Association (JFLA) Zero-interest, zero-fee loans
Serving eligible residents of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties Website: jfla.org
Email: info@jfla.org Phone: 323-761-8830
Information about JFLA’s loan programs, eligibility requirements and application process is available at jfla.org.
Rachel Grose, Executive Director of JFLA is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.