The recently announced winners of the Knesset Speaker’s Prize for Quality of Life include a former American Oleh from Jerusalem, Prof. Eliezer David Jaffe, founder of the Israel Free Loan Association. Prof. Jaffe immigrated to Israel from the United States in 1960.
The Knesset Speaker’s Prize for 5772 to be awarded in December will focus on activities bridging differences between population groups and promoting tolerance to reduce social gaps in Israel. This year’s prize will be awarded by Knesset Speaker Reuven (Ruby) Rivlin to two organizations: Besod Siach, that focuses on promoting dialogue between groups in conflict within Israel, and the Ma’ase Organization for young volunteers in the periphery; and to two individuals: Professor Jaffe and Dr. Adi Kohl.
The prize of 150,000 NIS will be divided between the four recipients. The Speaker’s Prize is awarded from a fund established 23 years ago „to promote and encourage improvements in quality of life in Israel”. Over the past 23 years the fund has allocated more than five million NIS to organizations and individuals that promote understanding and tolerance between different population sectors, seek to safeguard human rights, encourage environmental protection, road safety and educational activities.
Knesset Speaker Rivlin noted that „The award brings attention to the public activities of those volunteers who supplement the government’s efforts, leading the way for us all. The award recognizes those who always focus their efforts on the less fortunate among us”.
Prof. Eliezer David Jaffe, who immigrated from the United States in 1960, is one of the founders of the School of Social Work at the Hebrew University. Prof. Jaffe has four children and seventeen grandchildren, all of whom live in Israel.
The Israel Free Loan Association set up by Prof. Jaffe in 1990, offers interest-free loans to new immigrants and veteran Israelis to meet a wide range of needs such as adapting a family’s living space to accommodate the special needs of a disabled family member, loans to develop small businesses or to set a failing business back on its feet following difficulties (such as those caused to many businesses in the north by the Second Lebanese War), student loans for disadvantaged young people entering higher education, and so on. The activities of the Association have helped tens of thousands of people over the years, filling a gap in the range of services to meet pressing needs. Since its inception the Association has awarded over 40 thousand loans, totaling more than 130 million US dollars. The return rate for these loans stands at 99%, a rate much higher than is the norm for bank loans, or loans from other financial institutions.
Largely due to the high personal standing of Prof. Jaffe and of all those involved who provide much needed, honest and devoted service, with a completely transparent financial management, the Association has acquired such a solid reputation that it attracts funds from a large number of generous donors and has therefore been able to reach out to so many.
In explaining their reasons for selecting this year’s recipients, The Prize Committee quoted the Rambam’s reference to the eight levels of charity, the highest being providing a person with the means to become self-supporting. They noted that rather than giving financial support, the Israel Free Loan Association, set up by Prof. Jaffe, allows the Association’s clients to take responsibility for their actions and their economic future, thus fulfilling the dictum of the Rambam.
Prof. Jaffe is a highly respected academic who has published an impressive number of books and articles. He shows his love for his fellow beings through the operations of the Israel Free Loan Association that has helped make a dramatic change in so many lives enabling them to achieve economic independence.
