Records of the Hebrew Free Loan Society of New York now at AJHS!

April 20, 2023

by Tamar Zeffren

Beginning with their establishment in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, free loan societies across the United States have played a vital role in the lives of American Jews. These agencies offer interest-free financial support to individuals, assisting them in striving to improve their quality of life and to navigate challenging circumstances. Individuals apply for loans to start businesses, pursue education, expand families, and pursue other goals.

Remarkably, the repayment rate for loans offered by these free loan societies exceeds 99%. As the loans are repaid, the capital is lent out again and again, helping more people and multiplying the impact over time.

Given these organizations’ extraordinary impact and the historic nature of individuals and communities assisted, records documenting more than a century of service and mutual aid support across generations are of tremendous historic value. As such, AJHS is thrilled to announce the acquisition of the archives of the Hebrew Free Loan Society of New York (HFLS).

Promissory note, dated March 29, 1915, from the Hebrew Free Loan Society of New York Records (I-614)

HFLS was founded in 1892 by 10 leaders of the Jewish immigrant community on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, who combined resources to create an interest-free loan fund. Since its formation over 130 years ago, HFLS has provided over $380 million to more than 900,000 borrowers across the five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island. has stood as a resource of the Jewish community accessible to all New Yorkers in the five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island, regardless of heritage or religion.

Constitution and By-Laws, adopted October 26, 1894, published in 1897. In its early years, the organization was referred to interchangeably as the “Hebrew Free Loan Association” and the “Hebrew Gemiluth Chassodim Association of New York.” From the Hebrew Free Loan Society of New York Records (I-614)

The HFLS records include promissory notes, loan records, and donation books, which can yield fascinating insights for genealogists, students, demographers, social scientists, filmmakers, authors, journalists, and members of the public. Please watch this space to learn more about the HFLS collection, right alongside the AJHS archivist who will be processing these records!

AJHS is proud to steward the records of this unique institution and to care for and make accessible the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s incredible history—both the origins and impact of the organization and the stories of the individuals who received support in the hopes of improving their lives. Through archival processing and preservation, we are very excited to sustain these stories found in these records and to help them reach new audiences.

Tamar Zeffren

Tamar Zeffren is the Director of Archival Partnerships at the American Jewish Historical Society. She received a BA in English literature and medieval history from Barnard and a MA in archival management from New York University, and is certified as a Digital Archives Specialist by the Society of American Archivists. She has also worked at JDC, the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, the Center for Jewish History, and the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership. She consults locally and internationally and volunteers with a number of professional associations.