Beit Din To Collect Debts New York (JTA) — As many as 400 Soviet Jews who have settled in the Chicago area may be summoned before the local religious court, or beit din, for not repaying loans they received from the Chicago Jewish Federation. Taking the delinquent Russians to court is a last- ditch effort by the federation to collect the money it laid out to aid refugees from the former Soviet Union. The federation has made over 6,000 loans totalling $6.36 million since 1989. Most of that money — $5 million — was borrowed by the federation from its own endowment fund. The majority of Russian Jews who were granted loans — 78 percent, accor- ding to the federation — are repaying the money they owe. But nearly $1 million in loans, owed by approximate- ly 400 families from the former Soviet Union, is past due, and federation officials say that both the endow- ment fund and money to provide new loans may be jeopardized if outstanding funds are not repaid. The effort is believed to be the first time that a federa- tion is working through a belt din. But before they get to court, federation officials are attempting to convince delinquent borrowers to work out a payment plan. They hope that in the end, no more than a few dozen loan recipients will be brought before the court. Delinquent borrowers are being contacted by mail and phone in English and Rus- sian, first by the federation, then by a law firm specializ- ing in collections, and final- ly, by the Chicago Rab- binical Council. "If someone was ill or lost a job, we'll be willing to delay payment or adjust it if there is a compelling reason," said federation spokesman Hal Rosen. "We are willing to be flexible but are entitled to get the money back." If those summoned to ap- pear before the three judge Chicago Rabbinical Council beit din refuse to do so, or lose the beit din trial but refuse to pay, the federation will take them to civil court. The question remains how effective a beit din can be with a population of Jews who tend not to live in re- ligious communities. ❑ WORLD WIDE FINANCIAL Wishes All Our Clients, Friends & Relatives L'Shanah Tovah We Appreciate Metropolitan Detroit's Jewish Community For All Your Support. The Best Mortgage •Loan sizes to 1.5 million. • No-documentation loans available. •Convenient applications via lap top computer in your home office. •Special programs available for "bruised credit" applicants! • We close loans FAST! Period WORLD WIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES — CALL 647-1199 555 S. Woodward i Fifth Floor • Birmi - ligham, MI 48009