This Week 'fi" Jews Admired In MS. Survey Improve your home and your loan. New York City/JTA —Jews are consid- ered by other ethnic groups to be hard working, intelligent and strongly com- mitted to family, according to a new study for the American Jewish Committee. Between 27-30 percent of non-Jews have contact with Jews at work, school or in the community, the report says. Fifty-eight percent say they know a Jew, and 28 percent feel close to one. Non Jews believe Jews make up 18 percent of the population. The actual figure is close to 2 percent. The study was authored by Tom Smith at the University of Chicago. Kenneth Jacobson, associate national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said Jews are considered an integral part of American culture, but maintain a dis- tinct identity. But negative stereotypes still remain. HOME EQUITY UNE OF CREDIT A PR * • Don't let home improvements take a major bite out of your budget. A Standard Federal Bank Home Equity Loan gives you one of the best rates around, plus you pay no closing costs* and your interest may be tax deductible* And it comes with a built-in bonus: A $50 Gift Card for The. Home Depot' when you make a draw at closing of $10,000 or more So nail down a great rate and more. Visit any Standard Federal location or call 1-877-732-8240. Standard Federal Bank. A new way to get there The APR is based on the highest Prime Rate as published in the "Money Rates" section of The Wall Street Journal on the last publishing day of the calendar month immediately preceding the billing cycle. On January 31, 2002, Prime was 4.75% and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on Standard Federal's Home Equity Line of Credit products varied between 4.00% and 7.75%, depending on your approved commitment amount and product. Prime is a variable rate; as it changes, the APR on your account will change. The maximum APR is 21%. A balloon payment will result at the end of the ten-year draw period. Standard Federal's Home Equity Lines of Credit are limited to owner-occupied 1-4 unit principal family residences and are subject to no less than a second lien position on your property. You must carry insurance on the property that secures this loan. Flood insurance required if necessary. There is a S50 annual fee after the first year if you are not a Credit Exclusives member. Closing costs paid by Standard Federal Bank are limited to: appraisal, title insurance, flood certification, and recording fees. Any additional fees or conditions imposed by the city, state, or county that the subject property is located in will be the borrower's responsibility. "Consult your tax advisor concerning the deductibility of interest. Upon making an initial draw of $10,000 or more at closing on your new Standard Federal Home Equity Line of Credit, or upon closing on your new Standard Federal — Fixed-Rate Home Equity Loan of $10,000 or more, you will receive a Gift Card for The Home Depot worth $50. Limit of one Gift Card per loan/line of credit. Offer expires 3/30/02. Additional restrictions may apply. The Gift Card may be considered income for tax purposes. The Home Depot' is a registered trademark of Homer TLC, Inc. Standard Federal Bank is not affiliated with The Home Depot. Standard Federal Bank Member ABN AMRO Group standardfederalbank.com C r Member FDIC L114ra ©2002 Standard Federal Bank 2/8 2002 24 A Standard Federal In fact, Jews are perceived in more positive terms than whites in general, the report shows. Overall, Smith notes that intergroup relations have improved over the years, as Americans have become increasingly supportive of racial and ethnic equality But negative ethnic images remain common, and intergroup interaction is still limited. In a 1998 ADL survey, 12 percent of Americans were identified as anti- Semitic. Negative stereotypes are alive, accord- ing to Mike Wenger of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. With America becoming increasingly diverse, it's more urgent than ever to improve intergroup relations, Wenger said. Smith believes attitudes about groups are formed when people are young. Wenger acknowledged that concept, but also stressed the importance of media, education and peer pressure on inter- group understanding. In 1990, 16 percent of non-Jews said they would object to a relative marrying a Jew, compared with 13 percent in 2000. Only 9 percent in 2000 said they would object to living in a majority- Jewish neighborhood, compared with 14 percent in 1990.