Metro

Top left: Dr. David Kirsch, recipient of the Hebrew Free Loan Tzedakah Award and his family: Joel Kirsch of Huntington Woods, Sandy and Dr. David Kirsch

of Huntington Woods, Lauren Kirsch of New York City and Brian Kirsch of Huntington Woods. Bottom left: HFL President Peggy Daitch of Birmingham, HFL

gala dinner chairs Hadas Bernard of Birmingham and Ellen Sherman of Bloomfield Hills and International Association of Hebrew Free Loans President Richard
Broder of West Bloomfield. Right: Henry Leopold of Bloomfield Hills, recipient of the Maimonides G'millut Chasodim Award.

Worthy Loans

Hebrew Free Loan honors supporters.

T

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan

Detroit CEO Scott Kaufman of

Huntington Woods and HFL past

president Emery Klein of Southfield

16

December 10 • 2009

he oldest social service agency in
Metro Detroit, Hebrew Free Loan,
celebrated its 115th anniversary
with a sold-out gala dinner at the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield on
Oct. 19
More than 420 guests attended the
celebration honoring Jane and Larry
Sherman of Franklin, Dr. David Kirsch of
Huntington Woods, and Henry Leopold
of Bloomfield Hills, for their commit-
ment and leadership of the Bloomfield
Township-based agency, which provides
interest-free loans to Jews in need.
Master of ceremonies and WDIV-TV4
sports anchor Bernie Smilovitz opened
the evening with some familiar, and not-
so-familiar, one-liners before the formal
presentations began.

Hebrew Free Loan President Peggy
Daitch of Birmingham welcomed the
packed room with an enthusiastic "thank-
you" to every one in attendance.
"It is because of you, and donors like
you, who help this agency make a dif-
ference," Daitch said. "In 1895, a few
businessmen got together in the back of
a shoestore and pooled their money so
that the less fortunate could make a liv-
ing with pride and dignity. And 115 years
later, we're still making a difference when
it matters most:'
Newly installed International
Association of Hebrew Free Loans
President Richard Broder of West
Bloomfield welcomed IAHFL conference
attendees from across the United States,
Canada, Argentina and Israel.

A Special Honor
Broder then presented Henry Leopold,
a 43-year HFL board member, HFL past
president and founding president of the
IAHFL, with the Maimonides G'milut
Chasodim Award, translated as "Acts of
Loving Kindness."
"It is ironic Henry receives this award
tonight:' Broder said "because he is the
one who invented it nearly 30 years ago:'
Leopold reminded the audience why
free loan societies are relevant and impor-
tant, especially today.
"Loans are the bricks and the borrowers
are the mortar that hold our communities
together and make for a better Jewish life
Leopold said.
Dr. David Kirsch, HFL's major gifts cam-
paign chair, received the Tzedakah Award