JANUARY 28 • 2021 | 11

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www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 300 • Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48301

@HFLDetroit

“There is a close connection between community
engagement and a feeling of meaning and fulfillment in
your life,” said Hebrew Free Loan Board member
Andy Doctoroff.
“It’s admirable that Jews do so much to support each
other. Being in a position to offer that support makes me more
empathetic, more fulfilled. That’s like a gift you give yourself.”
Diplomacy plays a large role in daily life for Andy, a
lawyer who serves as Michigan’s point person on the
Gordie Howe International Bridge project. As an HFL
Board member, Andy brings his legal and diplomatic
skills into play, combining them with the varied areas of
expertise shown by other HFL Board members.
“This is a very deep Board, with a lot of experience,”
Andy said. “We come together well, see and hear people
without judgment, and try to make a difference. I think
we’ve all had vulnerable moments in our past. It’s our
job to remember those feelings, and keep our interac-
tions with our community on a gentle, supportive and
respectful footing. To do what we do – providing support
to so many, so consistently, so thoughtfully – seems pretty
remarkable to me.”
Andy believes that there are a lot of people who go
about their days working and taking care of their families,
knowing they only have so much time to commit to
something outside their daily routine. But the opportunity
to be aware of the greater community, and to contribute,
whether it’s money or time, brings meaning.
“I leave interviews and I tell my wife, Stacy, and my
kids, Nicole, Alana and Matthew, how HFL means a lot
to me because it embodies community. We make sure all
Jews, however those Jews choose to define themselves,
are supported in a dignified way that creates opportunity
and reduces stress and anxiety. It’s an exemplar of how
we should treat each other. I hope I pass that message
on to my children.”

Community donations help Hebrew Free Loan give
interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal,
health, educational and small business needs.

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