16 | MAY 13 • 2021 

OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER

dents up to $7,500 a year for full-
time undergraduate study or $10,000 
a year for graduate work, with 10 
years post-graduation to repay. The 
program grew out of the Jewish 
Educational Loan Service, started 
in the 1940s. It was renamed after 
the William Davidson Foundation 
made $12 million worth of grants. 
Applications decreased somewhat 
in 2020 because of COVID, but the 
program serves between 180 and 
280 students every year.
• The Marvin I. Danto Small 
Business Loan Program started in 
2012 with a bequest from Danto’s 
estate and a grant from the Marvin 
and Betty Danto Family Foundation. 
While HFL had been making busi-
ness loans since its inception, the 
Danto funds enabled it to increase 
loans to as much as $100,000 for 

businesses that are at least 51 per-
cent Jewish-owned. Applicants must 
make a pitch to members of the 
HFL
’s Danto loan committee, who 
are experienced entrepreneurs. In 
its first nine years, the program has 
made 135 loans. 
• The Michigan Jewish 
Organization Loan Program, start-
ed in 2018 in partnership with the 
Ravitz Foundation, provides up to 
$100,000 for Michigan synagogues 
and other organizations. Ten loans, 
totaling $900,000, have been made 
to date, including to congrega-

tions and other organizations in 
Ann Arbor, Flint, Marquette and 
Petoskey, most for building purchase 
or repair.
Although Hebrew Free Loan has 
always been modest about tooting 
its own horn, Contorer hopes to 
increase its visibility so that more 
Michigan Jews can take advantage of 
its services. 
“I know there are Jewish people 
out there who need help who don’t 
know about us,
” he said. “If this 
reaches one more person, it’s a win 
for HFL.
” 

 
Temple Beth S holom:

Relocating in 
Marquette

Temple Beth Sholom, a small Reform 
congregation in Michigan’s Upper 
Peninsula, had the opportunity a 
few years ago to buy a building in 
Marquette, closer to its members. 
Cary Gottlieb, the congregation’s 
treasurer, and his wife, Carol, had 
borrowed funds from Hebrew Free 
Loan in 1985 to buy their first house, 
so he was receptive when fellow 
Beth Sholom board member Aaron 
Scholnik suggested they look into a 
loan for the temple. 
The two men approached Hebrew 
Free Loan Executive Director David 
Contorer, and within what seemed 
like just a few weeks, they had their 
loan for $100,000. The temple used 
it to turn the building into a house 
of worship. Ironically, it had been 
constructed in 1925 as a Christian 
Science church, but was later used 
as an event venue and then an apart-
ment complex so it needed extensive 

renovation.
The congregation repaid the loan 
within 17 months, said Gottlieb, using 
donations from a capital campaign 
and proceeds from the sale of their 
previous building in Ishpeming where 
they had been since 1952.
“The loan enabled us to move into 
the building quickly and easily,” said 
Gottlieb, a pathologist at St. Francis 

Hospital in Escanaba. “Temple mem-
bership has grown, and participation 
is up, even with COVID,” he said.
Gottlieb praised Hebrew Free Loan 
for making the process so easy, say-
ing he never felt pressure or the need 
to grovel. “Dave Contorer actually 
made it a point to see the temple 
when he was visitng the UP. He’s a 
mensch and good person.”

Members of Temple 
Beth Sholom outside 
their new building.

continued from page 15

One of HFL’s 
earlier offices.

Loans

Donations

16 | MAY 13 • 2021 

