Dear Applicant:

Please carefully review the Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) Loan Application Information and Requirements before completing the application.  Hebrew Free Loan understands that all information it requests and receives is strictly confidential.  We require that the applicant be a resident of Nevada for at least (1) year prior to the application date. The applicant must also be Jewish.  The co-signer must have United States Citizenship or be a Permanent resident.

The Hebrew Free Loan Program is a program of Jewish Nevada done in partnership with Jewish Family Services Agency.  HFL provides interest-free loans of up to $7,500 to Jewish residents of Nevada to help fund significant expenses that borrowers cannot meet with their own resources or to help bridge a period of unexpected income loss.

Loans of $5,000 or less are repayable in monthly installments for a maximum repayment term of 25 months.  Loans of more than $5,000 are repayable in monthly installments.  All monthly repayments begin one month after the loan is received and are made by electronic debit of a checking account.

The required forms must be filled out completely and received by HFL prior to the processing of any and all requests for financial assistance.  Guarantors (co-signers) must be lined up in order for an application to be considered.  Once we receive the completed application forms, it will take approximately 1-2 months to process the loan and to determine if we can grant the requested loan.  The process may include:  checking the credit standing of the applicant and guarantor; verifying the applicant's employment and salary; having a valid local checking account for loan repayment; and interview with the applicant and JFSA staff, committee member interview, and speaking with the prospective guarantor to confirm their understanding of their obligations in being a co-signer to a loan provided by Hebrew Free Loan, a program of Jewish Nevada (Nevada's Jewish Federation).  Once we meet as a committee and if we approved your loan and guarantor (co-signer), we will then send out the promissory note for both the borrower and co-signer' signatures.  Upon final approval by the Loan Committee, the Hebrew Free Loan will be disbursed.  Our required form of repayment is through monthly ACH.

Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 702-732-0556.

Sincerely,

Hebrew Free Loan Administration

Who May Apply:  A Jewish young adult between the ages of 13-22 that is a resident in Nevada for a minimum of 1 year.

Scholarship Awards:  Scholarship awards will be based upon the merit achievements of the applicant and the length of the program and will be no more than $2,500.00 per participant for Israel programs. The amount is based on the program's cost, length, other scholarships, number of applicants, and remaining annual funds available.
Awards for Israel programs will only be paid to an entity with a US Federal Employer ID number.

 Scholarship award recipients will be notified by email.

Contact Information:  If you have questions please contact Jewish Nevada at 702-732-0556.

Instructions for Application Submission:  Successful applications include ALL of the following items:

• Application Form for program participant.
• Parent/Guardian Information Form and complete responses to all questions
• One Letter of Recommendation from a non-family member.  Letters of Recommendation MUST be submitted with the application and will not be accepted separately.
• An invoice from the Israel experience that you will be attending with the US payment address.

It is the responsibility of the applicant and their parents/guardians to ensure that all application materials are complete, correct and submitted as directed above.  Jewish Nevada is not responsible for incomplete materials.  

 These criteria and instructions are for the use and guidance of the selection committee and do not confer any rights or expectations upon any applicant.


 Applications are accepted and reviewed by the committee on a rolling basis. If you are planning on participating in an Israel program in 2025, we recommend applying early as the year progresses less funding is available as it has been awarded.

Jewish Nevada's Right Start Program Application

  Jewish Nevada's Right Start vouchers are available for families who start eligible early childhood programs on or after January 1, 2024. Families may apply for the Jewish Nevada Right Start voucher when they apply to a participating school. The vouchers are first-come, first served, based on eligibility. For those who qualify, Right Start will provide funding to help you ensure your child has the Right Start in developing a life rooted in Jewish values and traditions.

  In addition, Jewish Nevada is proud to offer a $250 sibling voucher for siblings attending a Jewish participating preschool for the first time. This is for children with an older sibling or a twin already enrolled or previously enrolled in Jewish early childhood education.

  Please note that if your child starts preschool before January 15, 2025, now is the time to apply for your voucher. Annual applications open in January and close on December 14 of each year. Vouchers are first-come, first served, based on eligibility. We will keep a waiting list if we run out of vouchers and clear the list as funding becomes available.

  Please complete the following application. The Jewish identity questions are for internal and grant reporting purposes only, this information is not shared with the schools.

  First-Time (non-Sibling) Voucher Eligibility:
 

• Enrolled in a participating Jewish infant care, toddler care, or preschool for the first time. (see the list below for participating early childhood centers).
• Enrolled in a class where the child attends independently and meets 3, 4, or 5 days a week (half or full days).
• A member of a family where at least one parent identifies as Jewish.
• The child is the first in the family to attend a Jewish early childhood program.
• Enrolling in a Jewish early childhood program for the first time.
• Starting a participating program on or after January 1, 2024 through January 15, 2025.
• Special note: only one first-time voucher per family may be redeemed.
• *Please note only 1 first-time, first-in-family voucher per family. There is no second year, only the first year.

  First-Time Sibling Voucher Eligibility:
 

• Enrolled in a participating Jewish infant care, toddler care, or preschool for the first time. (see list below for participating early childhood centers).
• Enrolled in a class where the child attends independently and meets 3 (half or full) or more days per week.
• A member of a family where at least one parent identifies as Jewish.
• The child has a sibling that has been to a Jewish preschool before
• It is this child's first-time attending a Jewish early childhood program.
• Enrolling in a Jewish early childhood program for the first time.
• Starting a participating program on or after January 1, 2023 through January 15, 2024.
• Special note: only one voucher per child may be redeemed. There is no second year, only first year.

1. *Please note only 2 sibling vouchers per family.
   
   
   For more information please visit www.JewishNevada.org/RightStart
   
   
   Eligible schools:
   Adelson Educational Campus, 9700 Hillpointe Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89134
   Aleph Academy 1175 W. Moana Ln, Reno, NV 89509
   BYCC Academy (Bet Yossef Community Center), 8551 Vegas Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89128
   Chabad Torah Tots Preschool (Desert Torah Academy), 1312 Vista Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89102
   Kantor Early Childhood Center at Congregation Ner Tamid, 55 North Valle Verde Drive, Henderson, NV 89074
   Midbar Kodesh Early Childhood Center, 1940 Paseo Verde Parkway Henderson, Nevada 89012
   Sandra and Stanley Mallin Early Childhood Center, 10700 Havenwood Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89135
   Shenker Academy (Temple Sinai) 9001 Hillpointe Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89134
   Yeshiva Day School of Las Vegas, 55 N. Valle Verde Dr, Henderson, NV 89074 Zucker Jewish Academy, 10100 Banburry Cross Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89144