An official of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies conceded today that one of its agencies had had second thoughts about providing no-interest down-payment loans to Jewish families seeking homes in integrated neighborhoods in the southeastern section of the Borough of Queens. The official, Rabbi Isaac Trainin, religious affairs advisor to Federation, responded to a criticism of Federation by the Queens Jewish Community Council which protested the “calling off” of a “firm and public commitment.”
“In an ‘off again, on again’ spree,” the Council said, “this urgent matter is being reconsidered at the highest echelon of Federation. A definite program and/or answers are promised late this month. We shall see.” The four communities involved–Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Queens Village and Rosedale–“after seven months of delay and hassle…look in the direction of Federation and ask–when?” the JCC said.
Rabbi Trainin said the proposed program actually involved not Federation per so but one of its agencies, Hebrew Free Loan, which was not mentioned in the complaint, “The only sin you can accuse them of,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, “is making a promise they didn’t think through enough. Everyone makes mistakes.”
He said Hebrew Free Loan had issued similar loans, on a smaller scale, in the past, but realized it “just didn’t have” the huge funds required for the Queens project–possibly “millions of dollars.” Federation’s Committee on Communal Planning has been studying the matter, he said, and will meet again next Wednesday.
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