Rabbi David Rosenn

President & CEO

Rabbi David Rosenn

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Rabbi David Rosenn is the President & CEO of the Hebrew Free Loan Society. He oversees HFLS’s wide range of interest-free loan programs and spearheads the development of new programs to benefit New Yorkers in need.

Before joining HFLS, Rabbi Rosenn served as Executive Vice President of The New Israel Fund, the largest funder of social change nonprofits in Israel. Previously, he was Founder and Executive Director of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, a year-long full-time anti-poverty program with sites in New York, Chicago, New Orleans and Washington, D.C.

Rabbi Rosenn graduated from Harvard University and holds a Master’s degree in Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), where he was ordained in 1997.

Kim Kaplan

Deputy Director

Kim Kaplan

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Kim Kaplan is Deputy Director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS), where she manages lending programs and partnerships and is involved in all facets of the organization’s operations, including communications, marketing, strategic planning, and fundraising.

Prior to joining HFLS, Kim spent a decade working in development, grant making, communications, and administration at nonprofit organizations including the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Kim is a former Board Chair of JPRO New York, a volunteer-run network for Jewish communal professionals, and is a recipient of the national JPRO Network 2015 Young Professional Award. She served as the first Board Chair of Kids n Culture, an academic enrichment program for lower-income, culturally diverse high school students in New York City.

Kim earned an MPA in Nonprofit Management and an MA in Judaic Studies from New York University and a BA in Jewish, Islamic and Near Eastern Studies from Washington University in
St. Louis.

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Director of Development

Ziva Davidovich

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Ziva Davidovich is the Director of Development at the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) and is responsible for the planning and implementation of all fundraising efforts to ensure the success of organizational goals and initiatives.

Before joining HFLS, Ziva worked with local, national, and international Jewish philanthropic organizations such as PJ Library, JCC MetroWest, Foundation for Jewish Camp, JCC Association, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland.  Ziva has an MBA in marketing and international business from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in marketing and operations from the University of Cincinnati.

Shlomo Haft

Director of Microenterprise
Small Business Loan Program

Shlomo Haft

212-692-9023

Shlomo focuses on providing interest-free business startup and expansion loans to entrepreneurs in the New York City area.

Prior to joining HFLS, Shlomo served for 20 years as Chief Operating Officer and In-House Counsel of Haywin Textile Products, a successful home textile wholesale distributor. He helped grow Haywin’s annual sales from $10-million to $70-million, negotiated strategic joint venture agreements with overseas manufacturers and U.S. based licensors, and oversaw the company’s credit risk decisions.

Shlomo received his undergraduate degree in Economics from Yeshiva University and his JD from Cardozo School of Law.

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Director of Finance & Administration

Daren Scott

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Before joining HFLS, Daren was employed by the Jewish Child Care Association of New York, serving New York’s neediest and most vulnerable children and families. In his 7 years with JCCA he rose to become the Assistant Controller. While there he led the restructuring of the revenue department and the maximization of the organization’s $105 million budgeted revenue. He previously held positions in the distribution and manufacturing industries including PaperChase Ltd and Westico Foods.  While at Westico Foods he conceptualized and was instrumental in successfully negotiating a $40 million restructuring and retooling of the company.

Daren lends his time to volunteering as a fundraiser for the Wilbert Mays School and as a counselor on professional and career decisions to students at the Pine Forge Academy.

Daren received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Finance and Business Administration from the City University of New York, Lehman College.

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Small Business Loan Officer

Leonard Berkovich

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Leonard (Lenny) Berkovich joined the Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) in 2023 as the Small Business Loan Officer. Lenny is responsible for supporting the Microenterprise Program by working directly with small business loan applicants throughout all aspects of the loan application process and collaborating with the Microenterprise Committee.

Prior to joining HFLS, Lenny was a Senior Small Business Relationship Manager at Wells Fargo, closely partnering with hundreds of small businesses throughout California. Lenny studied Finance at the University of San Francisco.

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Systems & Data Manager

Corey Bonser

Corey manages HFLS’s systems and data technology.

Prior to joining HFLS, Corey worked as a SalesForce consultant with Craftsman Technology Group, specializing in non-profit lending, economic development and loan servicing.  While with CTG, Corey worked closely with non-profit lending organizations across the country to help them leverage SalesForce and related technology to track their impact, organize data and streamline their processes.

Prior to CTG, Corey spent 7 years working in non-profit lending and economic development with PIDC (Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation) as an operations and support manager for their loan servicing software product.

Corey holds a BA in Strategic Organizational Communications from Temple University and holds certifications as a SalesForce Administrator, SalesCloud Consultant, and NonProfitCloud Consultant.

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Financial Analyst – Loans

Fred Cohen

Fred’s previous experience was in the financial sector where he spent 33 years at AllianceBernstein LP, primarily as Senior Vice President and Director of Municipal Bond Trading and a member of the firm’s Municipal Investment Policy Committee. Early in his career Fred was a CPA with KPMG. Fred is a member of the Board of Directors of Sinai Schools and previously served as a board member of Yavneh Academy and Congregation Beth Aaron.

Fred received his MBA in Finance from New York University and his BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Communications & Development Manager

Melissa Czarnik

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Melissa Czarnik is the Development and Communications Manager at the Hebrew Free Loan Society. She manages all communications for the organization including the website, email, social media, video production, borrower promotions, and partner and donor materials. 

Melissa has over a decade of experience working in film production, digital marketing, brand development and content creation. She recently oversaw the re-branding of Figure Skating in Harlem, a non-profit sport and education program for girls in Harlem raising their profile in only two short years. In addition, she has two years of leadership and diversity training as an AmeriCorps VISTA & Public Ally and received her Master’s degree in Media Studies from The New School. Melissa is passionate about issues of economic and social justice.

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Loan Officer

Sally Gabriele

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Sally joined HFLS as a Loan Officer in 2022, specializing in loans for Spanish speaking clients. She is also currently the director of a Non Profit that feeds poor kids in Venezuela through the fashion product that her company sells. As her hobby she has an entrepreneur blog called Empowerlly.

Prior to joining HFLS, Sally explored her interest for business and generated an impact through professional and volunteer experience: from directing her own business to working as a sales representative for Chobani, a multinational yogurt brand.

Sally holds a BA in Strategic Entrepreneurship and a BA in From Yeshiva University in New York City.

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Development Associate

Anneliese Horowitz

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Anneliese Horowitz is the Development Associate at the Hebrew Free Loan Society where she assists with all aspects of HFLS fundraising and communications efforts.

Prior to joining HFLS, Anneliese worked as a Family & Partner Associate at PJ Library NY where she helped support the development department and the New York office. She also has experience working as a celebrity, fashion, and lifestyle photographer for well known names such as Jay-Z, A$AP Mob, Alicia Keys, and more. She brings her photography skills to HFLS where she takes borrower photos to help tell their story.

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Special Education Bridge Loan Program Coordinator

Ivy Ip

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Ivy Ip is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Special Education Bridge Loan Program. Prior to joining HFLS, Ivy was a professional in the book publishing industry. She has held editorial and marketing positions at Taylor & Francis, Thieme Medical Publishers, Cengage, and Scholastic. Ivy has also done freelance writing, editing, and research for various publishing and course development companies.

Anna Levanidova

Loan Officer & IT Coordinator

Anna Levanidova

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Anna works directly with HFLS applicants and borrowers through all stages of the loan process, from loan interviews to check processing. She is also the HFLS IT Coordinator, handling computer, loan database, and organization network support.

Anna graduated from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia with a major in Mechanical Engineering. She worked as a leading engineer in the research department at a factory in Russia before immigrating to the US.

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Lending Projects Lead

Maya Sol Levy

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After graduating summa cum laude and receiving her BA in English from UCLA, Maya Sol Levy joined HFLS in September 2019 as an AVODAH Jewish Service Corps member. Starting August 2020, she joined the staff to officially continue as a Loan Officer, and in July 2022 entered a new role as Lending Projects Lead. This entirely new position combines big-picture analysis of HFLS lending with the implementation of borrower feedback surveys, as well as staff training and support, systems and data work, and the development and documentation of HFLS lending processes.

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Loan Officer

Eddie Ramos-Kleinman

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Eddie Ramos-Kleinman joined the HFLS team as a Loan Officer in 2021 . Previously, Eddie worked as an Underwriter for 7 years in the Financial Technology industry.

During his undergraduate time at the University at Buffalo, Eddie became president of his chapter for Lambda Sigma Upsilon, where he coordinated fundraisers  for H.I.V. / A.I.D.S research and volunteered in community service work geared specifically towards under-served communities. 

Larisa Shakirova

Loan Officer

Larisa Shakirova

646-823-9023

Larisa joined the HFLS staff in 2006. She works directly with loan applicants and borrowers and is responsible for loan interviews and all aspects of loan application processing. Larisa also works with the Microenterprise Program Director as the lead Loan Officer for HFLS Microenterprise Loans.

Prior to joining HFLS, Larisa was a case manager in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department at Edith and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst.

Larisa was born and raised in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States in 2000. She received her BEC from Pryazovskyi State Technical University in Ukraine and her ABA from ASA College in New York.

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SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Valerie Stern

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Valerie is responsible for all accounting procedures for HFLS.

Prior to joining HFLS, Valerie held positions in finance and accounting with several corporations in New York and New Jersey. She began her career in Aramark’s Uniform division and went on to become head of accounting at Dynasty House of Design, a large retail and wholesale company, and financial controller at DM Services, an international internet company. She joined the HFLS staff in 2009.

Valerie was born in Odessa, Ukraine, and immigrated to the United States in 1994. She received her Master’s degree in Mathematics from Odessa State University of Education and trained in not-for-profit accounting at New York University.

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Loan Repayment Coordinator

Christina Woods

212-600-8668

Christina is the Loan Repayment Coordinator at the Hebrew Free Loan Society. She first joined HFLS in July 2021 as a Loan Officer/Repayment Specialist, assisting borrowers with the loan process as well as servicing loans after funds have been distributed. She has worked in Default Management with Financial Institutions for over 7+ years.

Christina is currently on the Board of Directors at She Thing NYC a non-profit organization that services women and girls who have endured traumatic experiences.

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Administrative Coordinator

Hannah Zorn

212-600-8665

Hannah joined the HFLS staff in July 2021 in the newly created Administrative Coordinator position. She will be the first person to greet you when you walk into the office at HFLS. Hannah provides administrative support to the staff and Board, while also keeping the office organized and helping with loan interviews as needed.

Prior to this, Hannah worked for three years at Sanctuary for Families as the Administrative Assistant for their 80+ member legal center. She loves to read and used to work at Book Culture, an independent bookstore in upper Manhattan. Hannah holds a BA in Theater Studies from Ithaca College with minors in art and French.

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CEO Emerita

Shana Novick

Shana Novick served as the CEO of the Hebrew Free Loan Society from September 1995 until June, 2015. She led the transformation of HFLS, then a traditional, century-old institution, into a highly innovative microlender, proactively reaching out to those in need in the Jewish community and beyond.

Prior to joining HFLS, Ms. Novick worked first as a psychiatric social worker in Jerusalem and New York. She then practiced law at a large Park Avenue law firm and in-house at the Ford Foundation, where she primarily worked with program staff supporting cutting-edge nonprofits with charitable loans.

Ms. Novick has served on the Board of her synagogue, Congregation Ansche Chesed, and co-chaired its first capital campaign. She is a member of UJA-Federation of New York’s MPI Committee, which makes grants in the Haredi, Arab and other economically marginalized communities in Israel. Ms. Novick now splits her time between homes in New York and Jerusalem. Ms. Novick has a B.A. from Barnard College, a Masters in Social Work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and a JD from the New York University School of Law.