General South Florida’s Jewish students deserve a fair shot at higher education – without crushing debt | Commentary

Published in the Sun-Sentinel Jewish Journal October 8, 2025 at 9:30 AM EST

By Jenna Leopold Shulman, CEO, Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF)

Over the past 11 years serving as CEO of the Jewish Educational Loan Fund (JELF), I’ve had the privilege — and the challenge — of watching our work evolve in response to growing need. When I began this role, we were lending $750,000 in interest-free loans annually. In 2025, that number will exceed $2.3 million.

What hasn’t changed is our mission: to ensure that no Jewish student within JELF’s region has to give up on their educational dreams because of financial barriers.

As a South Florida native who attended the University of Florida, I’ve always been committed to higher education and am proud to be from a state that values it heavily with programs like Florida Prepaid. But since beginning my work with the organization, I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming the cost of college has become for families here in South Florida — even for those who’ve planned, saved, and sacrificed. With inflation, rising tuition, and the broader economic pressures so many are feeling, it’s clear: families need help filling the gap between what they can afford and what higher education actually costs.

That’s where JELF is proud to step in.

Our 0% interest loans are “last-dollar” funding — filling in the final piece of a student’s financial puzzle after scholarships, grants, and family contributions. We don’t charge interest. We don’t profit. Every dollar we lend is meant to help a student move forward.

This year, South Florida has already seen a record level of applicants. As of mid-2025, we’ve allocated $868,052 to 155 students — surpassing 2024’s full-year total by 10%, and we’re not even through the year. But despite that increase, those same students still had a combined remaining need of over $360,000.

That gap is real. And for some Jewish students, it’s the difference between earning a degree or walking away from a dream. During a time when Jewish students today are not just facing financial strain but often navigating difficult and, at times, hostile environments on college campuses, it’s more important than ever that these students feel their community standing firmly behind them.

That’s the beauty of JELF. It’s not charity — it’s community. It’s Jewish values in action.

As we look ahead, I remain hopeful because I’ve seen what happens when we come together to support the next generation. If you’d like to be part of that future — by supporting students or spreading the word — visit jelf.org. Together, we can make sure no student is held back simply because of financial need.