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Israel Connections

Ness Loan Fund Allows Israeli Entrepreneur to Flourish

Israel has long been known as the land of milk of honey. It’s also the land of entrepreneurs, boasting more per capita than any other country. One of them is Yossi Abergel, who got his start with the help of the Greater MetroWest federation and its Ness Loan Fund.

Yossi is a resident of Moshav Maslul of Federation’s partnership regional council of Merchavim. He’s married and has three young daughters, ages 10, 7, and 18 months.

Yossi began his education at the Ofakim Comprehensive High School, where he majored in liberal arts. He then joined the Israel Defense Forces’ Border Patrol, served with an undercover unit, and graduated from a counter-terrorism course. He stayed in the IDF and was the First Sergeant of a Gaza Division base. After leaving the IDF, he filled several command roles, including prison operations officer.

Then Yossi decided to make a career change. He applied to the Ness Loan Fund Committee after deciding to open his own business. Most of his family works in carpentry in one form or another. His two uncles are private carpenters — a fact that influenced his decision to open 2Paints.

Yossi saw that furniture-making companies were sending their products to the center of the country for painting. He thought, "Why not keep them local?" 2Paints opened in December 2013 with professional painting rooms.  Yossi also provides professional services in furniture repair and the conservation of antique wood.

“I am so thankful to the Ness Loan Fund,” said Yossi. “The service and attention I was given was excellent. I also want to point out, had it not been for the loan, I probably wouldn’t have been able to open this business.”

The Ness Loan Fund was created to strengthen businesses and develop employment opportunities in the Negev. It also grants loans to new and existing businesses in the region. The Fund, which is administered by The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), has deep ties to Greater MetroWest. JAFI is a Federation partner agency.

“The Ness Loan Fund began in 2005 as an endowment fund of Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey to honor the memory of Mack Ness and his mother. After the Central and MetroWest federations merged, it became part of Greater MetroWest. It’s also supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater Miami,” said Noga Maliniak, Federation’s Israel-based director of Keren Ness and Negev operations.

The Fund is unique as it is one of only a few philanthropies focused on the Negev as its mission. It’s managed by a public board that includes Maliniak as well as Marilyn and Gerry Flanzbaum of Warren and Hadera, Israel. The Flanzbaums are longtime Federation supporters and activists. As part of the application process, the board reviews business plans and meets with the owners of the businesses. There’s a major focus on attracting and retaining the young adult population.

According to the Flanzbaums, “the Ness Loan Fund represents the highest degree of Hillel's levels of charity — helping an individual to make a living for him or herself. It is nothing more and nothing less. It has given us both more satisfaction than almost anything else we have done both in Israel and our community."

"The development of the Negev was always one of the highest priorities for Israel but not always implemented. Now, after Operation Protective Edge, it’s even more critical that Israel and world Jewry join forces to make this desert bloom. We need to bring more people to settle there, and support the economy, education, and cultural life. Greater MetroWest is a leading force in this regard. We maintain three geographical partnerships. We support some 100 different projects, and we operate the Ness Fund grants and loans as our major philanthropic arm to help with this Zionist task,” said Amir Shacham, Federation associate executive vice president and director of its Israel Center.

Today, 2Paints is very successful. Yossi invites members of the Greater MetroWest community to visit his operation. And, he says, “Who knows? Maybe we’ll end up doing business together.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 2014

 

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