Donor Story - Jeff Feuer

Jeff has been part of the JFLA family even before he came to this country! In 1960, after his uncle completed his army service, he immigrated to the U.S. from Israel. Upon arriving in California, he got a job making window screens, and within a few months, he became the supervisor of the company. Shortly after his promotion and continued success, his uncle branched out and started his own screen-making company. A year or so later, Jeff’s uncle opened Tashman Screens (later becoming Tashman Screens and Hardware). Jeff’s grandfather left Israel to help get the business off the ground. It was also at this time that his uncle received a loan from JFLA to get startup capital for the store.

When becoming a hardware store, they couldn’t afford nice display racks and windows, so the Tashman men got creative and used bricks and wooden planks to display the merchandise. With the immigrant mentality – use what you have, be creative – they were able to wisely use the JFLA loan to make improvements.

For 62 continuous years, Tashman’s has been open on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, providing services to thousands in the community and hundreds of jobs. Today, Tashman Home Center as the store is now known, is run by Jeff’s cousin, Kenny. Income from that store put generations of Tashmans and Feuers through school, including medical, law, and business schools. It is a testament to how a JFLA loan can impact direct descendants for generations.

Also, knowing that the loan was repaid, and that money is still out in the community helping other small businesses is what compels Jeff to give back to JFLA year after year. The money is returned and reused, helping others for generations to come.

Jeff’s mother also left Israel years later after her father and brother had already established the shop. She was a single mother immigrant with three children to support. The tight family grew up in a one-bedroom apartment filled with love, laughter, and lots of hard work. Jeff’s mother went to school to learn a trade to provide for the family. However, she needed a car to get to work and couldn’t afford one. The family turned to JFLA for a loan and began their own success story. Jeff still recalls being a youngster practicing spelling words in the back of the car on the way to school.

Jeff’s personal history with JFLA isn’t the only reason he and his wife, Orli, support the work. It’s the whole idea of the organization and how it operates that motivates his generosity. With most non-profit organizations, people donate clothes or money or spend time training or working with clients – it’s a one-time benefit. Helping a few, and then the work starts over – more donations. At JFLA, the money is recycled. If someone gives $100 to JFLA, in 20 years that $100 is helping someone new – it’s a recurring benefit. Donating for generations to come, who may not even be born or living in this country yet!