Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Grants Awarded to Support Jewish Culture and Learning

May 28, 2009

GREAT BARRINGTON, MA——Three local projects have received grants from the Wassermann-Streit Y'DIYAH Memorial Fund, an endowment of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The Y’DIYAH fund supports programs that facilitate knowledge and understanding of the history, culture and practice of traditional Judaism.

The Fund awarded grants totaling $1,500 to the following projects:

Berkshire Music School, Pittsfield, MA: $400 for the Jewish Music Festival and Faculty and Student Concerts and Coaching Sessions.

Jacqueline Cooper, Ashfield, MA: $700 for “Following the Thread: America’s Jewish Immigrants and the Birth of the Grament Industry,” a multimedia exhibit and fashion show at the Mason Library.

Northern Berkshire Chorale, Williamstown, MA: $400 for “Seven Sephardic Romances” performances for choir and piano by Isreli composer Yehezkel Braun at Williams College.

The next deadline for grant applications for the Wassermann-Streit Y’DIYAH Memorial Fund is November 1. Applications are available here or by calling 413-528-8039.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2008 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $9 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

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