Berks foundation establishes fund for Jewish aid: It is set up with a $1.4 million gift from the estate of Beatrice M. Shaffer, widow of Dr. Irvin G. Shaffer.

Aug. 9--A $1.4 million fund to help Jewish programs and Jewish people in need of assistance has been established at the Berks County Community Foundation, foundation officials said Wednesday.

The fund was established with a gift from the estate of Beatrice M. Shaffer, a Reading resident who died at age 88 on March 29, 2006.

She and her husband, Dr. Irvin G. Shaffer, had long talked about creating such a fund, officials said.

After Irvin Shaffer died at age 89 on April 27, 2004, Beatrice Shaffer decided to start the fund to give grants to Jewish people studying medicine or the arts, or who need to relocate due to religious or political persecution. …