Three Bay Area organizations have received grants totaling $345,000 from the Covenant Foundation to advance excellence and impact in Jewish education, the foundation announced on Jan. 7.

The money will help fund film and media projects and an education initiative on Jewish subjects.

The Covenant Foundation, which handed out a total of $1.6 million nationally last week, has been giving grants to support Jewish education and community-building projects since 1991.

Citizen Film, a documentary film company in San Francisco, was awarded $150,000 over three years to partner with students and professors at Columbia University’s Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and use new media to explore Jewish subjects.

Edah, an after-school Hebrew immersion program for elementary-age students in Berkeley, was awarded $150,000 over three years to develop a corps of young Jewish educators who can design and facilitate Hebrew and Jewish studies programs.

Also, $45,000 was given toward the creation and distribution of a film being produced by Mill Valley–based filmmaker Tiffany Shlain. “Let It Ripple” will explore the effect of Jewish teachings and values on the development of individuals and greater society.

“Those in Jewish education have great visions not only for the future, but for right now,” noted Harlene Winnick Appelman, executive director of Covenant Foundation. “We welcome the opportunity to dream with these impressive practitioners in the field and help them turn these visions into reality.” — drew himmelstein