Ground breaking at the new Jewish Community Center, 1947
Ground breaking at the new Jewish Community Center, 1947. Samuel Markel with shovel; Cecil B. Weiner is woman on right. Image created by Frederic Marschall. MS 204, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo and Summer Camps Records, 1915-2009. Permission of the University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
Neighborhoods / Delaware Avenue
The home of the downtown Jewish Community Center, and Temple Beth Zion, Delaware Avenue is a premier address in Buffalo.
Overview
Delaware Avenue was known as Millionaires’ Row from the 1880s to World War I, when many large mansions were constructed along it. Lined with elm trees and occupying generous landscaped plots, wealthy businessmen and industrialists constructed their homes as a reflection of their status. Designed by society architect, Edward Kent, Temple Beth Zion at 599 Delaware Avenue was an expression of the confidence members held about their place on the avenue (and in Buffalo) having been Central European Jewish immigrants just a generation before. A catastrophic fire that completely destroyed Temple Beth Zion in 1961, and its rebuilding a few blocks away at 805 Delaware Avenue was part of a discussion around suburbanization and identity. In 1963, the congregation voted overwhelming to remain a city based congregation and the new sanctuary was dedicated in 1967.
The Jewish Community Center at 787 Delaware Avenue in 1948 was built in another era under different conditions. Jewish immigration numbers had lessened considerably due to government regulation in the 1920s effectively consolidating existing communities, and lessening the immigrant identities of both the earlier central European waves that had founded Temple Beth Zion and the later Eastern European community that had built the Jewish Community Building on the East Side. The Jewish Community Center emerged as a “Beth Am” (a house of the people), that provided homes for other Jewish organizations alongside services and spaces for Buffalonians to enjoy.
Since the mid twentieth century, both institutions have provided convening space for community wide events including expos, rallies and celebrations.
Contribute to this page
Do you have memorabilia, especially old photographs of the interiors of the first Beth Zion at 599 Delaware Avenue, or special events at the JCC, including Israel Expo 1976? If you’d like to share these with us, please contact us—or upload here.
Articles
Ann Holland Cohn, helped save downtown Jewish Center
Ann Holland Cohn, helped save downtown Jewish Center, Buffalo News, Mar 29, 2017.
Do_co,mo-mo: Temple Beth Zion
Do_co,mo-mo is an online resource documenting mid-century building designs and their architects: Temple Beth Zion
Do_co,mo-mo: Max Abramovitz
Do_co,mo-mo is an online resource documenting mid-century building designs and their architects: Max Abramovitz.
Temple Beth Zion: From 599 to 805 Delaware Avenue Remarks on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary
Gallery
The Park Lane Restaurant 33 Gates Circle, Buffalo, NY 14209. Courtesy of Sam Korus.
The Park Lane Restaurant
Israel Information Desk, Jewish Community Center, 787 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14209. Courtesy of Nancy Schiller.
Israel Information Desk, Jewish Community Center
PALS Fraternity, Jewish Community Center, Courtesy of Leonard Katz, MD.
PALS Fraternity
Ground breaking at the new Jewish Community Center, 1947. Samuel Markel with shovel; Cecil B. Weiner is woman on right. Image created by Frederic Marschall. MS 204, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo and Summer Camps Records, 1915-2009. Permission of the University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
Ground breaking at the new Jewish Community Center, 1947
Browns Boys Basket Ball team at the Jewish Community Center, 1957. Front row kneeling, from left to right: Unidentified; Barry Warner; Alan Lewis; Elliot Fixler; Marc Lippman. Back Row, standing from Left to right: Rick Falk; Alan Cheskin; Dave Cheskin; David Treger; Alec Cohen. Photograph created by Frederic Marschall. MS 204, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo and Summer Camps Records, 1915-2009. Permission of the University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
Browns Boys Basket Ball team at the Jewish Community Center, 1957
Mural by Lewis Rubenstein Created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker. Permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Mural by Lewis Rubenstein
Jewish Community Center, Expansion Opening Ceremony at 787, Delaware Avenue, photograph created by Chana R. Kotzin, 2018, Used with permission.
JCC Expansion Opening Ceremony 2018 Ellen Steinfeld Sculpture 2
Jewish Community Center, Expansion Opening Ceremony at 787, Delaware Avenue, photograph created by Chana R. Kotzin, 2018, Used with permission.
JCC Expansion Opening Ceremony 2018 Ellen Steinfeld Sculpture
Jewish Community Center, Expansion Opening Ceremony at 787, Delaware Avenue, image created by Chana R. Kotzin, 2018, Used with permission.
Jewish Community Center, Expansion Opening Ceremony
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware, Organ, photograph by Chana R. Kotzin, 2020, used with permission.
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware, Organ
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Sanctuary, photograph by Chana R. Kotzin, 2020, used with permission.
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Sanctuary
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Window, photograph by Chana R. Kotzin, 2020, used with permission.
Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Avenue, Window
Temple Beth Zion, Shahn Windows, 805 Delaware Avenue, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Temple Beth Zion, Shahn Windows
Frieze from 599 Delaware Avenue, rescued from the fire, photograph created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2013. Courtesy of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Frieze from 599 Delaware Avenue, 2013
Entranceway to the Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum, photograph created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2013. Courtesy of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Entranceway to the Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum
External image of the Temple Beth Zion Sanctuary, photograph created by Paul Pasquarello, 1984, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
External image of the Temple Beth Zion Sanctuary, 1984
Cornerstone placement at entrance to sanctuary, 1850, 1889, 1966, photograph by Chana R. Kotzin, 2020, used with permission.
Cornerstone Placement at Entrance to Sanctuary
Groundbreaking for a temple at 805 Delaware Avenue, L-R , Max Abramovitz, Dr. Joseph L. Fink, Lenny Schnitman, Rabbi Martin Goldberg and Eugene Warner. Permission of the University Archives, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
Groundbreaking for a Temple at 805 Delaware Avenue
Faculty of the Temple Beth Zion Religious School, c. 1930s, photograph created by Hauser Bob. TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Faculty of the Temple Beth Zion Religious School, c. 1930s
Students in the Middle Grades of the Temple Beth Zion Religious School, c.1930s, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Students in the Middle Grades of the Temple Beth Zion Religious School, c.1930s
Temple Beth Zion Troop 7 Boy Scout Leaders uniform, photograph created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2013. Courtesy of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Temple Beth Zion Troop 7 Boy Scout Leaders Uniform
Members of Temple Beth Zion outside 599 Delaware Avenue, c.1890s, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Members of Temple Beth Zion outside 599 Delaware Avenue, c.1890s
Documents
Jewish Community Center, It’s your Center, 1955
Israeli Fashions, Fundraising Program, 1959
Hadassah Unconventional Musical Review, Program, 1964
45th Anniversary Invitation and Play
Front Cover of the Temple Beth Zion Sanctuary Dedication, April 19-23, 1967
Temple Beth Zion Chanukah Observances at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1964
Recognition of USO Service rendered by the Sisterhood, 1955
Temple Beth Zion Centenary program, The March of Zion, 1950
Temple Bulletin, 1946
Joint Temple Beth Zion and Beth El Union Thanksgiving Service, 1925
Service of Conformation, Religious School, 1912
Miriam Geismar, Highest in Class, Religious School, 1906-1907
Memorial Service for Rabbi (Rev.) Dr. Isaac M. Wise
Memorial Issue of Bulletin, 1964
Memorial Issue of Bulletin on the death of Dr. Joseph L. Fink, 1964, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
TBZ Sisterhood Israel’s 40th Anniversary, 1988
TBZ Sisterhood, Celebrates Israel's 40th Anniversary, 1988, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Service Honoring Donald Day, 1980
Service honoring Donald Day on his Election as Chairman of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, 1980, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
TBZ Program for the Dedication Service
Program for the Dedication Service of the Stained Glass Windows and Ritual Objects in the New Temple, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Your Neighbors Faith program leaflet, 1963
Your Neighbors Faith program leaflet, 1963, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Temple Beth Zion Institute on Judaism and Interfaith Service, 1961
Temple Beth Zion Institute on Judaism and Interfaith Service, 1961, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Text of Speech by Dr. Joseph L. Fink on the Humanitarian Hour, 1942
Text of Speech by Dr. Joseph L. Fink on the Humanitarian Hour, 1942, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Temple Beth Zion’s 75th Anniversary Booklet, 1939
Temple Beth Zion’s 75th Anniversary Booklet, 1939, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
TBZ Collection, Temple Beth Zion Troop 7 Boy Scout Yearbook, 1938
TBZ Collection, Temple Beth Zion Troop 7 Boy Scout Yearbook, 1938, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.
Memorial Service of Rabbi Louis J. Kopald, 1931
Memorial Service of Rabbi Louis J. Kopald, 1931, TBZ Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, permission of Temple Beth Zion.