People

The Buffalo region has been home to a wide range of individuals associated with local Jewish communities and Jewish networks from the 1820s through to the contemporary period as immigrants, citizens, residents and locals.

Institutions

Buffalo Jews have a rich history of forming both formal and informal institutions for religious, educational, political and social needs. From synagogues to organizations, and from coordinating agencies to groups and clubs, Jewish Buffalonians have seen a changing range of institutions supported by group endeavors and community philanthropy.

Neighborhoods

In living memory, the East Side and North Buffalo stand out as physically connected and interwoven religious and commercial centers of Jewish living. In contrast to these specific areas are the mini hubs identified with Jewish living and connected to a more dispersed idea of neighborhood. Separately, suburbia with its significant geographic spread, has redefined how a series of Jewish spaces come together with a mix of hubs, focal points and networks.

Themes

Some nice intro blah blah

Exhibitions

Special exhibitions, through a focus on particular individuals and subjects, delves into the personal stories that have animated Jewish lives. Each digital exploration reflects on the interplay between place, identities and changing times and the way in which American, Jewish and Buffalo historical experiences are deeply interwoven.

Resources

Materials that document Jewish Buffalo in all its diversity are found in books, articles, archives and museums, many of which are available locally or online. This section highlights some of these sources and will be updated regularly.

Temple Sinai, Lyndale Avenue Synagogue, 1952

Temple Sinai, Lyndale Avenue synagogue, 1952. Courtesy of Congregation Shir Shalom.

Neighborhoods  /  Suburbs

The suburbs are expansive and include Kenmore, Cheektowaga, Getzville, Amherst, Snyder, Williamsville, and Clarence and all stops in between.

Overview

Since the 1950s, the main growth area of Jewish living in Greater Buffalo area has been the suburbs. Small developments occurred before this decade, but were specific developments rather than related to community expansion. When the cemeteries at Pine Ridge were first established in the nineteenth century, the city was much smaller. As the urban footprint expanded, Cheektowaga became a first ring suburb. Country Club building in the 1920s marked the next phase of Jewish organizational building in the rural tracts outside the city, but it was the 1940s postwar housing boom that spurred suburban growth aided by the GI Bill and lower cost mortgages. From the establishment of Temple Sinai in 1952 to the relocation of the administrative offices of the central agencies of Jewish Buffalo at 2640 North Forest in 2012, as well as the relocation and growth of several institutions since, the suburbs have experienced the greater part of Jewish institutional and residential growth since last century’s midpoint.

Contribute to this page

We are particularly interested in locating materials for the Willowdale Country Club, a forerunner to the Westwood, and the Westwood itself. We would also like to trace materials or memories about organizations without dedicated buildings. For example, we have limited materials relating to the Brandeis University National Women’s Committee, Buffalo Chapter and no records relating to the National Council of Jewish Women prior to the 1980s. We are still seeking materials relating to Pioneer Women, the Nashelkers and other landsmannshaftn that remained active in the suburbs. If you have information on these or other networks and organizations, and would like to loan materials for scanning please contact us. Alternatively you can also upload materials here.

Upload

Suburbs Location Map

Documents

Gallery

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Articles

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.