Saranac Synagogue, Star of David Entranceway
Star of David Entranceway into Saranac Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Neighborhoods / North Buffalo
North Buffalo continues as an organizational home for several congregations even if its Jewish enterprise heyday has faded. In popular memory, Hertel Avenue stands out as a center of Jewish commercial activity and a culinary hub that was most active from the 1920s to the 1960s.
Overview
From Mastman’s to Blitzer’s to Kornmehl Kosher Meat Market, North Buffalo is most associated with the names of specific businesses and iconic images associated with them including The Sample. For every living need, from wallpaper to paints, from hardware to appliances, clothes, shoes and books, as well as a whole range of services, it seemed all you had to do was walk out your door and visit someone in the neighborhood. Alongside this commercial activity and vibrant service economy, former residents remember the proximity of synagogues and Jewish institutions, including the Jewish War Veterans and credit unions.
Contribute to this page
We are compiling a research listing of Jewish businesses in order to create a resource guide to the Jewish commercial and culinary history of North Buffalo. Please help us compile this and locate documents and images. You can fill in a Jewish Business form here and if you have materials you can upload here.
Contribute to this page
We are actively searching for information about credit unions, and synagogue materials and memorabilia from Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz, Brith Sholem, Brith Israel-Anshe Ames and New Israel. If you have materials and you like to help, you can upload them here.
Documents
Northern Buffalo Group, Meeting reminder slip, 1960
Temple David-Ner Israel, Fundraising Leaflet for new sanctuary
Temple David-Ner Israel, Fundraising Leaflet for new sanctuary, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Fundraising Leaflet for new sanctuary
Temple David-Ner Israel, Fundraising Leaflet for new sanctuary, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-el, 1935, Mittleman Collection
Temple Emanu-el, Constitution, 1938
Temple Emanu-el, 1956, TBT
Articles
Congregation AABJ&D Honors Rabbi Alvin Marcus
Congregation AABJ&D Honors Rabbi Alvin Marcus, Jewishlink.com, June 28, 2018
Rabbi Chaim Davidovich
Rabbi Chaim Davidovich, Buffalo News, August 5, 1994
Edith Wattenmaker
Edith Wattenmaker, Intermountain Jewish News, October 15, 2015
Rezoning hesitation by Planning Board delays projects in North Buffalo, West Side
Jonathan D. Epstein, “Rezoning hesitation by Planning Board delays projects in North Buffalo, West Side,” Buffalo News, Updated Sep 8, 2020.
Group seeks to turn former North Buffalo church into home for foreign med students
Jonathan D. Epstein, “Group seeks to turn former North Buffalo church into home for foreign med students,” Buffalo News, Jan 15, 2019
Houses of Worship: A Guide to the Religious Architecture of Buffalo, New York: Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz
Houses of Worship: A Guide to the Religious Architecture of Buffalo, New York, James Napora, buffaloah.com
Big Reveal: Conversion Plans for 1235 Hertel
Big Reveal: Conversion Plans for 1235 Hertel, Buffalo Rising, December 12, 2017
Buffalo News: Partial demolition planned at former Hertel Avenue synagogue
Partial demolition planned at former Hertel Avenue synagogue, The Buffalo News, September 4, 2018
Apartments eyed for Hertel Avenue religious property
Apartments eyed for Hertel Avenue religious property, Buffalo Business First, December 8, 2017
Onetime Hasidic synagogue on Hertel to become apartments
Onetime Hasidic synagogue on Hertel to become apartments, The Buffalo News, December 11, 2017
Dr. Joseph Manch’s career as an artist
Dr. Joseph Manch’s career as an artist: Joseph Manch | Burchfield Penney
B’rith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue / Faith of the Good Shepherd Chapel
B’rith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue / Faith of the Good Shepherd Chapel, James Napora, buffaloah.com
Houses of Worship: A Guide to the Religious Architecture of Buffalo, New York
Houses of Worship: A Guide to the Religious Architecture of Buffalo, New York, James Napora, buffaloah.com
Barbara Massis Obituary
Barbara Massis Obituary: “Barbara Massis Feb. 10, 1930—Sept. 30, 2005,” Buffalo News
Rabbi David Massis Obituary
Rabbi David Massis: “Rabbi David Massis, religious educator Jan. 2, 1921—Sept. 13, 2005,” Buffalo News
History of The Saranac Synagogue: Congregation Achei Tmimim
Building History: “History of The Saranac Synagogue: Congregation Achei Tmimim,” buffaloah.com
Meyer Gorin Praised for Hebrew School Aid
“Meyer Gorin Praised for Hebrew School Aid,” Buffalo Courier Express, Feb 20, 1961
Gallery
The Sample, 1631 Hertel Avenue, 1970s. L-R David Bunis, Lou Bunis and Maer Bunis, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample, 1631 Hertel Avenue, 1970s
The Sample, 50th Anniversary Celebration, Reading the Proclaimation. L-R Anne Bunis, Edward J Rutkowski, Erie County Executive, and Lou Bunis. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample, 50th Anniversary Celebration, Reading the Proclaimation
The Sample, 50th Anniversary Celebration, L-R Maer Bunis, Lou Bunis, Anne Bunis and David Bunis. NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample, 50th Anniversary Celebration
Neon at Night, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
Neon at Night, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s
The Wedding Store, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Wedding Store, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s
Women’s Dresses, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
Women’s Dressea, The Sample Shop, c. 1950s
The Little Shop, Inside The Sample Shop, c. 1950s, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Little Shop, Inside The Sample Shop, c. 1950s
The Sample Store Sketch of Expansion 1947, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample Store Sketch of Expansion 1947
The Sample Shop, c. 1930s, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample Shop, c. 1930s
The Sample Dress Shop, 1929, later The Sample, 1631 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of David Bunis.
The Sample Dress Shop, 1929
Blitzer's Grocers located at 1434-1436 Hertel Avenue, June 2, 1957. Collection of the Buffalo History Museum. General photograph collection, Streets - Hertel Avenue. Used with Permission.
Blitzer’s Grocers June 2, 1957
Centerland extension location, Temple Emanu-El, c. 1943. Photograph created by Frederic Marschall. Courtesy of Jerry Carrel, M.D.
Centerland extension location, Temple Emanu-El, c. 1943
Kadimah Bus, photographer unknown, Ms209, Kadimah School of Buffalo Collection, University Archives, University at Buffalo, State University of New York at Buffalo, used with permission.
Kadimah Bus
Brith Israel Anshe Ames and Men’s Club, Annual Picnic, Ticket, 1970s. Courtesy of TBZ Cofeld Judaic Museum.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames and Men’s Club
Temple Emanu-El Board Members, 1967-1968, Photograph created by Frederic Marschall. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El Board Members, 1967-1968
Temple David-Ner Israel, Joseph Sanes and Haskell Penn, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Joseph Sanes and Haskell Penn
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Louis Goldstein, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. Reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Louis Goldstein
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Officers, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. Reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Officers
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Cantor Nissenson, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. Reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Plaques, Cantor Nissenson
Temple David-Ner Israel, Dedication of new sanctuary 2, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Dedication of New Sanctuary 2
Temple David-Ner Israel, Dedication of new sanctuary-1, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple David-Ner Israel, Dedication of New Sanctuary 1
Menorah image in stained glass at the Saranac Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Saranac Synagogue, Menorah Image
Rear View of Saranac Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Saranac Synagogue, Rear View
Star of David Entranceway into Saranac Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Saranac Synagogue, Star of David Entranceway
Alternative view of the Saranac Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Saranac Synagogue, Alternative View
Side view of the Saranac Shul created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Saranac Synagogue, Side View
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz School Addition-Cornerstone-1961 created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz School Addition Cornerstone
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone-AAL Hebrew Text, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone Hebrew Text
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone-AAL, 1951, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Cornerstone, 1951
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Star of David Close-up, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Star of David
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Side View shows Star of David, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Side View
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Front of Former Synagogue, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Front of Former Synagogue
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz created by Sherwin Greenberg, Courtesy of the Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz created by Sherwin Greenberg
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Religious Class, created by Frederic Marschall, c.1960s, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Religious Class 2
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Religious Class, Photographer Unknown, c.1960s, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Religious Class
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Groundbreaking of Religious School, c. 1960s. Photographer Unknown, 1961, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Groundbreaking of Religious School
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue school addition created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue School Addition
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue building in 2017, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue Building in 2017
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue basement entrance created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue Basement Entrance
Photograph of Plaque created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue Cornerstone 1955
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue Hebrew cornerstone created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue Hebrew Cornerstone
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue created by Dr. Joseph Manch, Weinberg Campus Art Collection, image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.
Brith Israel Anshe Ames Synagogue
Rabbi Isaac Klein, undated, Rabbi Isaac Klein Papers, 1925-1979, University Archives, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York.
Rabbi Isaac Klein
Temple Emanu-El, Confirmation Class, Created by Frederick Marschall Photography, 1962. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, 1962 Confirmation, TBT, 1962
Temple Emanu-El, Bas Mitzvah Class, 1952. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, 1952 Bat Mitzvah, TBT, 1952
Temple Emanu-El, Confirmation Class, Created by Frederick Marschall Photography, 1947. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-el, 1947
Temple Emanu-El, Confirmation Class, Created by Hauser Bob, 1944. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, 1944 Confirmation Class, TBT
Temple Emanu-El, Confirmation Class, Created by Hauser Bob, 1943. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, Confirmation Class, 1943
Temple Emanu-el, High School Class, Created by Bob Bros Studio, 1938. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, 1938 High School, TBT
Temple Emanu-el, Confirmation Class, Created by Bob Bros Studio, 1935, Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-El, 1935 Confirmation Class, TBT, 1935
Temple Emanu-el, Temple Building, Proof Copy, Photographer unknown, 1933. Courtesy of Temple Beth Tzedek.
Temple Emanu-el, 1933, Temple Building
Photograph of Plaque created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.