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

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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.

Congregation B’nai Shalom, External Building

Congregation B’nai Shalom, External Building, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2013. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Synagogues  /  Congregation B’nai Shalom

Congregation B’nai Shalom (Children of Peace) originated as a suburban school extension of Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz, that later became the congregation’s new permanent home and new name.

Overview

Congregation B’nai Shalom (Children of Peace) originated as a suburban school extension of Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz for families based in the suburbs. It later became the congregation’s new permanent home and the new name of the synagogue. Initially the building at 1641 North Forest Road, was erected to serve as a location for Kindergarten and Primary Departments on Sunday mornings and the Hebrew School on Sundays and two days per week. It had seven classrooms, offices for the rabbis and cantor, a general office, library and bridal suite, but no kitchen or sanctuary. The North Buffalo sanctuary and its school, kitchen, and social hall complex remained in use.

In 1987, the suburban North Forest site was extensively remodeled and expanded and by 1992, Congregation B’nai Shalom (Children of Peace) had a sanctuary and commercial kitchen.  Although some members were attached to their former name, Ahavas Achim Lubavitz, many of the younger members felt that the name recalled the past, and Yiddish speaking, East Side origins that no longer reflected their current identity. To preserve the connection between its past, present and link to its future, the new congregation found ways to include its history by bringing the stained glass and memorial boards from its earlier forms into its new building.

The suburban synagogue retained its Orthodox traditions, defining itself as a Modern Orthodox congregation. In the 2000’s Rabbi Mordechai Friedfertig was appointed as rabbi. He left in 2007 to help found another congregation: Kehillat Ohr Tzion located at 879 Hopkins Rd in Williamsville, NY. In 2017, Congregation B’nai Shalom merged with Temple Beth Tzedek (then located at 621 Getzville Road), and the location of the former Shaarey Zedek. Temple Beth Tzedek was itself a merger of Temple Beth El and Temple Shaarey Zedek. Ground was broken at the B’nai Shalom site for the new expanded home of Temple Beth Tzedek that incorporated the B’nai Shalom building, added a new sanctuary, classrooms and offices, and that opened in 2018.

Locations

Gallery

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Memorial Boards

Congregation B'nai Shalom, Memorial Boards, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Memorial Boards

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Sanctuary Doors

Congregation B'nai Shalom, Sanctuary Doors, 1992, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Sanctuary Doors

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Founders Plaque

Congregation B'nai Shalom, Founders Plaque, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Congregation B’nai Shalom, Founders Plaque

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards 2, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards 1, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Ahavas Achim-Lubavitz Memorial Boards

Discover More

There is very little archival material relating to B’nai Shalom. A flier for the preparation of the North Forest site can be found in this collection at the University at Buffalo, University Archives.
Local Jewish Community Records, 1844-1976 (MS150.3)

Contribute to this page

We are seeking photographs, documents, film, mementos and written recollections recalling the development of B’nai Shalom over time for digitization. If you have personal materials you’d like to make available for this purpose, please contact us.

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