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.

Former Humboldt Orthodox, Entrance

Former Humboldt Orthodox, entrance, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Synagogues  /  Humboldt Orthodox Shul

The Humboldt Orthodox Shul formed in 1940 and was also known as the Glenwood Avenue Shul. Located in the Humboldt area of Buffalo, it was led by Rabbi Gedaliah Kaprow for much of its history.

Overview

Humboldt Orthodox Center was incorporated in August 1940, by former East Side residents who had moved to the Glenwood Avenue area. Some of the founding family names included Rabinowitz, Greenspan, Foigelman, Krietor, Dozortez, Yellen, Obstein, Lazar, Snitzer, Sommerstein and Sunshine, many of whom served as trustees. In June 1940, before official incorporation, Leo Rabinowitz purchased a former telephone company that was subsequently converted into a meeting space for the synagogue. Located on Glenwood Avenue, the congregation rapidly established itself under the rabbinic leadership of Rabbi Gedaliah (Gordon) Kaprow, a Sokelifker, who continued a devoted following from earlier service at Anshe Sokelifke. Tragically, Rabbi Kaprow died suddenly in 1951 at the age of 46. The congregation hired Rabbi Abraham Telberg in January 1952, but after he left following an offer from a congregation in Toronto, the congregation struggled to survive and closed in 1955. A core group continued as a “Friends of the Former Humboldt Orthodox Synagogue” organization that continued through the 1980s. Funds were distributed to other synagogues and the synagogue books were distributed to orthodox congregations. The building was sold to a church congregation: Walls Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.

Locations

Gallery

Former Humboldt Orthodox, Entrance

Former Humboldt Orthodox, entrance, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Former Humboldt Orthodox, Entrance

Former Humboldt Orthodox, Windows

Former Humboldt Orthodox, windows, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Former Humboldt Orthodox, Windows

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Board

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Board located in Congregation Beth Abraham, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Board

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Plaque

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Plaque to Rabbi Gedaliah Kaprow located in Congregation Beth Abraham, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Plaque

Walls Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 1955

Cornerstone, 1955, Walls Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, formerly the Humboldt Orthodox Shul, created by Izon Productions-Don Dannecker, 2017. The image is reproduced with permission of the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies.

Walls Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 1955

Documents

Humboldt Orthodox, First Minutes, Aug 19, 1940

Humboldt Orthodox, First Minutes, Aug 19, 1940, courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, First Minutes, Aug 19, 1940

Humboldt Orthodox, First Minutes, Aug 19, 1940, courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Members, 1950s

Humboldt Orthodox, members, 1950s, courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Members, 1950s

Humboldt Orthodox, members, 1950s, courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Inventory

Humboldt Orthodox, inventory compiled by Alan Ehrlich, 1960, render as courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Inventory

Humboldt Orthodox, inventory compiled by Alan Ehrlich, 1960, render as courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Ball, 1949

Humboldt Orthodox, Ball, 1949 courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Humboldt Orthodox, Ball, 1949

Humboldt Orthodox, Ball, 1949 courtesy of Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY.

Discover More

  • Selig Adler and Thomas Connolly, From Ararat to Suburbia: The History of the Jewish Community of Buffalo, Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1960.

  • Humboldt Orthodox Collection, Cofeld Judaic Museum, Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, NY

  • Beth Abraham Congregation, Humboldt Orthodox Memorial Board and plaque memorializing Gedaliah Kaprow, 1951.

Contribute to this page

We continue to seek any photographs, documents, mementos, film, video or written recollections relating to the Humboldt Orthodox Shul for digitization. If you have materials you’d like to make available for this purpose, please contact us.

Upload

Thank you

Our thanks to the Temple Beth Zion and their permission to digitize materials within the Cofeld Judaic Museum holdings from the Humboldt Orthodox Shul donated by the Yellen Family.