Senate Resolution No. 3162

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of Temple Beth
Zion in Buffalo, New York

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and

WHEREAS, It is the tradition of New York State and our nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
50th Anniversary of Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New York; and

WHEREAS, For five decades, Temple Beth Zion has strived to enrich
Jewish lives, promote Jewish values, strengthen Jewish bonds and foster
lifelong learning; the congregation celebrates the rich diversity of its
Jewish community, preserves sacred traditions while encouraging
innovation, and affirms its Judaism through both words and deeds; and

WHEREAS, From its first meeting at the home of Hirsch Sinzheimer on
Oak Street in Buffalo in 1850, Temple Beth Zion has grown into one of
the oldest and largest Reform congregations in Western New York;
originally established as an Orthodox congregation, it was reorganized
as a Reform congregation in 1863; and

WHEREAS, In 1864, Temple Beth Zion purchased its first building, a
Methodist Episcopal Church on Niagara Street; after extensive
redecorating, the synagogue was officially dedicated the following year;
and

WHEREAS, Under the leadership of its second Rabbi, Samson Falk, the
congregation joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1873;
almost 20 years later, then Rabbi Israel Aaron, purchased land at 599
Delaware Avenue; the new temple was spectacular and was distinguishable
from any other church in the area; and

WHEREAS, Under the helm of the next Rabbi, Louis J. Kopald, Temple
Beth Zion expanded its facilities, and organized its first men's club
and Young People's Society; and

WHEREAS, From 1926-1958, the congregation was led by Rabbi Joseph L.
Fink, a gifted and outstanding spokesman who was known to thousands of
people through his Humanitarian Hour radio program; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, Martin L. Goldberg became the Senior Rabbi of
Temple Beth Zion; in that year, the congregation dedicated a second
facility in suburban Amherst, primarily to meet the growing classroom
needs of its members and their children; and

WHEREAS, After a fire destroyed the Delaware Avenue temple, a new
building at 805 Delaware was dedicated in April of 1967; this

magnificent building has become one of Buffalo's prominent landmarks;
and

WHEREAS, Throughout Rabbi Goldberg's tenure, Temple Beth Zion served
approximately 1,700 households and the congregation established the
Rabbi Martin L. Goldberg Endowment Fund; and

WHEREAS, After taking over in 1994, Rabbi Ronne Friedman began a
period of rebirth for Temple Beth Zion; he was instrumental in growing
membership, improving finances, and adding new programs; and

WHEREAS, To better serve younger families who primarily reside in
the northern suburbs, the Sweet Home Road building was rededicated in
November of 1998 as the Aaron and Bertha Broder Center for Jewish
Education; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Rabbi Harry Rosenfeld took over the helm of Temple
Beth Zion; under his leadership, the congregation established its
multi-faith social action program, an active Caring Community, and the
Rabbi Joseph and Janice Fink Legacy Society; and

WHEREAS, Temple Beth Zion was proudly chosen as one of 13 synagogues
featured in films exploring the post-World War II role of synagogues in
the United States created for the new National Museum of American Jewish
History in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, Today, under the luminous direction of Rabbi Gary Pokras,
Temple Beth Zion has begun to grow again and continues to be a source of
great strength and pride in the Buffalo Jewish Community; and

WHEREAS, Temple Beth Zion stands on the threshold of tomorrow,
prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining
that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Temple Beth Zion in Buffalo, New
York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Temple Beth Zion.