Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY
Temple Beth Zion is a 175-year-old Reform Jewish congregation in Buffalo, NY serving 600+ member households with worship, religious education, cultural programming, and pastoral care from two historic facilities under a senior rabbi and cantor leadership team.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1850
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY does
Temple Beth Zion (TBZ) is a 175-year-old Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1850 in Buffalo, New York, currently serving more than 600 member households across Western New York. It operates from two facilities: the historic 1,000-seat Sanctuary at 805 Delaware Avenue (designed by architect Max Abramovitz, dedicated April 1967, featuring Ben Shahn stained glass windows and a 48-rank Casavant Freres organ, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017) and the Aaron and Bertha Broder Center for Jewish Education at 700 Sweet Home Road (renovated and rededicated November 1998). The organization is self-described as Western New York's largest Reform Jewish congregation and one of the oldest and largest in the nation.
TBZ delivers a comprehensive suite of religious, educational, and community programs including weekly Shabbat worship services (with livestream and Zoom remote access), High Holy Days and festival observances, the TBZ Religious School (pre-K through 12th grade), B'nai Mitzvah preparation, adult education classes, and the Blum Jewish Education Project. Cultural programming centers on the Stained Glass Concert Series featuring Buffalo Philharmonic musicians and the Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum. Community engagement is structured through Sisterhood (affiliated with Women of Reform Judaism), Brotherhood, TBaZY youth groups, and pastoral care services.
Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (with a premium "fair share" defined as 1.5% of gross household income), religious school tuition, the annual Kol Nidre campaign, designated donation funds, facility rentals for lifecycle events, retail at the Sisterhood Judaica Shop, and planned giving through the Fink Legacy Society and Grinspoon Life & Legacy program. The congregation operates on ShulCloud third-party synagogue management software for member portal, donations, event registration, and directory access, alongside livestreaming and Zoom integration. Leadership includes Senior Rabbi Brent Gutmann (since 2022) and Cantor Susan Lewis-Friedman (since March 2024), supported by a Board of Trustees, 14 employees, and affiliations with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Buffalo Jewish Federation.
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY
- Legal name
- Temple Beth Zion
- Website
- https://tbz.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1850
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Temple Beth Zion is a 175-year-old Reform Jewish congregation in Buffalo, NY serving 600+ member households with worship, religious education, cultural programming, and pastoral care from two historic facilities under a senior rabbi and cantor leadership team.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Congregation Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Museums (71211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)
Keywords
Where Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues with premium levels above the sustaining level. 'Fair share' defined as 1.5% of gross household income. Life membership purchases available.
- Religious School Tuition: Tuition for religious school education programs including Hebrew instruction, B'nai Mitzvah preparation, and Jewish studies.
- Donations and Charitable Gifts: Direct donations to various designated funds including Chai Fund, Kol Nidre campaign, discretionary funds, endowments, and specific programmatic funds. Accepts gifts of cash, securities, life insurance, and bequests.
- Kol Nidre Campaign: Annual fund drive during High Holy Days ensuring membership availability regardless of circumstances and funding temple programs.
- Legacy Society and Endowments: Rabbi Joseph and Janice Fink Legacy Society for planned giving. Endowment fund gifts including Rabbi Goldberg Endowment Fund. Life insurance beneficiary designations and trust arrangements.
- Capital Support and Facility Rentals: Rental of facilities (auditoriums, meeting rooms, chapel) for B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, receptions, and events. Capital gift opportunities for facility enhancements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Membership Dues |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Legacy Society Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Religious School Tuition |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Life Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Temple Beth Zion is a Reform Jewish congregation that delivers worship services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, Festivals), religious education for children and adults, lifecycle event support (B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, funerals), pastoral care, and community programming. It operates from two Buffalo facilities including a 1,000-seat historic sanctuary and the Broder Center for Jewish Education, serving member households across Western New York.
Product overview
Temple Beth Zion offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services as Buffalo's largest Reform Jewish congregation. The core offerings include religious worship services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, festivals) with livestream capabilities, and educational programs (TBZ Religious School, B'nai Mitzvah preparation, Adult Education, Blum Jewish Education Project). Cultural programming includes the Stained Glass Concert Series featuring Buffalo Philharmonic musicians, Cultural Arts offerings, and the Cofeld Judaic Museum. Community engagement is facilitated through Sisterhood and Brotherhood organizations, TBaZY youth groups, and Pastoral Care services. The congregation also offers robust giving programs including designated donation funds, the Fink Legacy Society, and Grinspoon Life & Legacy planned giving initiatives. Technology-enabled services include ShulCloud-based membership management and Wowza-powered livestreaming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Blum Jewish Education Project: Jewish education project and initiative operated by Temple Beth Zion
- Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum
- Stained Glass Concert Series
- ShulCloud Member Portal
- Grinspoon Life & Legacy Program
- Rabbi Joseph and Janice Fink Legacy Society
Products and services
- Worship Services Weekly Shabbat services (Kabbalat Shabbat, Erev Shabbat, Classical Service), High Holy Days, festivals, and Torah Study, with livestream options for members and remote participants.
Quantifiable outcome
- Congregation serves 600+ households
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)coreTBZ is affiliated with URJ, the central body of the Reform Jewish movement in North America, connecting congregations with resources, leadership development, and Reform Jewish identity.
- Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)coreTBZ Sisterhood is affiliated with WRJ which represents 75,000 women in 500 Sisterhoods throughout the US, Canada, and 13 other countries.
- Jewish Federation of Greater BuffalocoreAffiliated with Buffalo Jewish Federation, connecting TBZ to the broader Western New York Jewish community and collaborative initiatives.
- PJ LibraryminorAffiliated with PJ Library, providing Jewish children's books and resources to families.
- Harold Grinspoon FoundationcorePartner in Grinspoon Life & Legacy program promoting legacy giving and creating a culture of philanthropy. Foundation provides support and resources for endowment development.
- Buffalo Jewish FederationcorePartner in Grinspoon Life & Legacy program alongside Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies to promote legacy giving.
- Foundation for Jewish PhilanthropiescorePartner in Grinspoon Life & Legacy program supporting endowment development and charitable giving initiatives.
- Jewish Family Service of Western New YorkcoreJFS operates out of TBZ's Delaware Avenue facility providing non-sectarian health and social services to Western New York since 1862.
- Family Promise of WNYminorTBZ is a support congregation for Family Promise, an effective community response to homelessness that brings together religious community resources.
- Buffalo Jewish CommunitycoreConnected to broader Jewish community through organizations including Jewish Community Center (JCC), Holocaust Memorial Center, and Weinberg Campus.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Har Zion Temple (Penn Valley, PA): Historic large Reform congregation in the Philadelphia suburbs, comparable in scale, longevity, and breadth of educational and lifecycle programming.
- Central Synagogue (Manhattan): Large, prominent Manhattan Reform congregation offering a comparable breadth of worship, education, cultural programming, and community outreach. Comparable in scale, programming depth, and Reform identity.
- Congregation Rodef Shalom (Pittsburgh, PA): Historic large Reform congregation with comparable longevity, programming for all ages, and strong social-action orientation, anchoring its regional Jewish community.
- Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco): Historic large Reform congregation on the West Coast with significant architecture, cultural programming, and educational offerings. Closely comparable to TBZ as a flagship, architecturally distinguished Reform congregation serving a regional community.
- Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn, NY): Large historic Reform congregation with strong educational programming and cultural offerings, including an active cultural arts calendar analogous to TBZ's Stained Glass Concert Series.
- Congregation Emanu-El (New York City): One of the largest and most historic Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, with a comparable scale, programmatic depth, and landmark architectural status. Both congregations are flagship Reform communities with strong cultural and educational programming.
- Temple Jeremiah (Northfield, IL): Large suburban Reform congregation where Cantor Susan Lewis-Friedman previously served. Comparable in congregational size, Reform orientation, and educational programming focus.
- Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (New York City): Historic Reform congregation affiliated with Rabbi Gutmann's Stephen Wise Free Synagogue Amplify Israel Rabbinic Fellowship. Comparable Reform identity, civic engagement, and programming breadth.
- Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (New York City): Large progressive-egalitarian congregation with extensive programming for families, adults, and social action. Comparable as a flagship congregation emphasizing inclusivity and programming depth.
Broad incumbents
- Park Avenue Synagogue (New York City): Large, prominent synagogue with extensive programming and a substantial physical footprint. While Conservative rather than Reform, it is comparable in institutional scale, programming breadth, and the operational complexity of running a flagship congregation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY social profiles
Digital presenceTemple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY
What does Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY do?
Temple Beth Zion is a Reform Jewish congregation that delivers worship services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, Festivals), religious education for children and adults, lifecycle event support (B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, funerals), pastoral care, and community programming. It operates from two Buffalo facilities including a 1,000-seat historic sanctuary and the Broder Center for Jewish Education, serving member households across Western New York.
Is Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY a public or private company?
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY founded?
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY was founded in 1850. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY based?
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are religious School Tuition, donations and Charitable Gifts, kol Nidre Campaign, legacy Society and Endowments and capital Support and Facility Rentals.
Who are Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Har Zion Temple (Penn Valley, PA), Central Synagogue (Manhattan), Congregation Rodef Shalom (Pittsburgh, PA), Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco), Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn, NY), Congregation Emanu-El (New York City), Temple Jeremiah (Northfield, IL), Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (New York City) and Congregation B'nai Jeshurun (New York City). Park Avenue Synagogue (New York City) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY have an API?
No public API is recorded for Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY.
What industry is Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY in?
Temple Beth Zion - Buffalo, NY's product category is Religious Congregation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAJAA, Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAL, Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites). Its NAICS code is 8131.