# Temple Beth Tzedek

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Conservative synagogue in New York (state)

Temple Beth Tzedek Hebrew: קהלה קדשה בית צדק The synagogue in 2022 Religion Affiliation Conservative Judaism Region Buffalo, New York Rite Nusach Ashkenaz Ecclesiastical or organisational status Synagogue Leadership Rabbi Sara Rich Status Active Location Location Getzville, Western New York, New York State New York Country United States Location of the synagogue in New York Coordinates 43°0′3″N 78°45′37″W / 43.00083°N 78.76028°W / 43.00083; -78.76028 Architecture Established 2008 (as a congregation) Completed 2018 Website btzbuffalo.org

Not to be confused with [Beth Tzedec Congregation](/source/Beth_Tzedec_Congregation).

**Temple Beth Tzedek** ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): קהלה קדשה בית צדק, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Hebrew): *mqḏš ḇyṯ ṣḏq*) is a [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Judaism) [Jewish](/source/Judaism) congregation and [synagogue](/source/Synagogue), located in [Getzville](/source/Williamsville%2C_New_York), in [Western New York](/source/Western_New_York), in the state of [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), in the United States. The synagogue is the second-largest one in Buffalo and the region's flagship for the [United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism](/source/United_Synagogue_of_Conservative_Judaism), which represents 600 congregations across North America.

## History

The congregation was formed in 2008 through the merger of two congregations, named Temple Beth El, Buffalo's oldest synagogue per its founding in 1847, and Temple Shaarey Zedek.[1] Rabbi Sara Rich was appointed the rabbi of the congregation in 2023.[2] Cantor Mark Spindler has served as cantor since 1987 and Cantorial Intern Zahava Fried has been with the congregation since 2021.

The new building for the synagogue was completed in 2018 by [Finegold Alexander Architects](/source/Finegold_Alexander_Architects) and CannonDesign.[3][4] The building had a more naturalistic look with glass emitting sunlight every day in the main sanctuary with the heavy use of [timber](/source/Lumber) and other wood materials to make it more nature-like and evoke the wooden synagogues of pre-World War II Eastern Europe.[5] The facilities architectural design earned it a Brick by Brick Award for Excellence in Construction from *Buffalo Business First* in 2019.[6]

In February 2024, Temple Beth Tzedek was one of the first places of worship in the world to receive [universal design](/source/Universal_design) certification for their improvement of accessibility for the disabled. The project was led by Harvey Sanders, the chairman of the synagogue's Project Beit Tfilah Committee and Ed Steinfeld, a [SUNY](/source/State_University_of_New_York) Distinguished Professor and the founder of the [University at Buffalo](/source/University_at_Buffalo)'s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access.[7]

## See also

- [Judaism portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Judaism)
- [New York (state) portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:New_York_(state))

- [History of the Jews in New York](/source/History_of_the_Jews_in_New_York)

- [List of synagogues in New York (state)](/source/List_of_synagogues_in_the_United_States#Elsewhere_in_New_York_(state))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Temple Beth Tzedek – Jewish Buffalo History Center"](https://jewishbuffalohistory.org/synagogues/temple-beth-tzedek/). *jewishbuffalohistory.org*. January 8, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Wallace, Amy (July 19, 2023). ["Temple Beth Tzedek Welcomes First Female Rabbi"](https://www.amherstbee.com/articles/temple-beth-tzedek-welcomes-first-female-rabbi/). *[The Amherst Bee](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Amherst_Bee&action=edit&redlink=1)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1095-9432](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1095-9432). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [8882862](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/8882862). Retrieved February 6, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Finegold Alexander Architects Completes "Sanctuary in the Woods" for Temple Beth Tzedek"](https://www.usglassmag.com/finegold-alexander-architects-completes-sanctuary-in-the-woods-for-temple-beth-tzedek/). *USGlass Magazine & USGNN News*. April 6, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Finegold Alexander Architects completes Temple Beth Tzedek; New "Sanctuary in the Woods" unites two Congregations"](https://nyrej.com/print/42902). *nyrej.com*. June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Strauss, Alix (May 31, 2020). ["Bringing the Outside Inside Your Home"](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/garden/nature-inside-home-biophilia.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0362-4331](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved June 13, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Fink, James (June 11, 2019). ["2019 Brick by Brick winners announced"](https://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2019/06/11/brick-by-brick-winners-announced.html). *[American City Business Journals](/source/American_City_Business_Journals)*. Retrieved March 1, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sommer, Mark (February 12, 2024). ["Jewish temple in Amherst certified for universal design"](https://buffalonews.com/news/local/jewish-temple-in-amherst-certified-for-universal-design/article_fe58fc72-c8da-11ee-991f-2b4353530747.html). *[The Buffalo News](/source/The_Buffalo_News)*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0745-2691](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0745-2691). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [8882862](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/8882862). Retrieved March 25, 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Temple Beth Tzedek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Beth_Tzedek) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Beth_Tzedek?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.