Build the next chapter of Jewish life in Buffalo
A place where everyone feels at home — where children learn, parents pass down heritage, seniors connect, and the sacred and the everyday come together in warmth and belonging.
The renovation campaign positions the Jewish Discovery Center as a renewed home for the Buffalo Jewish community, built on education, hospitality, and community support. The renewed building includes a multipurpose synagogue and ballroom, an adult education center, children's classrooms, a modern commercial kitchen, and a welcoming library.
The room set for davening, facing the Aron Kodesh — a sanctuary that seats the whole community.
The same room turned over for a wedding, bar mitzvah, or community dinner.
The first room every guest walks into — fireplace, seating, and the donor wall.
Daylight, buffet stations, and room to linger long after davening ends.
Adult classes, children's programs, tutorials, and media outreach connecting people to timeless Jewish wisdom.
Hospitality, home-cooked meals, Taste of Shabbat gift bags, and Smile on Seniors.
Shabbat and holiday celebrations, services, outreach, and traditions brought directly into Jewish homes.
Major opportunities range from Building Naming at $1,500,000 to mezuzahs at $1,200 each, with flexible pledge options over time.
| Opportunity | Amount |
|---|---|
| Building Naming | $1,500,000 |
| Shul / Ballroom | $500,000 |
| Event Lobby / Lounge | $360,000 |
| Adult Education Center & Kiddush Room | $250,000 |
| Meat / Parve Kitchen | $250,000 |
| Hospitality Suite | $150,000 |
| Dairy Kitchen | $130,000 |
| Library & Conference Room | $100,000 |
| Rabbi's Suite | $100,000 |
| Jewish Enrichment Entrance & Lobby | $100,000 |
| Children's Play Room | $90,000 |
| Jewish Enrichment Dining Hall | $75,000 |
| Opportunity | Amount |
|---|---|
| Classrooms (×3) | $50,000 each |
| Shul / Ballroom Furniture | $50,000 |
| Bimah | $30,000 |
| Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) | $18,000 |
| Coffee Station | $18,000 |
| Amud (Podium) | $10,000 |
| Mezuzahs (×30) | $1,200 each |
| Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) | Reserved |
Recognition levels from Friend to Visionary, plus flexible pledge options.
All contributions of $1,800 or more are acknowledged on a distinctive handcrafted donor wall in the lobby — the wall shown in the rendering above. Dedications may be made in one payment or over time; contact us to set up a timeline that works for you. Every donor is a partner, and gifts of every size are needed and appreciated.
When a Jew makes a decision to give a large amount of tzedakah, it is immediately decreed in heaven that he will have parnasa in large amounts, and that he will be able to fulfil his good decision.
Since 1972, Rabbi Heschel and Mrs. Lea Greenberg have dedicated their lives to nurturing Jewish life and tradition in Buffalo — inspiring decades of transformative outreach, learning, and community building.
Discuss the project, naming opportunities, and how you can be a partner in building.