Buffalo/Amherst/Williamsville, NY

The Greater Buffalo Orthodox community, which includes neighborhoods in North Buffalo, Amherst, and Williamsville, is a warm and accepting community with several shuls, a high-quality grade school (Ohr Temimim), and three kosher dining options.

The Buffalo metro area features many employment and recreational opportunities and is easily drivable—nothing is more than 20 minutes away, and there is no real traffic. Amherst was named New York State’s “Best Place to Live” by Money Magazine in 2018.

Young Israel of Greater Buffalo is an extremely friendly and welcoming shul with consistent daily minyanim and shiurim, including Jews from a variety of backgrounds and a dynamic new rav, Rabbi Avi Okin. Young Israel's nusach is Ashkenaz, but the kehillah includes a growing number of Chabad families as well. The Young Israel neighborhood is very safe and quiet, and is surrounded by a kosher eruv that also encompasses three other shuls. Houses near the shul (and other area shuls) can be purchased for around $300,000.

Located 30 minutes from Niagara Falls and right off the I-90 interstate, Young Israel receives an enormous number of visitors, particularly in the summer. Many Jewish travelers also come to Buffalo to visit the nearby kever of Rabbi Eliyahu Yosef Rabinowitz, the Linitz-Slavita Rebbe of Buffalo--the first Admor to be buried in the US.

Other shuls in the Buffalo area include Kehillat Ohr Tzion (Nusach Ashkenaz), Knesset Center (Chabad), Saranac Shul/Achei Tmimim (OU member, Nusach Sfard), Jewish Discovery Center (Chabad), and Center for Jewish Life (Chabad). There’s also a Chabad House on the University at Buffalo campus.