For120years,theBuffaloJewishFederationhasbeenthevoice andthebackboneofJewishBuffalo. Ourmissionistoraisecriticalfundsthat support communal infrastructure and Jewish educational and engagement opportunities,overseecommunalsecurity,addressmodernantisemitism,andbolster ourplaceinacivilandsharedsocietyinBuffalo.Hometoapproximately10,000 Jews,themajorityofJewishchildrenareenrolledasstudentsinGreaterBuffalo’s extraordinarypublicschoolsystemsthroughoutErieandNiagaraCounties.
ThefirstcustomizedkitdesignedtobringtherichtapestryofJewish holidays, customs, and traditions into classrooms. The Hanukkah Toolkit provides an age-appropriate learning experience for the holidayofHanukkahforstudentsPreK-3rdGrade.Thekitincludes an explanation of the holiday, a menorah with candles for the classroomtokeep,amenorahcraftwithallmaterials,adreidelgame withinstructionsandenoughdreidelsandchocolategelt(coins)for eachchildtobringhome,aswellasabingogameand3Hanukkah themedbooksfortheclassroom.
Parentsandgrandparents areencouragedtosignup forafreetoolkittoshare with their child or grandchild’sclassroom. A complete lesson plan accompanies the kit for classroomteacherstouse aswell.
GenerouslyfundedbytheEugeneFintonScholarsFundandthe Mary Deane and Robert Freeland Foundation, this contest awardsprizesto8thgradestudentsthroughoutWesternNew Yorkinwritingandartcategories. The2025Arts&WritingthemeisAnneFrankBeyondtheDiary. Aclassroomlessonandsupportingmaterialswillbeprovidedto teacherstoassiststudentsinsubmittingoriginalartorwriting. AceremonyonJune9,2025willrecognizetheawardwinners.
StudenttoStudentisanationalprogramthatusespeer-to-peer dialog to foster understanding, empathy, and connection by educatingstudentsaboutJudaismandJewishculture. Ourlocal chapteroftrainedteenspresentabouttheirlivesasJewishteens, facilitate discussions that dismantle antisemitism, and put a humanfacetoJudaism.
In 2024, our presenters visited 15 classrooms in Erie2Boces, Geneseo, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Perry, Mount St. Mary’s, Canisius High School, University at Buffalo, and Renaissance AddictionServices,reachingover500studentsthroughoutWNY.
HolocaustsurvivorsandDescendantsofsurvivors,(childrenand grandchildren)teachthelessonsoftheHolocaustbysharingtheir familystorieseitherinpersonorvirtually.Usingapersonalstory helps students connect to the Holocaust, as it humanizes the historicalevents,allowingstudentstounderstandthepersonal dimensionsofsuffering,survival,andresilience.Thesestoriescan evokeempathy,andhelpstudentsseetherelevanceofhistoryin theirownlives.
InMay2024,amuralofTiborBaranski,ClaraAmbrus,andSister Margit Slachta was unveiled on the eastern wall of the Research StudiesCenteratRoswellParkComprehensiveCancerCenter. This muralisanexcellentresourcetoteachstudentsabouttheHolocaust throughthelensofbravery,survivalandresilience.
In-servicetrainingsforteachersandadministratorsonHolocaust educationandJewishlifecanbetailoredtomeettheneedsof yourschool.Trainingsincluderesourcedissemination,reviewing the Jewish calendar and tools for identifying and addressing antisemitisminschool.Thisisprovidedatnocosttotheschoolor district. Formoreinformationonprofessionaldevelopment
