Temple Beth Zion is a Reform

Reform Judaism (North America)

Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...

 synagogue

Synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...

 located at 805 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...

. Founded in 1850, Temple Beth Zion is the largest Jewish congregation in Western New York and one of the oldest and largest reform

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...

 congregations in the nation. The circular building features 10 scallop walls, each a symbol of the 10 commandments. The temple contains a Casavant Frères

Casavant Frères

Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...

 48-rank, 4000-pipe organ.

Previous buildings

Before building their current home, the congregation worshiped in two previous buildings. The first building was the old Niagara Street Methodist Church. The church was renovated, rededicated, and used as the home of Temple Beth Zion until 1886. The second building was a Byzantine

Byzantine

Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...

-styled, copper-domed temple built in 1890, and located at 599 Delaware Ave. That building was destroyed in a fire in 1961.