Temple Beth Zion formed in 1850 as an orthodox congregation after breaking away from Temple Beth El, Buffalo’s first synagogue. In 1864, the congregation embraced Reform Judaism and purchased its first building soon after. The congregation gathered in an iconic copper-domed Byzantine temple from 1886 until 1961, when a fire destroyed the building. The current Brutalist structure was completed for Temple Beth Zion by notable Jewish architect Max Abramovitz in 1967 and quickly became a local landmark. It is notable for its curved limestone exterior, thirty-foot high Commandment tablets, and forty-foot tall stained-glass window.

The congregation has a long history of service to the community, especially the immigrant community. In the 1890s, Temple Beth Zion created a settlement-style house to enable incoming Jewish immigrants to learn English and access recreational opportunities. This served as a precursor to the area’s modern Jewish Community Center. The congregation hosts a Jewish museum, concerts, and a community meeting space for the Hmong and Burmese refugee community. 

In December 2022, Buffalo was hit with a generational weather event known as a “bomb-cyclone,” which combined hurricane-level winds with a blizzard. Snowfall exceeded 56 inches over a five-day period. The event caused major water damage to Temple Beth Zion, including compromising the masonry.

An Intervention Fund grant of $50,000 awarded in 2024 helped Temple Beth Zion replace the concrete patio and three sets of steps, addressing sources of water infiltration and ensuring safe access to the building for congregants and visitors.