Ezra N. Rich

2020 - Present
Governor, Buffalo Jewish Federation
Board Governor working to advance Federation's vision for a robust, caring, and connected Jewish Buffalo. Guided by Jewish values, Federation convenes, inspires, collaborates, leads, and enriches the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and globally.

2019 - Present
Co-Chair, Israel & Overseas Committee
Leading a committee for Federation to strengthen our philanthropic impact in Israel, including iREP, and across the global… Show more

2020 - Present
Governor, Buffalo Jewish Federation
Board Governor working to advance Federation's vision for a robust, caring, and connected Jewish Buffalo. Guided by Jewish values, Federation convenes, inspires, collaborates, leads, and enriches the Jewish community locally, in Israel, and globally.

2019 - Present
Co-Chair, Israel & Overseas Committee
Leading a committee for Federation to strengthen our philanthropic impact in Israel, including iREP, and across the global Jewish community.

Oct. 2022
Group Leader, Buffalo Israel Experience II
From visiting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to connecting with friends in Federation's Western Galilee sister region, BIE is an immerse 9-day journey where over 50 participants will cover Israel's history and culture while exploring new ways of creating community and reimagining Jewish identity.

2021 - 2022
Member, Life & Legacy @ Buffalo Committee
Federation team member in the WNY Jewish community's execution of a Harold Grinspoon Foundation initiative promoting after-lifetime giving to build endowments to provide financial stability for Jewish schools, synagogues, social service organizations, and other entities.

2017 - Present
Contributing Writer, The Jewish Journal of Western New York
Regularly author articles for Federation's flagship monthly publication produced by Buffalo Spree Publishing.

Buffalo Jewish Federation is part of Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), which represents 146 Jewish Federations and over 300 Network communities, which raise and distribute more than $3 billion annually and through planned giving and endowment programs to support social welfare, social services, and educational needs. The Federation movement, collectively among the top 10 charities on the continent, protects and enhances the well-being of Jews worldwide through the values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), Tzedakah (charity and social justice), and Torah (Jewish learning). https://buffalojewishfederation.org/ Show less

2017 - Present
Member of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of PRSA.

2021 - Present
Programming Committee
Member of programming committee evaluating, organizing and executing events for the Buffalo Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the nation’s leading professional organization serving the communications community. https://prsabuffaloniagara.org/

2022 - Present
Co-Chair, Youth Education Committee
For the synagogue, I serve as Co-Chair of the Youth Education Committee, focused on formal and informal learning opportunities including the Community Religious School, youth groups, and children's programming for members ranging from toddlers to teenagers. I am also a Temple Beth Tzedek member of the Jewish Community Religious School of Buffalo, which includes children from across the community's three large synagogues spanning the… Show more

2022 - Present
Co-Chair, Youth Education Committee
For the synagogue, I serve as Co-Chair of the Youth Education Committee, focused on formal and informal learning opportunities including the Community Religious School, youth groups, and children's programming for members ranging from toddlers to teenagers. I am also a Temple Beth Tzedek member of the Jewish Community Religious School of Buffalo, which includes children from across the community's three large synagogues spanning the Conservative/Reform/Reconstructionist Movements. I have also been on the Communications Committee, the Board and Officers Nominating Committees, and the Executive Committee Nominating Committee.

2020 - 2023
Member, Board of Trustees
Served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Temple Beth Tzedek, a 500-family Conservative Jewish synagogue in suburban Buffalo. The congregation is the descendant of Western New York's first Jewish synagogue, Congregation Beth El, founded in 1847. I gladly did not serve for a second term as my wife became the Senior Rabbi of the synagogue in July 2023.

2018 - 2020
Member, Rabbinic Search Committee
Former member of the Rabbinic Search Committee helping our synagogue attract the next rabbi to lead our congregation.

Temple Beth Tzedek is Western New York's flagship synagogue affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), a network of 600 congregations across North America. Founded in 1913, the USCJ ensures that there are thriving centers of Jewish practice across North America, Israel, and beyond that celebrate both tradition and contemporary life. https://www.btzbuffalo.org/ Show less

Member of the board of the Hebrew Benevolent Loan Association of WNY, a non-profit organization that has been providing interest-free loans to help local Jews meet life's challenges for over 120 years. The HBLA is powered by the Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies and the Buffalo Jewish Federation. www.wnyhbla.org/

Served as an executive committee member of a community platform bringing together the people and events that make up Jewish life in Buffalo for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Nickel City Jews (now Young Adult Engagement) is powered by Buffalo Jewish Federation. https://buffalojewishfederation.org/young-adults/

Led public relations initiatives to raise awareness of synagogue programming ranging from classes to events in Highland Park, N.J. https://www.hpct-cae.org/

Helped promote Jewish National Fund (JNF) Future New York City initiatives, including their flagship Shabbat in the Park fundraiser at the Central Park Zoo. Founded in 1901, JNF is a nonprofit organization and United Nations NGO (non-governmental organization) that gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people. https://www.jnf.org/