This Sunday, June 1, the Tri-State Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) and the Temple Beth Tzedek (TBT) Brotherhood will honor Jonathan D. Epstein, President of both organizations, with the prestigious Ma’asim Tovim (“Good Deeds”) Award—the highest honor a region can bestow.

A dedicated member of TBT since moving to Buffalo with his wife, Judy, in 2004, Jonathan has led the Brotherhood for most of the past 16 years. With the support of committed members and synagogue leadership, he has twice revitalized the group, reinforcing its role in synagogue and community life.

Jonathan’s involvement with FJMC began in 2008, culminating in his election as President of the Tri-State Region in 2021, following the transition of Western New York clubs from the former Lake Ontario Region (now Anshe Tzafon) to Tri-State, just prior to the pandemic. In addition to his regional leadership, he is Vice Chair of FJMC’s Young Men’s/Young Families Initiative and serves on several national committees, including the HaD’var Newsletter, Marketing, Strategic Task Force, and the 2025 Nominating Committee.

Professionally, Jonathan is a nationally recognized and award-winning Financial Reporter at The Buffalo News, where he covers real estate and development as part of the Business Next desk. His work documents Buffalo’s economic revitalization and previously spanned banking and insurance sectors. Before joining The News in 2004, he reported for The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware, and began his journalism career at The American Banker in New York.

A native of Schenectady, N.Y., Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University.

Beyond his professional and organizational roles, Jonathan is deeply involved in Jewish Buffalo and was the force behind the collaboration between Kadimah Academy and The Park School. He is a past recipient of the Buffalo Jewish Federation’s Ann & Meyer Riwchun Emerging Leadership Award and is the immediate past president of Kadimah Academy.

Jonathan and Judy, both University of Rochester alumni, are proud parents of Hailey, a current UR student and Kadimah alumna, and Gabe, a student in the Kadimah Scholars program at Park.