Making a Difference
Jonathan Epstein is a newspaper reporter, family guy, and communal leader, and this summer, he’ll be celebrating a milestone in his life.
A Financial Reporter at The Buffalo News, Jonathan is part of the four-reporter business desk, covering real estate and development amidst the ongoing resurgence of Buffalo. Prior to joining the News in 2004, Jonathan spent six and a half years covering banking, credit cards and insurance for The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware, and previously spent three years at American Banker newspaper in Washington, D.C. A native of Schenectady, N.Y., he earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from University of Rochester and his master’s in print journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He is married to fellow Rochester alum and native Buffalonian Judith (Gendler), and is the proud father of two children, Hailey and Gabriel.
Jonathan is a proud Jewish leader locally and regionally. He is a past recipient of the coveted Ann & Meyer Riwchun Emerging Leadership Award, immediate past-president of Kadimah Academy, board secretary of Temple Beth Tzedek and president of the TBT Men’s Club. Jonathan served as president of Kadimah for seven years, working to strengthen the school and ultimately spearheading its transition into the Kadimah Scholars at the Park School of Buffalo, an innovative meld of Jewish day school education with an independent non-religious private school that is unique in North America.
Jonathan was also recently elected president of the Tri-State Region of the international Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC), which spans Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Western New York. “My appointment builds off my work with Kadimah and I’m proud and excited about this new role,” he remarked, referring to his involvement with Jewish Buffalo. “I believe it also recognizes that our community can be an equal partner and a leader with larger cities, as well as provides an opportunity to raise the profile of Buffalo and Temple Beth Tzedek.”
“And it’s a new excitement for me,” he added. “I’ve very much enjoyed being a part of Men’s Club and FJMC for the past decade plus. I’ve gone to several conventions and leadership programs, met guys from across North America, made new friends, and come away energized every time. I want to bring that feeling of camaraderie here to Buffalo, in a stronger way than it’s been before, because I believe it’s meaningful.”
Jonathan is also celebrating a big birthday next month. “My 50th is certainly a milestone year, and I’m well-aware of it (my kids make sure of that!). I certainly want to celebrate it with good health and happiness, but I can’t say I’m planning to do something new and different. I’m proud of what I’ve done, with my family and my community. I just want to keep building on that and making a difference.”
