Buffalo Rabbi Mendy Labkowski
A lifelong Buffalonian officiating Jewish weddings, bris ceremonies, bar & bat mitzvahs and funerals across Buffalo and Western New York — and serving as chaplain to the Buffalo Police Department, Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center.
- Lifelong BuffalonianRaised in Amherst, NY
- Ordained RabbiTomchei Tmimim Lubavitch, 2018
- Dayan ordinationQualified rabbinic judge
- Hospital ChaplainKaleida Health & ECMC
- Police ChaplainBuffalo Police Department
Need a rabbi’s perspective for your story?
When a story touches Jewish life, faith or the Jewish community in Buffalo, Rabbi Mendy Labkowski is available for interviews, on-camera comment and expert background — and he works to your deadline.
A lifelong Buffalonian, ordained rabbi and rabbinic judge, and chaplain to the Buffalo Police Department, Kaleida Health and ECMC, he speaks with authority, clarity and care, and is a familiar voice on Western New York television, radio and in print.
Available for comment on
- Jewish holidays, customs & traditions
- Jewish life & community in Buffalo and WNY
- Antisemitism, hate incidents & community safety
- Israel and the local community’s response
- Faith, grief & crisis response from a chaplain’s view
- Jewish law, ethics & religious questions in the news
A rabbi for life’s biggest moments
From the chuppah to a baby’s bris, from a first aliyah to saying goodbye — Rabbi Labkowski guides Buffalo families through every Jewish milestone with warmth, depth and care.
Bris & Baby Naming
Brit milah on the eighth day, Hebrew baby naming for girls, and Pidyon HaBen for a firstborn son.
Bris in Buffalo →Bar & Bat Mitzvah
Personal preparation, a meaningful ceremony and a celebration your child will remember — at any age.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah →Jewish Weddings
A traditional chuppah ceremony, ketubah and every detail handled — personal, joyful and done right.
Wedding officiant →Funerals & Mourning
Compassionate guidance from the first phone call through the funeral, shiva, unveiling and yahrzeit.
Jewish funerals →
There when it matters most
Rabbi Labkowski serves as a Chaplain with the Buffalo Police Department, offering spiritual care, crisis response and grief support to officers, civilian personnel, their families and members of the public affected by tragedy.
He also serves as a chaplain at Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), sitting with patients and families, supporting healthcare workers, and providing end-of-life care when it is needed most.
- Hospital, rehab and nursing-home visits
- Crisis response and trauma support
- Grief support for families and first responders
Leading in the public square
When Buffalo’s Jewish community needed to come together, Rabbi Labkowski stood up. He organized “Buffalo Stands With Israel” at Niagara Square — and opened, spoke at and emceed the event — as hundreds of people from all backgrounds gathered in front of a City Hall lit in blue and white.
From the High Holiday Experience at Canalside to public menorah lightings, he brings Jewish life into the heart of the city — and speaks up clearly on local television, radio and in print when it counts.
A trusted partner to civic leaders
Rabbi Labkowski works closely with elected officials across the region. Every year since 2022 he has led the effort to mark Education & Sharing Day — a national day honoring the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s vision of education that builds character as well as knowledge — with official proclamations across Western New York.
- City of Buffalo — Mayors Byron Brown, Chris Scanlon and Sean Ryan, and Council President Darius Pridgen
- Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz
- Governor Kathy Hochul — New York State “Days of Education”
- The Towns of Amherst, Cheektowaga and Tonawanda, and the City of Niagara Falls
As seen and heard on
- WGRZ Channel 2
- WKBW 7 News
- WIVB News 4
- WBEN 930 AM
- The Forward
- JNS
Invite Rabbi Labkowski to speak
An engaging, thoughtful speaker for audiences of every background — from civic ceremonies and conferences to classrooms, workplaces and first-responder gatherings.
Keynotes & Lectures
Talks on Jewish wisdom, resilience, leadership and meaning, tailored to your audience and occasion.
Topics →Invocations & Blessings
A dignified opening prayer or blessing for civic ceremonies, dedications, graduations and public events.
Book an invocation →First Responders & Healthcare
Grief, trauma and spiritual care, drawn from his chaplaincy with the Buffalo Police, Kaleida Health and ECMC.
Learn more →Schools & Workplaces
Clear, welcoming introductions to Judaism, the Jewish holidays and the Jewish community of Buffalo.
Invite the Rabbi →
Born in Buffalo. Devoted to Buffalo.
Rabbi Mendy Labkowski grew up right next door in Amherst, studied Torah in Canada and the United States, served the Jewish community of Caracas, Venezuela, and came home to build Jewish life in the city he loves.
Today he is the Founder and Executive Director of the Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Buffalo and Director of Chabad Young Professionals Buffalo — and the rabbi many Buffalo families call first.
“I consider it my privilege and duty to serve the Jewish community in Buffalo.”— Rabbi Mendy Labkowski
Serving Buffalo & Western New York
Weddings, brisses, bar and bat mitzvahs, funerals and hospital visits — wherever you are in the region.
- Buffalo
- Amherst
- Williamsville
- Getzville
- Clarence
- Tonawanda
- Kenmore
- Grand Island
- Cheektowaga
- Lancaster
- West Seneca
- Orchard Park
- Hamburg
- East Aurora
- Niagara Falls
- Lockport
- All of Western New York
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a synagogue member to work with Rabbi Labkowski?
No. Rabbi Labkowski serves every Jewish person and family in Buffalo, whatever your background, affiliation or level of observance. Many of the couples and families he works with have no synagogue membership at all.
Which areas does the Buffalo Rabbi serve?
Rabbi Labkowski officiates and visits throughout Buffalo and Western New York, including Amherst, Williamsville, Getzville, Clarence, Tonawanda, Kenmore, Grand Island, Cheektowaga, Orchard Park, Hamburg, East Aurora, Niagara Falls, Lockport and the surrounding towns.
How far ahead should we reach out?
For a wedding, reach out before you book a venue so the date can be checked against the Jewish calendar. For a bris, call as soon as your son is born (or before the due date). For a funeral or a hospital visit, call right away — any time.
Can Rabbi Labkowski visit a loved one in the hospital?
Yes. Rabbi Labkowski serves as a chaplain at Kaleida Health and Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), and visits patients and families across Buffalo hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes. Call or text 716-545-6806.
What kind of rabbi is Rabbi Labkowski?
Rabbi Labkowski is an Orthodox, Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi with rabbinical ordination (semicha) and judicial ordination (dayanut). His approach is traditional and warm: Jewish life done authentically, with every person made to feel welcome.
Is Rabbi Labkowski available for media interviews and comment?
Yes. Journalists, producers and editors looking for a rabbi in Buffalo for comment, an interview or background on a story can call or text 716-545-6806 or email rabbi@buffalorabbi.com. See the media page for topics and a press kit.
Does Rabbi Labkowski accept speaking engagements?
Yes. He speaks to schools, civic groups, businesses, first responders and healthcare teams, and offers invocations and blessings at public events. See speaking engagements.
Let’s talk about what you need
Whether you’re planning a simcha or facing a difficult moment, Rabbi Labkowski is a call or text away.