Founded in 1967 at Congregation Beth Israel, the Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum has grown to be one of the Southwest’s most important institutions of education in the Jewish heritage. With a full program of exhibits, events and activities, the Museum offers all audiences a unique insight into 5,000 years of Jewish culture.

Link to Current Exhibit Information

Congregation Beth Israel is privileged to offer tours of our Museum by appointment. Contact our Director, Carol Reynolds at (480) 951-0323.

The Rabbi Albert and Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum

One of the highlights of the Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum is a reconstructed, composite Sephardic synagogue from a small family synagogue in Tunisia. The architecture, with its beautiful mosaic tiles and gracefully curving arches, shows the strong regional influence.

Another site shows a scaled replica of the Western Wall of Jerusalem, the only remains of the Second Temple’s courtyard, constructed in 535 B.C.E. and destroyed in the year 70 C.E.

Rotating exhibits include featured artists as well as art from our own collection including selected pieces from a Mikveh exhibit depicting actual people who used a mikveh. These pictures were used to promote the Jill and Jay Stein Family Community Mikveh at Congregation Beth Israel.

	Our Biblical Garden is located outdoors just west of the Museum

Thematic presentations of Jewish holidays and life cycle events adorn the museum, whose permanent collection contains over 1,000 Judaic artifacts from around the world and which are displayed on a rotating basis. The museum also serves as a venue for congregants desiring to host Shabbat dinners or any life cycle events.

The Evanne Copland Kofman Biblical Garden is located on the west side of the campus behind the religious school building. This outdoor garden is open year around for everyone to stroll through, mediate and enjoy. The garden features numerous plants mentioned in the Bible including grape, fig, flax, terebinth, and ebony.