The Cofeld Museum collection is temporarily closed for new office renovations. We are looking forward to welcoming you back in Spring 2025! In order to schedule a tour from late May 2025 onwards, please email: tours@tbz.org
Mission of the Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum (1982)
The purpose of the Temple Beth Zion Cofeld Judaic Museum is to document, celebrate, explain and interpret all aspects of the Jewish experience for all generations.
Philosophy of the Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum (2023)
The Benjamin and Dr. Edgar R. Cofeld Judaic Museum has a new exhibition philosophy to provide immersive and changing exhibition offerings. We have moved away from a fixed permanent museum to a rotating core collection spread across the breath of the central gathering spaces at Temple Beth Zion.
This approach enables us to show objects that have never been on display before due to lack of space.
With our new model, our shelving, mounting and labeling design allows us flexibility to rotate items around the holidays and for other events. This approach also allows us to address the conservation needs of each object, so they do not become dry, brittle, faded or discolored.
We have also begun a program to digitize some of our unique archival materials and make it available through Hein Online. Another long term goal is to re-establish a professional photography program to photograph each museum object, to supplement a short program that ended in 1984. If you would like to support this essential work of conservation and photography, please consider a donation to the Cofeld Endowment Fund. Thank you for your support of the Museum.
Professional Affiliations
We hold institutional memberships with the Council of American Jewish Museums (CAJM), the Association for State and Local History (AASLH) and the Western New York Library Resource Council (WNYLRC).
