The Design of a new 30,000 sq. ft. Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

FAIN: CHA-261854-19

Name change of Institution 7/3/2019 from Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington (Washington, DC 20004-1106)
Kara Blond (Project Director: March 2018 to April 2023)
Ivyl Barsky (Project Director: April 2023 to present)

Design and construction of a new Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., including relocation and renovation of a historic 1876 synagogue.

The Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington (JHSGW) requests a Challenge Grant to  support the design and construction of a new museum that explores the past, present, and future of Jewish Washington and its interconnectedness with other DC communities. Jewish and non-Jewish families, school groups, and adults will learn how DC’s Jewish community has shaped and been shaped by its location in the nation’s capital. A core exhibition will focus on local spaces related to immigration, cultural identity, and social activism. Changing exhibitions will explore additional themes and objects, and a community lab will stimulate discussion and debate. The museum will make available its rich collections, the basis for all exhibitions and programming. It will impact visitors by deepening their understanding of American history and other humanities issues, and empowering them to make connections to their own lives. A capital campaign will raise the matching funds for the project.

Associated Products

CJM Collections (Acquisitions/Materials Collection)
Name: CJM Collections
Abstract: CJM's collection provides a rich, multifaceted glimpse into the history of Jewish life in the nation’s capital. The collection, a valuable tool for researchers as well as a strong foundation for our exhibitions, consists of 1,052 objects, over 24,000 digital and print photographs, and 800 linear feet of archival materials, including personal papers and business and organizational records. Highlights from recent acquisitions include 19th-century hand-carved chairs from the sanctuary of one of DC’s first synagogues, nearly 80 years of institutional archival material from the Jewish Community Council, and several family collections.
Year: 2023
Address: Capital Jewish Museum 575 3rd Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001
Primary URL: http://https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/collection/

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Exhibition)
Title: Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Curator: Ivy Weingram
Curator: Sarah Leavitt
Abstract: Our first special exhibition, The Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, comes to us from LA’s Skirball Museum and includes locally specific content that we created to reflect RBG’s 40-year career in DC.
Year: 2023
Primary URL: https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/exhibition/notorious-rbg/

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