The new Capital Jewish Museum will inspire visitors to connect, reflect, and act: connect across families and diverse communities, reflect on the relevance of the past to today, and act on behalf of their communities and values.
For 60 years as the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, we collected & shared stories about the unique nature of Jewish life in our nation’s capital – a history that is local, national, & international.
In 1969, we saved the city’s oldest synagogue building by moving it three blocks from its original site in the heart of the historic Jewish neighborhood to the corner of Third & G Streets, NW. Community contributions and a gift from Lillian & Albert Small helped restore the synagogue, which is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.
For the next 40 years, the synagogue served as the centerpiece of all of our activities including an expanding archival collection, exhibitions, educational programs, and neighborhood walking tours.
In 2018, the JHSGW adopted our new name — Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum — as we prepare to build and launch a new public museum.
Click Here to learn more about the synagogue’s unique story.
