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Elliot Sivowitch playing the violin in his apartment on Mass. Ave., NW, 1968.

The Whole Spiel

Recent Acquisition: The Sivowitch Collection 

Elliot Norman Sivowitch (1932-2012) grew up in New York, where his father was a cantor and his mother worked at… (Read more)

Tribute to Avrum Ashery in the exhibition "If It's Jewish We Have It: Selections from the Collections," February 2024.

The Whole Spiel

In Memoriam: Avrum Ashery

Avrum Ashery (1944-2023) was a graphic artist who designed many familiar logos for the Jewish community, locally and nationwide. Born… (Read more)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg feature in "Connect. Reflect. Act." galleries. / Visitors in the historic sanctuary. / An intern cataloguing and digitizing images from the collection. / Students in "What is Jewish Washington?" galleries. / Students in "Connect. Reflect. Act." exhibition. / Michael Twitty and Susan Barocas in "Connect. Reflect. Act." exhibition. / GatherDC members in the Community Action Lab. Photo: Aryeh Schwartz; Aryeh Photo / GatherDC members in the lobby. Photo: Aryeh Schwartz; Aryeh Photo / Members and donors at an event for the Museum's grand opening. Photo: Daniel Swartz / CJM Block Party, Sep 2023. Photo: Chris Firenzi Photography

The Whole Spiel

Celebrating our 2023 Accomplishments

Look at what you helped make possible! Our galleries are alive with locals and tourists, taking in the breadth of… (Read more)

Color photograph of the interior of Katz’s Kosher Supermarket at 20 University Blvd East, July 1970. Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Alex Mates.

The Whole Spiel

The Story of Katz’s Kosher Supermarket

Thanks to a very special NEW additional match challenge from board member Gene Sofer and his wife Judith Bartnoff, all… (Read more)

Anna Barr, Education Manager for School, Youth, and Family Programs, at the Museum's 3rd Street entrance, Fall 2023

The Whole Spiel

Introducing Anna Barr, Education Manager for School, Youth, and Family Programs

Anna Barr, a Virginia native and recent DC transplant, comes to the Museum with experience in both museums and classrooms…. (Read more)

Malki Karkowsky, Chief Advancement Officer. Photo: Aryeh Schwartz

The Whole Spiel

So That Your Generations Will Know

We are now celebrating Sukkot, the Feast of the Tabernacles, one of only three pilgrimage holidays in the Torah when… (Read more)

Doll portraying Golda Meir, created as one of the “Dolls for Democracy” series by B’nai B’rith Women. / Capital Jewish Museum Collection. Gift of Jewish Women International.

The Whole Spiel

Ordinary Barbie

“What about Ordinary Barbie? She’s not extraordinary. She’s not president of anything.” (–Gloria, to Mattel executives, Barbie: The Movie) Welcome… (Read more)

Cornerstone laying, Jewish Community Center, 16th and Q Streets NW in 1925. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Jewish Community Center Collection.

Cornerstone laying, Jewish Community Center, 16th and Q Streets NW in 1925. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Jewish Community Center Collection.

The Whole Spiel

Openings

What does it mean to open a museum? I mean that in the existential way—of course I now have some… (Read more)

Nettie Ottenberg as pictured on the program for the 1913 Suffrage Procession, Washington DC, March 1913. / Capital Jewish Museum collection, Gift of Rachel and Louis Ottenberg, Jr.

The Whole Spiel

Time is Running Out

If you’ve checked your email lately, and if you’ve ever given money to a political party or a candidate, you’ve… (Read more)

Washington Hebrew Congregation's first confirmation class in 1901

Black and white photo of the earliest extant confirmation class featuring Rabbi Louis Stern surrounded by six students (four female and two male), 1901. / Courtesy of Washington Hebrew Congregation Collection

The Whole Spiel

Washington Hebrew Congregation: The Early Years

To mark the 170th anniversary of the founding of Washington’s first Jewish congregation, Washington Hebrew Congregation, their archivist wrote about… (Read more)