The Whole Spiel
Community Gathering of Remembrance and Reopening
June 9, 2025
The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum was founded to share Jewish stories, build understanding, and encourage community dialogue. Recognizing how essential this work is, the Museum reopened to the public Thursday, May 29 with a Community Gathering of Remembrance.
The ceremony featured remarks from Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, Senior Rabbi of Adas Israel Congregation, Imam Talib Shareef, President and Imam of Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque, Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Rev. Thomas L. Bowen, Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington, Sue Stolov, President of the American Jewish Committee Washington, and Joshua Maxey, Executive Director of Bet Mishpachah.
Chris Wolf, Board President of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, opened the ceremony, and Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, Executive Director of the Museum, delivered closing remarks. Read their full remarks below.
Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Museum (right), and
Chris Wolf, Board President of the Capital Jewish Museum (center), take Washington, DC
Mayor Muriel Bowser (left) to the Museum’s new LGBTJews in the Federal City exhibition,
following the Museum’s reopening on May 29, 2025. Chris Ferenzi Photography.
Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Museum, delivers
remarks at the May 29, 2025, reopening ceremony. Chris Ferenzi Photography.
(From left to right): The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Washington; Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, Senior Rabbi of Adas Israel Congregation
(delivering remarks); Imam Talib Shareef, President and Imam of Masjid Muhammad, The
Nation’s Mosque; and Rev. Thomas Bowen, at the Capital Jewish Museum reopening, May 29, 2025. Photo by Jim Bourg.
May 29, 2025: Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Museum, writes a note in a memorial book for Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, which will be given to their families. Photo by Jim Bourg.
Dr. Beatrice Gurwitz, Executive Director of the Capital Jewish Museum, shows
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser the Museum’s new LGBTJews in the Federal City
exhibition, upon the museum’s reopening on May 29, 2025. Chris Ferenzi Photography.