Exploring the Jewish experience in the national capital region. Open: Wednesday-Sunday
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BLOG: Ordinary Barbie
Welcome to the summer of dolls. Yes, we have dolls in our collection here at the Museum, more on those later. But of course, I’m really talking about "Barbie: The Movie," . . .
“What about Ordinary Barbie? She’s not extraordinary. She’s not president of anything.” (–Gloria, to Mattel executives, Barbie: The Movie)
Poster Making: Make Your Own Protest Sign
Wed, Aug 23—Sat, Aug 26
Community Action Lab
FREE | Materials Provided
Participating in the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington on August 26th? Drop into our Community Action Lab where you will find everything you need from materials to inspiration to make your sign.
Image: Protest sign used by Reiter family at Women’s March, 2017. Gift of Toby Reiter, Capital Jewish Museum Collection.
Plan a Holiday Party Like No Other!
Host your holiday event at the Capital Jewish Museum. With historic and modern spaces, the Museum can accommodate a range of celebrations.
Learn more: https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/rentals/
On View: Street sign from 17th Street NW, from the historically LGBTQ-friendly neighborhood of Dupont Circle, 2010.
“In 1968, I coined the slogan ‘Gay is Good’... We here have made it much better. And we pass the torch to those who will make it perfect. I’m confident they will. And soon.” — Frank Kameny, 1998
Frank Kameny (1925-2011) was an astronomer who was fired by the federal government for homosexual activity in 1957 and went on to protest the government’s anti-LGBTQ policies.
Learn this story and more in the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act."
Image: Street sign, "Frank Kameny Way," from 17th Street NW, 2010. The sign was replaced in 2021. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of DC Department of Transportation.
From neighborhood celebrations to scholarly discussions, with the unexpected mixed in, our programs have something for everyone.
https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/calendar/
On View: Ruth Bader and Marty Ginsburg after their engagement party, December 27, 1953; Ruth and Marty travel to Paris, 1988. / From Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg / Plan your visit: https://bit.ly/3ML3svX
Ruth Bader married Martin “Marty” D. Ginsburg (1932–2010) in 1954. For nearly 60 years, they worked as equals raising a family and practicing law.
Marty would portray himself as the lucky guy who came along for the ride of a lifetime, who moved to Washington when his wife got a “good job.” In fact, he was a superstar in his own right, whose tax law chops earned him clients like Ross Perot, the adulation of his peers, and millions of dollars.
But he was proudest of the accomplishments of his wife, saying, “I think that the most important thing I have done is enable Ruth to do what she has done.”
Images: Ruth and Marty after their engagement party, December 27, 1953. Courtesy of Justice Ginsburg’s Personal Collection. / RBG and Marty travel to Paris, 1988. Courtesy of Justice Ginsburg’s Personal Collection.
Jennifer Rubin for Washington Post:
"I cannot recommend more strongly a visit to the new Capital Jewish Museum. In addition to the traveling “Notorious RBG” exhibit (an outstanding accounting of the Supreme Court justice’s life and constitutional contributions), its permanent exhibits provide ample insight into Washington’s Jewish community and issues such as residential housing discrimination, D.C. home rule, White flight, and political activism in the 20th and 21st centuries."
Despite the perplexing decision by the Fitch credit-rating entity to downgrade the United States’ bond rating, the U.S. economy remains remarkably robust.
✅We're Back in Business:
Doors open tomorrow--Thursday, August 10--at 11am. See you soon! https://bit.ly/3ML3svX
🛑Apologies, friends, but we're CLOSED today (Wednesday, Aug 9), as we are experiencing mechanical issues that prevent us from opening the galleries.
🎟If you have a reservation, you will receive a refund or can reschedule.
📣We'll post an update once the issue has been resolved. Thank you for your patience!
Block Party | Sun, Sep 10, 11am–3 pm
Free | Registration Required | Tix: https://bit.ly/3DNucHW
Fall in Love with DC’s Newest Museum
Join us as we continue our grand opening celebrations with a neighborhood block party! Featuring the local band, Minnush, whose music combines traditional Sephardic songs with contemporary elements of American folk, funk, and jazz—creating serious, joyful, relevant, and eminently fresh music.
On View: Can’t Spell Truth Without Ruth, by Frank Chi and Aminatou Sow
Discover Ginsburg's lifelong commitment to equality, justice, and the ideals of American law in the exhibition, 👑Notorious RBG: The Life & Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg👑.
Tickets: https://bit.ly/44q8ViG
On View: Photo of Leopold Karpeles wearing the Medal of Honor (date unknown)
Leopold Karpeles (1838-1909) settled in Washington in the 1870s and later worked for the Treasury Department. He had served in the Union army as a flagbearer and received a Medal of Honor for valor. Before the war, Karpeles had assisted in Underground Railroad efforts in Texas to transport enslaved people across the US border toward freedom in Mexico.
Learn this story and more in the exhibition, "What is Jewish Washington."
Image: Black and white photo of Leopold Karpeles wearing his Medal of Honor. Capital Jewish Museum Collection.
On View: Typewriter used by Shirley Povich at The Washington Post, c. 1935. 📰
Shirley Povich (1905-98) worked for The Washington Post from 1923 through 1998 and wrote the newspaper’s most popular sports column. Learn this story and more in the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act." https://bit.ly/3MGqzaK
Images: Typewriter used by Shirley Povich at Washington Post Sports, c. 1935. Paillard & Cie Hermes “Baby” portable on loan courtesy of the Cincinnati Skirball Museum / Black and white photo (cropped) of Shirley Povich at his typewriter, c. 1940s. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Washington Jewish Week
On View: Ruth Bader Ginsburg teaching at Columbia Law School, 1972.
👑Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg👑
Through archival photographs and documents, historical artifacts, and contemporary art, the exhibition explores the American legal system and civil rights movements through the lens of RBG’s personal experiences and public service. https://bit.ly/44q8ViG
Images: Black and white photo (detail) of Ruth Bader Ginsburg teaching at Columbia Law School, 1972. Courtesy of Columbia Law School. / Exhibition title wall featuring Notorious RBG book cover illustration by Adam Johnson. Courtesy of HarperCollins. Photographs: Crown © by Hurst Photo/Shutterstock
On View: Tribute Messages to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Post-it Notes, September 2020 🟨🟨🟦🟪🟨🟩🟨🟥
When Justic Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed on September 18, 2020, the grounds of the Supreme Court quickly became an impromptu -- and then official -- site for mourners and onlookers to gather and leave memorial gifts and messages, including these tributes on post-it notes. Afterward, the Museum was one of several local organizations trusted to gather some of these items, for their collections, to preserve them as a record of the event.
Learn this story and more in the exhibition,👑 Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg👑.
Image:
🟨🟨🟦🟪🟨🟩🟨🟥
Photograph from the exhibition featuring a pile of multi-colored post-it notes with messages and drawings in honor of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Select messages read:
"Thank you Ruth"
"Thank --- From --- Gay Trans Boy I'm Still Alive"
"Today we mourn, tomorrow we fight. Thank you!"
On View: “If it’s Jewish, We Have It,” from Abe’s Jewish Books and Gifts, Wheaton, MD, ca. 1980
One of our most popular photo spots in the Museum is at this sign, installed at the entrance of the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act." Abe’s Jewish Books and Gifts was a long-time anchor in a strip mall in downtown Wheaton, MD, sold a wide variety of merchandise including toys and Judaica.
Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Andrea Choobineh & Ricky Moskowitz.
Image: A square neon and glass sign that reads, in all caps, If it's Jewish we have it! The neon font is red with a pink glow surrounded by a bright blue neon frame. The sign hangs on a wall with, and at the center of, a mural featuring multiple enlarged photos from the collection spanning more than a century.
Need a way to stay cool without the fuss of Bay Bridge traffic? Escape the heat wave with us! Free admission,* metro accessible, open until 8pm Wednesdays and 11-6 Thursday-Sunday.
* Admission to the Museum and the ongoing exhibitions is free, but special exhibitions such as Notorious RBG have a ticket fee ($10-$12).
Members of the Bernstein family on the Chesapeake Bay, ca. 1960s. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Leo Bernstein.
Join our happy team as an intern!
Today is the final day to apply for our Fall ! Internship opportunities include Collections, Communications, Education, and LGBTQ+ Jewish Washington Research. Join by e/o/d TODAY!
https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/jobs/
Image Description:
One of our Summer Interns sorting slides from a collections trip.
Soon children around the U.S. will return to school for the new year, and those sweet summer camp days will come to an end. was founded in 1922 to give immigrant working women in Baltimore a retreat in the country. It soon evolved into an overnight camp for Jewish girls from around the region. Nearby for boys opened in 1924. These and other Jewish sleepaway camps still offer summers of hiking, swimming, athletics, singing, and crafts.
Image Descriptions:
Image 1: Bunk portrait, Camp Louise, 1953. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Penny Feuerzeig.
Image 2: Penny Feurzeig’s souvenir bracelet from Camp Louise, 1950s, Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Penny Feuerzeig. In memory of Irene and A.B. "Twigs" Zweigenhaft.
Join our happy team as an intern!
Fall opportunities include Collections, Communications, Education, and LGBTQ+ Jewish Washington Research. Apply by e/o/d Thu, July 27.
https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/jobs/
"I am a judge born, raised, and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of the Jewish tradition" - Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Address to the annual meeting of the American Jewish Committee, 1995.
Image Descriptions:
Image 1: Lace collar for Justice Ginsburg’s Supreme Court robes, 2017. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Image 2: Installation of lace collar into the Capital Jewish Museum Exhibition, Spring 2023.
Image 3: Official portrait of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg. Courtesy of WDC photos/Alamy Stock Photo.
We recently hosted a craftivism workshop with artist Roxana Alger Geffen , to make "dissent" collars. Geffen, a local artist and educator, has three collars on view in the exhibition, 👑Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.👑
📸Enjoy a photo recap of the event—and many thanks to everyone who attended.
📆For upcoming programs, please visit: https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/calendar
Carolivia Herron came to visit the Museum this week. She is featured on one of our identity cubes--as a professor, a librettist, and an author. What words describe you?
On View:🍺Beer tap🍺from Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery, & General Story in Hyattsville, Maryland, 2021.
The "Rubber Chicken Red" beer was named for the Jewish "Borscht Belt" comedy that the owner loved as a kid. Learn this story and more in the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act."
Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Mike Franklin.
[cc: Franklins Restaurant, Brewery and General Store]
This we honor activist Judy Heumann (1947-2023). Heumann led protests across the country and worked with non-profits, the World Bank, and the US State Department to advocate for opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more about her work at the Heumann Perspective [Judy Heumann] podcast. May her memory be for a blessing.
Image: Judy Heumann (in a blue dress with colorful wrap) and others gather on a stage for a signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. President Clinton signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education reauthorization act of 1997, renewing a law first enacted in 1975 which guarantees equal access to education for disabled persons.
Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Judith Heumann.
Happy ! From the collection, a photo by Lloyd Wolf of a local street vendor in DC, 1998. Hot dogs are thought to be the success of German-Jewish immigrants, as explained by Jewish Food. Did you enjoy Catalyst Hot Dogs offerings at our CJFF last fall?
Image Description: DC Street vendor, close up image of a kosher chili-dog, 1998. Black and white, 5" x 7"
Photograph by Lloyd Wolf/ Gift of the Photographer. Capital Jewish Museum Collection
Thursday, October 19, 2023 6-9pm
Discover Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg after hours. Dig deeper into exhibit stories with Spotlight Talks, delve into current social justice issues inspired by RBG’s legacy, build action tools in our Community Action Lab, and craft your own dissent notebook, while indulging in nosh and drinks. All museum exhibitions and public spaces are open for exploration during this lively and dynamic event.
Tickets: $25 Member/$30 General/ $36 Chai Ticket; Must be 21 or older to attend and present a valid ID at the door. Ticket includes two drinks. Additional drinks available for purchase.
https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/events/cjm-after-sunset-the-notorious-rbg/
Image Description: Members of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County celebrate the completion of their newly constructed building, January 1958. Gift of Beth El of Montgomery County, Capital Jewish Museum Collection.
Discover Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg after hours. Dig deeper into exhibit stories with Spotlight Talks, delve into current social justice issues inspired by RBG’s legacy, build action tools in our Community Action Lab, and craft your own dissent notebook, while indulgi...
On View: Portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by Everett Raymond Kinstler, 1996.
At the age of 80, Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was reborn as the “Notorious RBG.” She earned the nickname after she gave a series of fiery dissents in 2013 on voting rights, affirmative action, and workplace discrimination. Learn more in the exhibition Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: https://bit.ly/44q8ViG
Image: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by Everett Raymond Kinstler, 1996. Oil on canvas. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Everett Raymond Kinstler. © 1996 Everett Raymond Kinstler.
On View: Guitar owned by Robyn Helzner, ca. 1970
Robyn Helzner, a guitar player and song leader at local synagogues, used her music to bring attention to the plight of Jews trapped in the Soviet Union--where most had no way to learn Hebrew, attend religious services, or emigrate to Israel. Helzner grew up to be a professional singer in the US, Canada, Israel and Russia.
Learn this story and more in the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act."
Image Robyn Helzner's acoustic guitar, ca. 1970's. Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Robyn Helzner.
Thirty-six years ago, Sandy Pearlman and Gene Meyer were married in our historic synagogue! We were so touched that they visited us on their anniversary to commemorate the day. Mazel Tov! ❤ The synagogue continues to be an ideal setting for memorable moments such as these. Plan to host your celebration at https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/rentals.
TODAY: Wednesday, July 12, 5:30pm
Join us this evening for a night of craftivism, conversation, and civic engagement with artist Roxana Alger Geffen whose work is included in the exhibition, "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
Tickets: $25/$30; Ages 21+; https://www.simpletix.com/e/salon-nights-i-dissent-collar-making-works-tickets-132605
Images:
Roxana Alger Geffen, Dissent Collar #11 (eyepatch). Archival inkjet print on Hahnemuhle paper, framed, 16” x 20”, 2017, Edition of 5. Copyright of the artist.
Roxana Alfer Geffen, Dissent Collar #9, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.
Roxana Alfer Geffen, Dissent Collar #13, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.
The Museum has officially been open a month! 🥳We love seeing how visitors engage with the exhibitions. Visit and discover stories of Jewish life in the national capital region from 1790 through today.
https://capitaljewishmuseum.simpletix.com/
Images 1 and 2: Visitors in "Connect. Reflect. Act." exhibition galleries. Photo: Imagine Photography
Image 3: Visitors in "What is Jewish Washington?" exhibition gallery. Photo: Imagine Photography
Gather your friends and join us at the Museum where you will see this image in the exhibition "Connect. Reflect. Act." Pictured are members of the Adas Israel Sisterhood at the annual Hanukkah Luncheon, December 1976.
Image Description: Three women hug each other while gazing at the camera and smiling. Two wear sunglasses, and one wears regular glasses. All three are wearing dresses. Other women stand in the background talking and drinking. / Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift courtesy of Adas Israel Congregation.
Wednesday, July 12, 5:30pm
Join us for an evening of craftivism, conversation, and civic engagement with artist Roxana Alger Geffen whose work is included in the exhibition, "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg."
Tickets: $25/$30; Ages 21+
Image: Roxana Alger Geffen, Dissent Collar #11 (eyepatch). Archival inkjet print on Hahnemuhle paper, framed, 16” x 20”, 2017, Edition of 5. Copyright of the artist.
Artist Roxana Alger Geffen leads a creative evening of craftivism, conversation, and civic engagement. This Salon Night includes everything you need to make your own RBG-inspired dissent collar. Start the evening with a gallery talk with Geffen in Notorious RBG: The Life & Times of Ruth Bader Ginsbu...
We're joining the and enjoying this with Frank Dave Epstein and Rose Kay Epstein at the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey, August 1941.
Image Descripton:
A black and white photograph of a young couple, standing entwined and facing the camera, on a beach in mid-century bathing/beach clothes and sandals. Other beachgoers are seated on blankets in the background in front of a line of trees.
Capital Jewish Museum Collection, Gift of Donald and Janet Brady.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues through Sunday July 9. Stop by, say hello, and join us in our summer !
https://festival.si.edu/blog/2023-guide-for-kids-families
Come join our team! The Fall internship applications for our Museum are open and available on our website! We are currently looking for Communications, Collections, Education, and LGBTQ+ Jewish Washington Research Interns. Click on the link below to access the internship applications:
https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/jobs/
Image Description: Two of our Collections Interns stand in front of the "Connect. Reflect. Act" entrance, behind table full of artifacts. Their arms are behind their backs and they are both smiling.
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Join us on 12/15 for a storytelling performance presenting the tales of three generations of Americans and the intersection of their Jewish values and activism. Featuring The Braid, the leading Jewish storytelling company. Free / Virtual https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/event/worth-fighting-for/
Join us on 12/15 for a storytelling performance featuring the tales of six ordinary Americans, motivated by their Jewish values, to fight racism, poverty, climate change, oppression, and more. Featuring The Braid, the leading Jewish storytelling company. Free / Virtual https://capitaljewishmuseum.org/event/worth-fighting-for/
National Museum of Women in the Arts
New York Avenue NWCold War International History Project
Pennsylvania Avenue NWInstitute for Contemporary Expression - ICE
13th Street NWNational Museum of American History
Street and Constitution AvenueThe Smithsonian's Lemelson Center
Street and Constitution Avenue
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural Histor
Street & Constitution Avenue NW
National Museum of American History
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Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Massachusetts Avenue NE
Smithsonian National Museum of African Americ
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The Smithsonian's Lemelson Center
Street and Constitution Avenue
U.S. Department of the Interior Museum
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German-American Heritage Foundation and Museu
6th Street NW
Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives
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