TOUR: The Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum

Saturday, March 22 
1:30 - 3:00 PM
575 3rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Registration Required | Tickets $25/person | No Refunds
We require at least 16 people to register for the tour to take place 

Join us on a docent led tour of the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, which explores the Jewish experience in the national capital region and inspires visitors to connect, reflect, and act—Connect personally and collectively, Reflect on the relevance of the past to today, and Act on behalf of their communities and values. With its experimental spirit, the museum connects the past to the present through thought-provoking exhibitions, dynamic programming, and creative public experiences.

About The Museum
Opened to the public on June 9, 2023, the 32,500-square-foot museum combines a large new structure with a historic building: DC’s oldest purpose-built synagogue, the original synagogue of Adas Israel. Opened in 1876 and originally located at Sixth and G Streets NW, the synagogue has been moved several times, arriving at its current site five years ago. Now it’s the centerpiece of the new museum, with a first-floor exhibit that traces the history of Judaism in the District. Upstairs, the Historic Sanctuary which has been preserved and restored gives a taste of 19th-century Jewish life. In the new building, their largest exhibition is an interactive look at Jewish Washington though different lenses.

Vintage Artifacts
“If it’s Jewish, we have it!” blazes a neon sign that once hung at the now-defunct Abe’s Jewish Books in Wheaton. Today it’s on display at the museum, along with signs from Comet Liquor, District Grocery Stores, and even the recently closed Bethesda Bagels location in Dupont. One cool feature: an interactive map that lets you trace Jewish-owned businesses throughout DC’s history.

Rotating Exhibits
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, a 3,100-square-foot space is devoted to temporary exhibits. The current exhibit, which we’ll be visiting as well, JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience, explores 100 years of Jewish cartoons, comic books, and graphic novels. At the heart of the exhibition, audiences will discover the Jewish origins of iconic comic book superheroes beginning in the 1930s through the 1960s.

Important Stories
Long before the idea for a museum came along, the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington spent decades collecting old photographs, documents, artifacts, and oral histories related to the area’s Jewish history. The Museum is continuing to collect diverse stories, all of which are accessible to researchers and academics who can explore the museum’s resources in their onsite archives.

Activism and Education
The museum isn’t just backward-­looking: the idea is to engage visitors on all sorts of issues, including voting and reproductive rights. One room is devoted to a “Community Action Lab” where people can turn the inspiration they gained in the galleries into action on topics they care about. For example, you can write postcards to elected officials or choose a more lighthearted activity, like writing cards to our neighbors in senior living communities.

Try the Nosh Pit for a Snack!
The name of the cafe cart offers a note of humor: the Nosh Pit. The Nosh Pit sells snacks, soft drinks, and coffee, perfect for a quick afternoon bite.

Meeting Point:
Members, please meet OLLI’s tour coordinator, Elena Vejarano, no later than 1:15pm in the lobby near the entrance. 

Getting There:
Accessibility and Groups Entrance
On F Street

Parking
Public paid parking garage available at 3rd & G Streets, NW

Public Transit
Metro: Red Line to Judiciary Square, National Building Museum exit, walk 1 block

Capital Bike Share: 3rd & H Streets, NW, walk 2 blocks

Circulator Bus: Georgetown-Union Station route to Massachusetts & New Jersey Avenues, NW, walk 5 blocks

Regional rail to Union Station, 15-minute walk

NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 25 people that sign up and we need at least 16 people to register for the tour to take place. Ticket price is $25/person for this event. This event will occur regardless of rainy weather. Tickets are non-refundable, unless we do not meet our minimum number of registrants.