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DC’s New Jewish Museum is Breaking Ground

The Capital Jewish Museum is set to open Spring of 2022 in Downtown Washington, DC. According to its website, the museum’s purpose is to “explore the intersection of American Judaism and American democracy, and serve as a secular space for storytelling, connection, and dialogue across cultural communities.”

But before it can do this… it has to be built!

From September 12 to 18, the Capital Jewish Museum will host an interactive, virtual festival to celebrate breaking ground on what will become the museum’s permanent home at 3rd and F Streets, NW. The Groundbreaking Festival will offer a variety of free virtual events celebrating the new museum.

In partnership with nearly 20 organizations including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Jewish Museum of Maryland, Profs & Pints, JxJ Festival, and many more, the festival will feature something for everyone, from online interactive conversations with top chefs, historians, and musicians, to family programming, a film screening, virtual photo booth, trivia and much more.

The centerpiece of the festival will include a livestream of the historic groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future museum on Monday. September 14th at 11 AM. Taking place in front of the building that was the first synagogue in DC, the groundbreaking marks the official start of transforming the space into its permanent home.

All week long, registrants can participate in a family-oriented, user-led scavenger hunt to explore how neighborhood landmarks help tell their family’s story. In addition, registrants can enjoy a virtual photo booth, trivia games, and explore archival photos from the future collection. And the festivities are free for all! Register here.