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Inventing New Jewish Rituals

  • February 5, 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

  • Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum

    575 3rd Street Northwest
    Washington, District of Columbia 20001
Ticket Price $5.72-$20.03 Register Now
Description

Explore how Jews have historically innovated rituals and how today’s Jews are inventing new ones with Rabbi Vanessa Ochs, PhD, University of Virginia Professor Emeritus. No Jewish ritual was created complete—consider the Passover Seder, the Jewish wedding ceremony, and more! Responding to current trends and challenges, rituals have developed over the centuries, along a winding path of rabbinical and practitioner debate and conversation. Rabbi Ochs will be in conversation with CJM Director of Curatorial Affairs, Dr. Sarah Leavitt. Co-Sponsored by the University of Virginia’s Jewish Studies Program.

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Sarah Leavitt is the Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Capital Jewish Museum. She holds an MA in Museum Studies and a PhD in American Studies from Brown University and has worked in museums for over 30 years. Since moving to the DC area in 2000, she has worked at the museum of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda and for 13 years at the National Building Museum in DC. Her previous exhibitions have covered a range of subjects: from women’s sports, to the history of the parking garage, to the border wall between the US and Mexico. Sarah’s publications include several books and articles; some of her favorites cover the history of the pregnancy test, America’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill, St. Elizabeths mental health hospital, and the history of domestic advice manuals. Sarah is a member of Temple Shalom, and lives in Silver Spring, MD.

 

Rabbi Vanessa Ochs, PhD, University of Virginia Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies and Jewish Studies, is the author of numerous books related to Jewish rituals, including Inventing Jewish Ritual (Jewish Publication Society), winner of a National Jewish Book Award; and The Passover Haggadah: A Biography (Princeton UP). A beloved teacher, Professor Ochs’s most popular courses at the University of Virginia were “Jewish Weddings” and “The Passover Haggadah.” A Visiting Fellow at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Rabbi Ochs is researching new Jewish rituals that emerged during Covid and after October 7th.

 

Image credit: Promotional photo provided courtesy of the speaker.

Date & Time

Thu, Feb 5, 2026 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Venue Details

Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum

575 3rd Street Northwest
Washington, District of Columbia 20001 Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum
Capital Jewish Museum

The Capital Jewish Museum 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. The Community Action Lab invites visitors to engage through hands on-activities, resources, workshops, games, and more.


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