Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, D.C., Jewish community center in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C., United States
The Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, D.C. is a community center on Sixteenth Street NW in Washington, D.C. The building contains a fitness area, preschool classrooms, summer camp programs, and an in-house theater stage.
The center opened in 1925, with President Calvin Coolidge attending the cornerstone ceremony. It was built to give Washington's Jewish community a permanent gathering place at a time when the city was growing rapidly.
Theater J, the center's in-house stage, presents plays written or directed by Jewish artists from around the world. The productions draw a broad audience and often address themes that go well beyond the Jewish community.
The center is open on weekdays and weekends, though the range of activities on offer changes depending on the season. It is worth checking ahead to see what is available on your chosen day before you arrive.
During World War II, the center opened its doors to returning veterans and helped organize war bond drives that reached far beyond the Jewish community. This openness toward people of many different backgrounds shaped how the place came to be seen in the city.
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