About Us
Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives is Richmond’s museum of Jewish history, art and culture. It is located in the Fan District of Richmond in a 20th century row house east of the sanctuary of Congregation Beth Ahabah.
Mission
The Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives collects, preserves and exhibits materials that relate to Jewish history and culture – with particular emphasis on Richmond, Virginia – so that Jewish history and culture may be documented, interpreted and passed on to future generations.
Our History
Jews were doing business in the Virginia Territory as early as 1650, and began to settle in Richmond by the 1760’s. Kahal Kadosh (K.K.) Beth Shalome (Holy Congregation, House of Peace) was organized in the Sephardic tradition in Richmond in 1789. It was the first Jewish congregation in Virginia and the sixth in the United States. In 1841 K.K. Beth Ahabah (House of Love) was established in the Ashkenazic style. The two congregations consolidated in 1898. Beth Ahabah established an Archives Committee in the 1950’s, and the Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives was formally established in the late 1970’s. It now interprets the history of the entire Jewish community of Richmond through its archival collections, publications and public exhibitions.
Donate/Volunteer
Your contributions help support our mission and are greatly appreciated. Donations can be made through the mail, via the congregation's website (click CONTRIBUTE and select "Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives Donations" from the drop down menu), or by calling (804) 353-2668 with your credit card information.
Volunteers are always welcome and needed. Please call to be included in our volunteer program.
Help Us Grow
Family records and trees, photographs and portraits, and items of Judaica are welcome additions to our collection. Please consider donating your treasures to us so that they enhance the story of Richmond's Jewish community. Contact us for further details about donating to our collection.
Officers and Board
David Sacks, President
Sharon Bassell, Treasurer
Terry Schultz, Secretary
Paul Ballonoff
Judi Brown
Robert Flax
Adrian Hammack
Josh Jeffreys
Judy Malloy
Helen Newpol
Larry Salomon
Nicole Sackley
Annual Report
Click image below for a PDF of our 2018 Annual Report
Contact Us
1109 W. Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220-3700
(804) 353-2668
bama@bethahabah.org
Cynthia Krumbein, Executive Director
Bonnie Eisenman, Administrator/Researcher
Amy Roberts, Administrative Assistant
