Baltimore’s Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM) faced a disturbing incident last month when an arson attempt was thwarted. Surveillance footage at the time caught a suspect setting fire to an object near the museum’s front gate, leaving scorch marks in its wake and a Jewish community visibly shaken.

However, in a testament to the community’s resilience and support, JMM is now poised to emerge stronger than ever. David Rubenstein, a Jewish native and owner of the Baltimore Orioles, came forward on Thursday with a generous $1.5 million donation to help revitalize the museum’s public spaces.

Rubenstein’s donation will fund significant improvements to the JMM, including the creation of the David M. Rubenstein Exhibition Arcade, a new audio and video production studio, updates to major galleries, and a renovated lobby. These enhancements aim to modernize the museum, making it more engaging and accessible to visitors.

“We are extremely grateful for David’s support of this transformative and deeply meaningful project. This project will ensure the museum’s architecture and technologies support the museum’s evolution as a cultural institution delivering a dynamic range of ways the public can engage with Maryland’s Jewish history and culture,” said JMM’s Executive Director Sol David.

Court documents reveal that the suspect, 66-year-old Iranian Assadollah Hashemi, has a history of bipolar disorder. He faces charges of attempted arson and attempted malicious burning of property, with potential sentences of up to 20 years or a maximum fine of $30,000. Hashemi was denied bail and ordered to undergo a competency evaluation before his trial next month.