Building a Community, a permanent new exhibit honoring Charles E. Smith, has opened in the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington at Charles E. Smith Life Communities.
Charles E. Smith arrived in New York as a 10-year-old who spoke only Yiddish. By the close of his 94 years, his office overlooked a sweeping view of Reagan National Airport, and its walls were filled with honors, photographs and letters from the most respected statesmen in America and Israel.
“To now have a permanent profile about Papa Charlie, 72 years after his Washington arrival, closes what he called ‘the three circles of life: family, friends, community.’ Sometimes, after time has passed, a person’s history can become diluted and distorted, and he or she is demoted to a brand name only. Thanks to you, Charles E. Smith is here to stay as he was,” said grandson David Bruce Smith at the dedication ceremony Oct. 5.
Robert P. Kogod, son-in-law; Warren Slavin, president/CEO; and Marc Solomon, chair, spoke at the dedication ceremony, which included a compelling video in which Charles E. Smith describes his life and values. “It is our privilege and honor to be the home of this exhibit,” said Slavin.
Charles E. Smith Life Communities was founded as the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in 1910, and today provides services to more than 1,000 Washington-area seniors on its 38-acre campus in Rockville. Its services include the Wasserman and Smith-Kogod Residences and Post-Acute Care Center at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington; independent senior living at Revitz House and Ring House; assisted living at Landow House; memory care assisted living at Cohen-Rosen House; the Hirsh Health Center; and the ElderSAFE Center to provide temporary shelter, advocacy and education to benefit the victims of elder abuse.
