In the Talmud, a man is asked why he is planting a carob tree that won’t bear fruit for 75 years. He replies: “I found carob trees in the world; as my forefathers planted these for me so I too plant these for my children.”
Madeline Krupenie D’Alessio often shares the story of the carob tree with her children—a reminder that we give not just for today but for the generations to come.
For Madeline, this lesson is personal. Her adopted grandmother volunteered for years at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington until eventually she came to live there. Later, Madeline’s father recovered at Warren R. Slavin Post-Acute Care Center. Now, her mother lives at Ring House, carrying forward her family’s deep connection to a community that has supported them in every stage of life.
Motivated by tikkun olam, the Jewish value of leaving the world better than we found it, Madeline made the decision to plant seeds for the future by leaving a gift in her will for Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC).
