After over a year of construction, the Smokler Center for Jewish Life building officially opened this past week. The building is located at 3109 North Charles St., adjacent to the Hopkins' Homewood Apartments and across the street from the Baltimore Museum of Art.
While the building itself is open, the dedication ceremony will not take place until May 2.
The dedication will be held outside Garland Hall at 11 a.m. All guests will then be invited to a reception held at the Smokler Center.
Dean of Student Life Susan Boswell recently wrote in a statement regarding the center, "I think that the Smokler Center will be a tremendous asset to student life at Johns Hopkins ... I envision this as a popular gathering place for all students and am certain it will be well used and much appreciated."
The Smokler Center will be the first free-standing Hillel facility in Baltimore. Hopkins Hillel is allied with Hillel of Greater Baltimore, a branch of The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.
Hillel provides social, religious and educational activities to undergraduate and graduate students in Baltimore.
Prior to the center's construction, Hopkins Hillel operated out of the second-floor offices at 3301 North Charles St. Construction of the Smokler Center began in November 2002. The structure, named after individuals who contributed to its creation, stands four floors high with an area of 16,000 square feet.
Each of the four levels contains features that students from every religion can take advantage of.
Down in the bottom level of the center is the common area. Here students can relax and play games such as ping-pong and burn off some energy.
It also houses a kosher kitchen and storage area.The second level features a reception area and office and administrative rooms to be used by Hillel, a much more convenient and luxurious office area than was available prior to the opening of the center. A meeting room is also located on this level.
A lounge and library can be found on the third level. Students are welcome to browse and read through the materials available in the library or sit in the terrace and small kitchenette area. Office spaces and a conference room are scattered throughout.
The upper level houses the most cultural aspect of the Smokler Center: the Beit Midrash. A Beit Midrash is a room found in Jewish synagogues devoted to the study of scared writings and Holy Scripture. The meaning of Beit Midrash is "the house of learning or study." Students may pray in the Beit Midrash, or perhaps just relax in the Phi Sigma Delta Lounge found nearby. Also located on the fourth level is a large multipurpose room for student-planned activities.
Rabbi Joseph M. Menashe, the director of Hopkins Hillel, said in a statement, "I sincerely hope that all members of the Johns Hopkins University community will look upon the facility as a home that will spark meaningful social change and [as] a place to find a diverse Jewish community devoted to learning and spiritual growth."
