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We are fortunate to have at our fingertips the Pirkei Avot (“Ethics of the Fathers”), one of the wisest of ancient Jewish texts, from which comes the oft-quoted counsel, “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

Such wisdom applies to the thinking behind the $145 million transformation coming to the Jewish Home of San Francisco, a critical community institution that was on shaky financial footing until millions of dollars in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates were restored by the state.

Now the future is bright. The Home will soon begin construction on a top-to-bottom remodel of its existing facilities, and also will start building the Square, an innovative reimagining of how best to serve the changing needs of seniors and the frail elderly in San Francisco.

As our story this week details, the Square, to be built on the Jewish Home’s 9-acre campus on Silver Avenue, will be a one-stop shop for seniors. Under a JCC-like membership model, the Square will offer seniors, their families and their caregivers a wealth of medical and geriatric services, social events, exercise facilities and educational opportunities.

What’s exciting about this concept is that it will not be limited to residents of the Home, but will be available to the general public as well. It’s a way to reach a growing population of San Francisco seniors, more and more of whom choose to remain in their homes, and yet are no less in need of assistance and companionship.

Besides being able to reach thousands of seniors from the broader community via the Square, the Jewish Home also will expand its services to frail elderly and memory care residents, as well as its short-term rehab patients.

A plan like this does not come cheap. That $145 million price tag may sound steep, but the Jewish Home is lucky to call the Bay Area home. Philanthropists, foundations and federations have stepped up, among them the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, the Helen Diller Family Foundation and others, who have contributed $53 million so far, enough to begin pre-construction next month.

This is “Ethics of the Fathers” lived out in real time. Our generous community faced a critical growing need head on, and it delivered.

This giant project will take up to two years to complete, but when it’s done, the Square and the new-and-improved Jewish Home will be ready to meet the needs of seniors from across the city.

We applaud the visionaries at the Jewish Home and the philanthropists supporting this important project.