More than 200 community members, residents and families came together to celebrate Village Shalom’s 25th anniversary on the Helzberg Campus.
Shirley and Barnett Helzberg, Jr. served as honorary chairs for the event, a connection to their vision and funding that helped make the Helzberg Campus a reality 25 years ago. Their leadership — along with the dedication of donors, volunteers and community leaders — brought Village Shalom’s mission to life. The anniversary event on Sept. 27 provided examples of that mission’s continuation.
Highlights included posters of Village Shalom Legacy Families displayed throughout the campus, telling the stories of families whose ties to Village Shalom span generations. A commemorative video shown in the Gould Theater captured voices, milestones and memories from across the decades.
Pictured with their families’ Shalom Legacy Family posters are Bob Gershon and Pella Fingersh.
“This milestone was never just about marking time,” Village Shalom President Simon Abrahms said. “It was about honoring the lives touched — families who have found peace of mind knowing their loved ones are cared for with dignity and respect, residents who have called Village Shalom home, and a Jewish community that treasures the responsibility of caring for its elders.”
The 25th Anniversary Celebration Committee included Shirley and Barnett Helzberg, Jr. as honorary chairs, as well as Renana and Mike Abrams; Sandy Baer and Charley Helzberg; Dierdre and Ronnie Baker; Phyliss and Bob Bernstein; Bonnie and Herb Buchbinder; Bobby Epsten; Pella and Jack Fingersh; Sandi and Ed Fried; Jim Gerson; Karen R. Glickstein and Donald J. Swartz; Cathy and Joe Hiersteiner; Gail and Harry Himmelstein; Liz and John Hjalmarson; Jenny and John Isenberg; Marcia Karbank; Eileen and Bruce Kershenbaum; Lisa and Jim Klein; Michael Klein; Erlene and Sandy Krigel; Marcia Schoenfeld and Fred Greenstein; Shelly and Steve Silverman; Blanche and Neil Sosland; Mary Stahl and Sam Devinki; Amy and Ed Tranin; and Nicole and Myron Wang.
Attendees gathered for a presentation in the Epsten Gallery at Village Shalom.
Many attendees also chose to mark the occasion with donations, supporting Village Shalom’s work to continue providing compassionate care and connections for future generations. Looking ahead, there will be many opportunities for supporters to stay engaged, whether through volunteering, participating in programs or supporting Village Shalom’s mission in other ways. More information is available by emailing .
For those unable to attend, the commemorative video can be viewed online at youtu.be/y6PDvKKqCk0, and additional event photos, posters and slideshows will soon be available on villageshalom.org.
