The eight-day celebration of Chanukah is known as the Festival of Lights. This year, Village Shalom added birthday candles to the holiday lights in its own ‘Festival of Lights’ marking the birthdays of its residents who have reached 100 or more years of age. 

Gathered around their birthday cake festooned with 100 candles are Village Shalom residents (from left) Ida Reed, 109; Anita Berkowitz, 102; Helen Shapiro, 101.

As the candles glowed on the menorah, Kansas City’s Jewish chorale, Shireinu, entertained Village Shalom residents with a concert of Chanukah music.