Chairs: Helen and Martin Katz
MAY 24, 2023
Thank you for joining us for the Spotlight Event, a celebration of all that Jewish Family Service does for our community. One of the ways JFS supports those in need is by caring for more than 600 Holocaust survivors each year. Our program tonight will ensure that we remember those who perished in the Holocaust and continue our commitment to helping survivors age in place. It is they who bore witness. It is they who carry the trauma. It is our hope that the community
Tonight’s speaker is Father Patrick Desbois. His mission is to fight bigotry and educate the world about the horrors of the Holocaust. He will take us on his
Throughout its 95-year history, Jewish Family Service has worked to help older adults safely age in place, guide families through unexpected hardships and
With your support of the Spotlight Event and the annual Friends of the Family fundraising campaign, Jewish Family Service will continue to serve the most
Marc Bakst, JFS Board Chairperson
GREETINGS FROM SPOTLIGHT CHAIRS
Helen and Martin Katz
SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER
Father Patrick Desbois
Q&A
Father Patrick Desbois
Perry Ohren, JFS CEO
Father Patrick Desbois is a distinguished author, university professor, historian, forensic detective and world-renowned human-rights activist. He has dedicated his life to fighting the bigotry that fuels the disease of genocide and bridging the divide between faiths. His ongoing work brings closure to the victims and survivors of genocide and calls for legal justice for the perpetrators. He is the founder of Yahad-In Unum (“Together In One” in Hebrew and Latin), a non-profit organization dedicated to discovering genocidal practices wherever they are found around the world and providing documented proof of crimes against humanity. He is a leading voice of protest on behalf of all past and present victims of mass murder.
Yahad-In Unum’s original charter was documenting the evidence of the Holocaust in Eastern Europe, known as the “Holocaust by Bullets.” For nearly two decades, Yahad-In Unum pioneered the application of modern forensic research to the study of genocide. Through this developed methodology, they have uncovered the location of more than 2,900 killing sites and documented more than 7,000 witness testimonies to the war crimes of the Einsatzgruppen (Nazi Death Squads). His first book, Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest’s Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews, is based on this work.
6555 West Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248.592.2300
6555 West Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248.592.2300
Sally & Graham Orley and Suzanne & Joseph Orley Building
6555 West Maple Road
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248.592.2300
25900 Greenfield Road Suite 405 Oak Park, MI 48237 248.592.2300
25900 Greenfield Road Suite 405 Oak Park, MI 48237 248.592.2300
25900 Greenfield Road Suite 405
Oak Park, MI 48237
248.592.2300
Service does to highlight critical issues in our community that, this Event to the Spotlight Event. We started this annual tradition three Refugee Resettlement, and then Holocaust Survivor Services, and last year will be shining a light on Mental Health.
There’s so much that Jewish Family Service does to highlight critical issues in our community that, this year, we have renamed our Annual Event to the Spotlight Event. We started this annual tradition three years ago, shining a light on Refugee Resettlement, and then Holocaust Survivor Services, and last year on Families in Crisis. This year we will be shining a light on Mental Health.
For more than 70 years Jewish Family Service has had the honor and responsibility of working with Holocaust survivors and their families. This is sacred work for our organization. As individuals, and as an organization, we are proud and grateful that we are able to support survivors to age with dignity and respect.
There’s so much that Jewish Family Service does to highlight critical issues in our community that, this year, we have renamed our Annual Event to the Spotlight Event. We started this annual tradition three years ago, shining a light on Refugee Resettlement, and then Holocaust Survivor Services, and last year on Families in Crisis. This year we will be shining a light on Mental Health.
There’s so much that Jewish Family Service does to highlight critical issues in our community that, this year, we have renamed our Annual Event to the Spotlight Event. We started this annual tradition three years ago, shining a light on Refugee Resettlement, and then Holocaust Survivor Services, and last year on Families in Crisis. This year we will be shining a light on Mental Health.
to discuss, but discuss we must. We thank Diane and Randy Orley Event, working to help others, through JFS and beyond, to find help to time when our Jewish community is also shining a light on this topic, Talk campaign.
This is a difficult subject for all of us to discuss, but discuss we must. We thank Diane and Randy Orley for chairing this year’s Spotlight Event, working to help others, through JFS and beyond, to find help to painful situations. This comes at a time when our Jewish community is also shining a light on this topic, through Federation’s We Need To Talk campaign.
This is a difficult subject for all of us to discuss, but discuss we must. We thank Diane and Randy Orley for chairing this year’s Spotlight Event, working to help others, through JFS and beyond, to find help to painful situations. This comes at a time when our Jewish community is also shining a light on this topic, through Federation’s We Need To Talk campaign.
and Friendship Circle and Kadima Mental Health Services, and so continues to be committed to helping individuals and families get the in our community. Further, we are all fighting mental health stigma, trainings for Jewish Communal Professionals and community members. Soul and Rabbi Daniel Syme, we are helping people not just in the broader community as well.
The work we do, person to person, is due to the support from an organized global Jewish community that includes the Claims Conference. The Claims Conference helps survivors from Oak Park to Ukraine through their support of JFS and hundreds of organizations around the world that provide this sacred work. Our other important partner is the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, and its umbrella, the Jewish Federations of North America. We are also fortified by our membership in the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, an increasingly integral part of all our work.
This is a difficult subject for all of us to discuss, but discuss we must. We thank Diane and Randy Orley for chairing this year’s Spotlight Event, working to help others, through JFS and beyond, to find help to painful situations. This comes at a time when our Jewish community is also shining a light on this topic, through Federation’s We Need To Talk campaign.
As a proud partner with Federation and Friendship Circle and Kadima Mental Health Services, and so many more, Jewish Family Service continues to be committed to helping individuals and families get the help they need at JFS and elsewhere in our community. Further, we are all fighting mental health stigma, and providing suicide prevention trainings for Jewish Communal Professionals and community members. Through JFS’ work with A Single Soul and Rabbi Daniel Syme, we are helping people not just in the Jewish community, but in the broader community as well.
As a proud partner with Federation and Friendship Circle and Kadima Mental Health Services, and so many more, Jewish Family Service continues to be committed to helping individuals and families get the help they need at JFS and elsewhere in our community. Further, we are all fighting mental health stigma, and providing suicide prevention trainings for Jewish Communal Professionals and community members. Through JFS’ work with A Single Soul and Rabbi Daniel Syme, we are helping people not just in the Jewish community, but in the broader community as well.
As an organization blessed to serve survivors, we are humbled by the work of Father Patrick Desbois. Together, we work to enhance the lives and preserve the dignity of survivors so that their stories are remembered for generations to come.
this work, JFS continues to do so much more. For example, we help families who have found themselves on hard financial times and we provide social work supports in host settings, like BBYO and the Jewish do with a generous community of donors and volunteers and funders Thank you one and all for your support of the mission of Jewish Family
As a proud partner with Federation and Friendship Circle and Kadima Mental Health Services, and so many more, Jewish Family Service continues to be committed to helping individuals and families get the help they need at JFS and elsewhere in our community. Further, we are all fighting mental health stigma, and providing suicide prevention trainings for Jewish Communal Professionals and community members. Through JFS’ work with A Single Soul and Rabbi Daniel Syme, we are helping people not just in the Jewish community, but in the broader community as well.
Of course, while we are highlighting this work, JFS continues to do so much more. For example, we help older adults to age in place, we help families who have found themselves on hard financial times and we partner with agencies to help provide social work supports in host settings, like BBYO and the Jewish Day Schools. And we do all that we do with a generous community of donors and volunteers and funders and stakeholders and partners. Thank you one and all for your support of the mission of Jewish Family Service.
The video which will air tonight spotlights stories from metro Detroit survivors and their family members, filling us with hope for a proud Jewish future.
We are also thankful for the scores of people who helped with tonight’s Spotlight Event, with Helen and Marty Katz enthusiastically chairing those efforts.
Of course, while we are highlighting this work, JFS continues to do so much more. For example, we help older adults to age in place, we help families who have found themselves on hard financial times and we partner with agencies to help provide social work supports in host settings, like BBYO and the Jewish Day Schools. And we do all that we do with a generous community of donors and volunteers and funders and stakeholders and partners. Thank you one and all for your support of the mission of Jewish Family Service.
light on, we know that, “Whoever preserves a single soul, it is as world.”
And no matter what we are shining a light on, we know that, “Whoever preserves a single soul, it is as though she had preserved a whole world.”
The work of Jewish Family Service is to help people through crisis, challenge, and transition. Our work with Holocaust survivors illustrates this better than anything else!
Of course, while we are highlighting this work, JFS continues to do so much more. For example, we help older adults to age in place, we help families who have found themselves on hard financial times and we partner with agencies to help provide social work supports in host settings, like BBYO and the Jewish Day Schools. And we do all that we do with a generous community of donors and volunteers and funders and stakeholders and partners. Thank you one and all for your support of the mission of Jewish Family Service.
And no matter what we are shining a light on, we know that, “Whoever preserves a single soul, it is as though she had preserved a whole world.”
Thank you for all of your support for all that JFS does. We simply cannot do it without you.
With Gratitude,
And no matter what we are shining a light on, we know that, “Whoever preserves a single soul, it is as though she had preserved a whole world.”
Todah rabah,With Gratitude,
Suzan F. Curhan Outgoing Board Chair
MARC BAKST Board Chairperson
Suzan F. Curhan Outgoing Board Chair
Suzan F. Curhan Outgoing Board Chair
PERRY OHREN CEO
jfsdetroit.org
Many thanks to the dedicated members of our Host Committee for their generous support of Jewish Family Service and tonight’s event.
Helen and Martin Katz
Spotlight Event Chairs
Wendy & Marc Bakst
Lisa & Andrew Barbas
Linda & Maurice Binkow
Hon. Paul D. Borman
Rhonda & Morris Brown
Emily Camiener & Marc Schwartz
Suzan & Michael Curhan
Gail Danto & Art Roffey
Joanne Danto & Arnold Weingarden
Sandy & Jim Danto
The David & Andrea Page Family Fund
Nancy & William Edmunds
Shelley & Mickey Eizelman
Pamela & Walter Feuereisen
Linda & Robert Finkel
Catherine & Nathan Forbes
Dale & Bruce Frankel
Karen Freedland-Berger
David Gach, JP Morgan Private Bank
Rose & David Handleman
Doreen Hermelin
Rosann & Jack Kaufman
Zina & Michael Kramer
Rebecca Kushner & Perry Ohren
Melissa & Larry Lax
Marvin & Betty Danto Family Foundation
Joy & Allan Nachman
Amy & Max Newman
AnaPaola & Geoffrey Orley
Diane & Randy Orley
Harriet & Gregg Orley
Marcie & Rob Orley
Sally Orley
Julie & Jason Page
Barbara & Mark Picklo
Arleen & Don Rochlen
Deb & Steve Rosenthal
Julie & Adam Rothstein
Shelly & Mark Rubenfire
Martie & Bob Sachs
Lori & Dr. Marc Siegel
Amy & Craig Singer
Nancy & Harvey Solway
Carolyn Tisdale
Drs. Allison & Max Weinmann
Melanie & Marty West
Beverly & Hadley Wine
Andi & Larry Wolfe
Margie & Josh Yaker
Linda Zlotoff
Marc Bakst, Chair
Shelly Rubenfire, Vice-Chair
David Gach, Treasurer
Amy Singer, Secretary
Julie Teicher, Immediate Past Chair
Danielle DePriest
Jerry Frohlich
Helen Katz
Jason Page
Julie Rothstein
Andi Wolfe
Perry Ohren, CEO
Brooke Bendix
Anita Blender
Rhonda Brown
Emily Camiener
Rabbi Levi Dubov
Jeri Fishman
Karen Freedland-Berger
Michelle Freeman
Jenny Fritz
Allan Gale
Bill Goldstein
Sue Hersh
Rabbi Marla Hornsten
Melissa Orley Lax
Randy Orley
Avi Rubin
Elana Schwartz
Sandy Schwartz (z”l)
2022-2023
Nachy Soloff
Marvin Sonne
Becca Steinman-DeGroot
Carolyn Tisdale
Renee Unger
Allison Weinmann
Jordon Wertheimer
David Witten
Margie Yaker
Manat Foundation
The Marvin & Betty Danto Family Foundation
Andi & Larry Wolfe
Judy & Jeff Aisen
Pamela & Walter Feuereisen
The Irving & Ethel Palman Foundation
Linda & Mark Jacobs
Melissa & Larry Lax
Mark Milgrom
Anonymous
Rhonda & Morris Brown
Sandy & Jim Danto
Elaine C. Driker
Shelley & Mickey Eizelman
Lisa & Andrew Barbas
Linda & Maurice Binkow
Brogan & Partners
Shirley & Leonard Cetner
Ina Cohen
Craig Singer MD Dermatology
Suzan & Michael Curhan
Dale & Bruce Frankel
Wendy & Marc Bakst
Carolyn & Jim Bellinson
Anita & Dennis Blender
Hon. Paul D. Borman
Michele & Marc Borovoy
Sandra & Stanley Boykansky
Diane Brody & Todd Schafer
Emily Camiener & Marc Schwartz
Gail Danto & Art Roffey
Joanne Danto & Arnold Weingarden
Joy & Allan Nachman
AnaPaola & Geoffrey Orley
Diane & Randy Orley
Martin S. & Violet Jacob and Family
Tzedakah Fund
Patrice M. Phillips & Robert P. Morris
Fund for Family Emergencies
Janet & Donald Schenk
Nancy & Harvey Solway
The Sylvia Pevin & George Pevin Foundation
Helen & Martin Katz
Rosann & Jack Kaufman
Rebecca Kushner & Perry Ohren
Sally Orley
Julie & Jason Page
Arleen & Don Rochlen
Julie & Adam Rothstein
Vesco Oil Corporation
Drs. Margo & Douglas Woll
Karen Freedland-Berger
Gallagher
Granite Networks, Inc.
The Grove
Francine & Paul Hack
Amy & Mark Haimann
Henry Ford Health
Jax Kar Wash
Colleen & Jeff Lev
Deb & Steve Rosenthal
Martie & Bob Sachs
Bluma Schechter
Jennifer & Paul Silverman
Amy & Craig Singer
Melanie & Marty West
The David & Andrea Page
Family Fund
Beth & Jeff Davidson
Linda & Dennis Deutsch
Nancy & William Edmunds
Wendy & Jeff Eisenshtadt
Mary & Larry Epstein
Miriam & Fred Ferber
Linda & Robert Finkel
Deena Fishman
Jeri & Steve Fishman
Catherine & Nathan Forbes
Michelle Freeman & Zachary Katz
Jennifer & Lowell Friedman
David Gach, JP Morgan Private Bank
Susan & Richard Gibbs
Barbara & Fred Goldberg
Diane & Bill Goldstein
Liza Lax Gordon & Zack Gordon
Grigg Graphic Services, Inc.
Fran & David Grossman
Rose & David Handleman
Doreen Hermelin
Rabbi Marla Hornsten & Dr. Sheldon Stern
Marla & Jeffrey Kaftan
Zina & Michael Kramer
Andrea Laker
Lisa & Gary Langnas
Randie Levin & Cyril Moscow
Jody Lipton & Geoff Kretchmer
Nancy & Howard Luckoff
Judy & John Marx
Jeanne & Leo Maxbauer
Mara & Andrew Moss
Amy & Max Newman
Julie & Larry August
Gretchen & Tony Baron
Linda & Michael Berke
Nancy & Lawrence Bluth
Bradley + Company
Betty Chu & Navot Shoresh
Danielle DePriest & Matthew Newman
Farber Hebrew Day School
Elyse & David Foltyn
Frankel Jewish Academy
Wendy & Howard Handler
Roz & Stanford Blanck
Hilary & Stuart Borman
Marion & Harvey Bronstein
Katie & Jeremy Brown
Gayle & Richard Burstein
Annie & Rob Cohen
Keri & Don Cohen
Mushky & Rabbi Levi Dubov
Ellen Firestone
Jenny & Ron Fritz
Joan & Jerry Frohlich
Helene & Tom Ohren
Harriet & Gregg Orley
Marcie & Rob Orley
Patti & Rick Phillips
Barbara & Mark Picklo
The Ravitz Foundation
Robert Rochte
Rosalie Rosen and Julie & Marty Wiener
Shelly & Mark Rubenfire
Marcie & Marc Schechter
Jane & Richard Schwartz
Nancy & Howard Serlin
Lori & Dr. Marc Siegel
Susie & David Sillman
Carole & Curt Slotkin
Katherine & Scott Small
Susan Sovel & Alyssa Mertz
Julie & Mark Teicher
Temple Israel
Carolyn Tisdale
Video Vision 360|Ryan Doyle
Miriam & Elliot Weinhouse
Drs. Allison & Max Weinmann
Steven R. Weisberg
Alex & Jordon Wertheimer
Beverly & Hadley Wine
Margie & Josh Yaker
Zekelman Holocaust Center
Linda Zlotoff
Barbara Heller
Susan & Nelson Hersh
Stacy McGhee Janetzke & Jim Janetzke
Jewish Senior Life
Celia & George Leikin
Lenore Marwil Detroit Jewish
Film Festival
Lisa & Hannan Lis
The Maple Theater
National Council of Jewish Women, Michigan
Office Evolution Troy
Susie & Norm Pappas
Share Ukraine
Karen Smith & Marcus Helman
Frances & Marvin Sonne
Marion & Bert Stein
Beth & Sheldon Stone
Tamarack Camps
Jaimee & David Witten
Linda Kahn Gale & Allan Gale
Yuliya Gaydayenko & Eugene Press
Nancy Glen & Ralph McDowell
Tom & Kathryn Goldberg
Barbara Grant
Richard Herman
Mari & Sheldon Kaftan
Lawrence H. Kohlenberg CPA
Vera Lev
Lynne & Jeffrey Obron
PACE Southeast MI
Rachel & Michael Peres
Dini & Aaron Peterson
Sarah & George Roberts
Randi & Stuart Sakwa
Avy Schreiber Entertainment
Elana & Rabbi Daniel Schwartz
Senior Helpers, Barbara Roden
Rebecca & Rabbi Aaron Starr
The Townsend Hotel
Renee & Rick Unger
Jewish Family Service is honored to serve the over 15,000 people each year who come to us for help. Each one has their own story, their own difficult journey, their own needs they are struggling to meet. The critical services we provide make a huge impact in their lives. Harold, Kyle and Sonia are just three examples of how JFS has made a difference in the lives of our community members.
Harold is a Holocaust survivor with an impressive track record for solving The New York Times crossword puzzle. He has a fondness for pastrami sandwiches. And he has loving children and grandchildren who live out of state. They visit regularly for the holidays, and on their recent trip for Passover they noticed that Harold was becoming increasingly frail. The dishes were piled up in the sink. And it seemed that he could benefit from more social opportunities.
Jewish Family Service provided Harold with a personal emergency response system to keep him safe in his own home, as well as home care services to help with cooking, laundry and the dishes. We connected him with a volunteer to teach him how to use his new iPad to stay in touch with his family and friends, and they matched him with a friendly visitor who stops by once a week—often with a pastrami sandwich.
WE HELPED HAROLD WITH THESE SERVICES:
Geriatric Care Management | Transportation
Friendly Visitors | Assistive Technology
Home Care | Social Technology
Kyle has had a successful career as a manager for a national company—until layoffs knocked him off his path. He’s job hunting but it’s been a slow process, so he’s working in retail part-time to get some money coming in. As a single father of two boys, he’s trying to shield them from their financial situation. But he is struggling to cover all his monthly bills and put enough food on the table. He never thought he would find himself in such a precarious situation, but now he fears losing his home.
Jewish Family Service worked with Kyle and helped him apply for benefits, which meant plenty of food for his family. We connected him with resources to help with his mortgage, job search and to make sure the lights stayed on. Together with his social worker, they developed a plan for financial stability that would put him back on the road to success.
Sonia lost her husband after a long battle with cancer. Now she’s fighting for the well-being and financial security of her family. A stay-athome mom of two kids, she hasn’t been in the workforce for fifteen years and is worried about returning to her career in marketing. But she’s more concerned about the mental health of her kids, who are struggling with the loss of their dad. Her oldest is struggling at school and the younger one is having anxiety attacks when they are away from Sonia.
Jewish Family Service helped Sonia by connecting her with a case manager who provided employment resources. In addition to joining our grief support group, Sonia is now working one-on-one with a JFS therapist who is helping her develop critical tools for processing this devastating life change. Both of her kids are also receiving counseling to help them work through their feelings.
WE HELPED KYLE WITH THESE SERVICES:
Case Management | Benefits Assistance
Housing Resources
Emergency Financial Assistance
WE HELPED SONIA WITH THESE SERVICES:
Case Management | Counseling Support Groups
Assistive Technology
ElderCare Solutions of Michigan
Family Caregiver Support Program
Friendly Visitors
Geriatric Care Management
Health Coaching
Holocaust Survivor Assistance
Home Care
Kosher Meals on Wheels
Mind University
Transportation
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
A Single Soul Suicide Prevention
Community Education
Counseling
Jewish Addiction Resource Alliance
We Need To Talk
Youth and School-Based Services
SAFETY NET
Domestic Abuse Intervention
Family Support Services
Health Care Navigation
Legal Referral Service
ORTHODOX COMMUNITY*
Lev Detroit Resource Center
Passover Assistance
Safety Kid
School-Based Services
Uniform Assistance
Welcome Baskets
RUSSIAN-SPEAKING COMMUNITY*
Translation and Interpretation
*Members of these communities have access to all JFS resources as well as these specialized services
We support Holocaust survivors by helping them maintain their independence so they may live safely and with dignity in their own homes for as long as possible. This past year we received 14.7million dollars from the Claims Conference to provide services in order for survivors to continue living comfortably and safely, most in their own homes.
Funding from the Jewish Federations of North America Center on Holocaust Survivor Care and Institute on Aging and Trauma allowed us to train over
Jewish Family Service appreciates your help and thanks you for all you’ve done to make our Spotlight Event a success. It’s because of the dedication and involvement of people like you that we can continue providing critical services to those in need.
