About the Speaker

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

West Bloomfield, MI 48322

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. There really isn’t any work more sacred than this. The modest support we have been able to provide to help survivors age with dignity and respect, is something we can all feel proud of.

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.

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.

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.

We are humbled by the work of Father Patrick Desbois and, as an organization blessed to serve survivors, always must work to remember everyone’s stories and continue to share them with all 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 light on, we know that, “Whoever preserves a single soul, it is as world.”

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 these 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.

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.”

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