30 | JULY 27 • 2023
Jewish Family Service’s annual Spotlight event
was held on May 24 at Temple Israel where the
agency’s work with more than 600 Holocaust
survivors was highlighted. Keynote speaker Fr.
Patrick Desbois, a Roman Catholic priest, kept
an audience of almost 400 community members
riveted to his every word.
Fr. Desbois shared in haunting detail his
experience discovering the location of more
than 2,900 killing sites and documenting more
than 7,000 witness testimonies to the war
crimes of the Nazi death squads. Although
it was difficult to hear some of the specific
accounts, those in attendance were impressed
by his presentation and his work with Yahad-In
Unum, his nonprofit organization dedicated to
providing documented proof of crimes against
humanity.
After his presentation, Fr. Desbois answered
questions moderated by JFS CEO Perry Ohren.
One participant who attended with her adult
daughter remarked, “It was truly an overall
humbling presentation that left both of us
talking and thinking.
”
Fr. Desbois was on hand after the event to
sign copies of several of his books and greet
guests.
Thanks to support from event chairs Helen
and Martin Katz, JFS raised over $375,000,
which will go toward providing much needed
services to the more than 15,000 people who
seek help from JFS each year. Jewish Family
Service would like to thank the generous
donors, foundations and supporters who con-
tributed to this event and to the agency year-
round to ensure that those in our community
do not face life’s challenges alone.
To learn more about Jewish Family Service and how you can
get involved, visit jfsdetroit.org. For more photos from this
event and a list of sponsors, visit jfsspotlightevent.org.
COURTESY OF JFS
faces&places
Jewish Family Service
Spotlight Event
Fr. Patrick Desbois and Perry Ohren
An attendee gets
his book signed by
Fr. Desbois.
Larry and
Andi Wolfe
Paul and
Jennifer
Silverman
Event chairs Helen
and Marty Katz
The Orley family