Fall 2023
JFS TODAY THE HEART OF A STRONGER COMMUNITY
Looking back to move forward: Spotlight speaker brings healing and hope
F what’s INSIDE 2. Annual Meeting 4. Welcome Brian Ginsberg, New Chief Culture and People Officer 6. Getting By With a Little Help From Our Peers 8. JFS Training Institute
ather Patrick Desbois kept an audience of almost 400 community members riveted to his every word at our annual Spotlight Event held on May 24 at Temple Israel. The Roman Catholic priest has devoted his life to educating the world about the Holocaust and he 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 the Father’s presentation and his work with Yahad-In Unum, his organization dedicated to providing documented proof of crimes against humanity.
“It was truly an overall humbling presentation,” said one woman who attended the event with her adult daughter. “It left both of us talking and thinking.” Thanks to support from event chairs Helen and Martin Katz, and our many donors and event sponsors, we were able to raise over $375,000, which will allow us to continue supporting the quality of life of the over 600 Holocaust survivors we serve and providing much needed services to the more than 15,000 people who come through our door, ensuring that those in our community don’t face life’s challenges alone. If you missed this year's Spotlight Event, visit vimeo.com/jfsdetroit/ spotlight2023 to see the recording.