To Life!
S, I R T Li A L
Love
Of Learning
Down's syndrome doesn't limit
Sam Miller's Jewish studies.
Susan Tawil
Special to the Jewish News
M gybe once in a century
is there cause for such
joy. On Feb. 19, the
Miller family celebrated twice —
once for Dora Miller's 100th
birthday and later that day when
her great-grandson, Sam Miller,
made a Sly14111 (completion cere-
mony) on Mishnayot Rosh
Hashanah.
Mishnayot is the 2,000-year-
old codified collection of the Oral
Law. It is the traditional Jewish
doctrine that explains the
mitzvot of the Torah and upon
which the Talmud is based.
The section Sam learned is a
four-chapter portion dealing with
the details of Rosh Hashanah and
the laws of the shofar — pretty
standard fare for yeshivah stu-
dents across the world. What's
remarkable about this siyum is
Sam, 25, who has Down's syn-
drome."I never dreamed he
could do it:' said Judy Miller, his
proud, teary-eyed mother. "I did-
n't know this was possible
The Millers' Oak Park home
exploded with people wishing
"Mazel Tov!" as Sam held court
at the dining room table, pump-
ing hands of friends and family
and grinning with delight.
The crowd of about 100
included relatives who came
from all around the country to
be with Sam as well as to help
Dora Miller celebrate her special
birthday that afternoon in
Southfield's Menorah House.
Also attending the evening
siyum were Jason Lieberman of
New York, director of community
and government affairs for
Yachad, an Orthodox Union pro-
gram for young people with dis-
abilities, and Emily Novit of
South Carolina, Sam's counselor
from Camp Morasha in
Pennsylvania, who has known
Sam for six years.
"I couldn't miss this',' Novit
said. "Sam is so special; I just
had to come
"Sam is such an amazing per-
son," Lieberman said. "He can go
as far as he's given the opportu-
nity to grow. His example should
push others to do more and learn
more."
Many members of the Oak
Park/Southfield Jewish com-
munity also came to the
siyum, as Sam is a well-known
young man about town.
"They all came for Sam," his
mother said. "He's part of the
community, and he knows it."
Sam's motivation for Jewish
learning is nothing new. He
actually read his entire bar
mitzvah portion from the
Torah when he was 13, another
major accomplishment.
"He is an inspiration',' said
aunt Leah Hadassah Shudnow
of Oak Park. "Sam blossoms
from Jewish things."
Sam has been learning
Mishnayot Rosh Hashanah
every Thursday night for about
a year and a half at Oak Park's
Kollel Institute of Greater
Detroit. His study partner is
Rabbi Reuven Green, Kollel exec-
utive director, who guides Sam in
reading and translating the
material.
"The Kollel is regarded as
Detroit's 'Harvard' of Torah study,
but Sam demonstrates that the
Kollel is open to everyone to
learn at whatever level," said
Rabbi Green. "I've learned so
much from learning with Sam.
He is always there on time. His
learning is his priority. He learns
with gusto, and always wants to
learn more."
"Sam let out a big yell of hap-
piness when we finished learning
Rosh Hashanah at the Koller
Rabbi Green said, "and we start-
ed Succot (the next section of
Mishnayot) right away. I think
Sam Miller obligates us all to
reconsider our commitment to
Torah study."
❑
Study partner
Rabbi Reuven
Green, Kollel
Institute of
Greater Detroit
executive director,
congratulates Sam
Green after his
siyum.
Sam Green of Oak
Park is pleased
with himself at the
siyum, a ceremony
marking the com-
pletion of a portion
of study.
The siyum party seen from outside the Miller home
March 2 a 2006
17