Giving Voice

At 16, Sam Kay directs his talents
toward a cantorial future.

Members of Temple Israel's Yom
Sheini rehearse: Alex Finkelstein,

15, West Bloomfield; Sam Kay, 16,
West Bloomfield; Hannah Iwrey, 15,
Farmington Hills; and Rachael Malerman,

18, West Bloomfield.

Banding from page Al2

Yedwab's son, Jesse, said, "No one
should have to go through what the
Fischer kids are experiencing and it's
an honor to be able to help them.
"Anyone can play music on their
own, and it is a beautiful thing; but
when people are playing together,
especially for a cause, music becomes
an escape — an escape from the
hardships of life and the struggles
that one endures," he said.
"I believe that Banding Together
will not only be an escape for the
Fischer children, but for everyone to
take a step outside their own strug-
gles and see that no matter how hard
their life gets, there is still something
that they can do to benefit someone
in an even worse position.
"In addition," he said, "the great
thing about music is that even though
it opens you up to reflect, it also
brings people together, to love and
care with each other. It is the most
powerful force on this Earth. Music
will change the world, one cause at a
time."
Rabbi Yedwab says he is hoping
people will come with open hearts
and remember to be generous
because it is for a good cause.
The Fischer/Tarnas family as well
as many of their extended family
members and friends will be there to
enjoy the music and the good will.
"I think it's going to be awesome
said Susie Tarnas of West Bloomfield.
"I'm very touched that all the children
and Rabbi Yedwab are doing this for
us. It's a really cool thing. I think it's
great for the kids doing it and great
for our kids witnessing the communi-
ty coming out in support of them." L

Mitchell Barnett
Teen2Teen Staff Writer

S

ome kids might say that
playing an instrument or
singing in public might be
nerve-wracking or intimidating,
but not Sam Kay, a sophomore at
West Bloomfield High School and
a member of Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield.
Sam is a teen who loves to sing.
He puts himself out on the stage
to lead and entertain. An accom-
plished singer, Sam is involved with
Temple Israel's Yom Sheini, a band
made up of high school teens that
is similar to the temple's popular
Shabbat Unplugged group. He also
belongs to Teen T'fillah Team, a
teen singing group at Temple Israel.
And not long ago, when Temple
Israel soloist Neil Michaels was out
of town, Sam stepped in to lead
services as a guest cantor.
"It was a fantastic spiritual expe-
rience," he said. "I liked being able
to give back to Temple Israel as
they have been so good to my fam-
ily and me."
Sam is the son of Laura and Jeff
Solomon and Michael Kay, all of
West Bloomfield. He has eight sib-
lings ranging in age from 22 to 10.
"They are all very talented in
their own different ways," Sam
said. "My mom explained to us at
a young age that we all have 'gifts'
and sooner or later the gift would
present itself."
Sam says he wants to be a can-
tor when he grows up. He studies
once a week with Cantor Michael
Smolash of Temple Israel.
"Cantor Smolash is my inspira-
tion," Sam said. "He's talented,
cool and easy to work with. He is
very receptive to new ideas I might
have. He is always willing to try
new things. He has encouraged me
every step of the way, along with all
the other clergy at Temple Israel.
It is an extremely supportive envi-

ronment both spiritually and
musically."
Smolash said, "Sam has
such as good voice. Nothing
makes you feel better as a
cantor than being with some-
one who wants to be like you
and looks up to you. We are
looking for more dates to let
Sam lead services right now."
Besides singing, Sam
also plays the piano. He's
studying piano and vocal
performance with his mentor
Irwin Krinsky of Bloomfield Hills.
He also studied with vocal coaches
Rita Jury of Bloomfield Hills and
Stephanie Michaels of Commerce
Township.
Sam, along with several other
teens in Yom Sheini, continues to
develop musically by composing his
own music as well as performing.
In fact, Sam wrote a song based
on Psalm 150 for the last Yom
Sheini performance. Another Yom
Sheini member, Jesse Yedwab,
wrote his own versions of the
Shema and Oseh Shalom.
"Why pass up an opportunity
like this for kids to write their own
music," said Rabbi Paul Yedwab,
Jesse's father. "When I first heard
Sam play his song on the piano,
Neil Michaels and I encouraged him
to write his own lyrics, and with the
help of [fellow band member] Matt
Rosner, he did."

Exploring His Gift

Sam has always felt like the music
flowed through him, and singing
just came naturally to him.
"I guess I am an old soul," he
said. "My grandfather [Moishe Last]
was a singer and that's where I
must have gotten the gift. I started
playing the piano to learn to
accompany myself because I can't
always be with the pianist, Irwin
Krinksy, I usually sing with.
"Songwriting came to me
because of life experiences I've had.

Sam Kay, 16, at the piano during a
Yom Sheini rehearsal at Temple Israel.
Watching are Rachael Malerman, 18, of

West Bloomfield; Emma Trivax, 15, of
West Bloomfield; Hannah Iwrey, 15 of
Farmington Hills; and Harry Hantman,

16, of West Bloomfield.

The loss of my zaydie [grandfather
Jack Kay] left me spiritually affect-
ed, which transcended into lyrics
for a recent song," Sam said.
"So I am blessed that the sing-
ing is rather effortless, that's
how I know I was meant to sing.
Hopefully, the songs can bring a
message to people that changes
them spiritually in some way. I hope
to be a soul stirrer."
When he's not involved in some
kind of Jewish music, Sam turns
to Detroit's most famous musical
legacy.
"I love Motown for its soul and
the way the performers came by it
naturally," he said. "The songs are
timeless."
Besides being a very active
singer, Sam is involved with Temple
Israel's Youth Group, YFTI, where
he volunteers and sings as a guest
cantor.
Through his various involve-
ments, Sam is a respected individu-
al at Temple Israel.
"When Sam stood in as cantor,
and I heard him sing his song, I was
blown away," Rabbi Yedwab said. "I
will never forget that moment."

May 21

v

2009

A13