April 25 • 2019 15
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and bat mitzvahs.
He participated in L
’
Taken through 
the Reform Religious Action Center 
and went on Teen Mission last sum-
mer. He is the religious chair of his 
BBYO chapter. 

RYAN SILBERG

Ryan Silberg of 
Novi is a senior at 
Northville High 
School and a 
member of 
Temple Israel. He 
has been an active 
volunteer and 
philanthropist, as 
well as a promoter 
of social action 
and advocacy.
Ryan spent two years as a mem-
ber of the Detroit Jewish Fund Teen 
Board, where he learned about grant 
making and philanthropy. Following a 
suicide at his high school, he decided 
to become an advocate for teen mental 
health and suicide prevention. He is a 
member of the UMatter Teen Board, 
an organization promoting teen mental 
awareness and suicide prevention. 
Last summer, Ryan and his friend 
held a fundraiser at the Plymouth 
Art Fair and raised more than $1,200 
for UMatter. Recently, during charity 
week at his school, Ryan raised more 
than $600 for the National Alliance on 
Mental Health.
Ryan belongs to the National 
Honors Society, the school choir, and 
plays soccer and lacrosse. He had a 
summer internship at South Oakland 
Shelter, where he helped organize a 
run/walk to raise funds. Currently, he 
works part-time as a desk manager at a 
yoga studio.

ISAAC SMITH

Isaac Smith of 
West Bloomfield is 
a junior at West 
Bloomfield High 
School and a mem-
ber of Congre-
gation Beth Ahm, 
where he volun-
teers with chil-
dren’
s classes. 
 He also tutors students in math and 
in physics. He believes helping others 
to learn is a great way to assist in a bet-
ter future.

An all-A student, Isaac takes college 
classes through Eastern Michigan 
University and Lawrence Tech. 
He belongs to his school’
s Laker 
Express Choir, an elite, audition-
only choir that recently accompanied 
Tenors Unlimited at the Berman 
Center. He performed at Carnegie Hall 
with 17 other students from his school 
plus others from around the country 
and competes in Michigan Schools 
Vocal Music Association. He’
s a sum-
mer camp counselor at Oakland Yard 
Athletics in Waterford.
Isaac formed a close friendship with 
an 88-year-old member of his congre-
gation. As soon as he got his driver’
s 
license, he offered to drive his friend 
to shul.
He frequently leads services at Beth 
Ahm and sings with the small choir on 
High Holidays. Additionally, he reads 
Torah, Haftorah and Megillah, and fre-
quently leads minyan on Shabbat and 
during the week. He attends classes to 
expand his knowledge. He also tutors 
youngsters for b’
nai mitzvah.

SAMMY VIEDER

Sammy Vieder of 
Huntington Woods 
is a freshman at 
Berkley High 
School and a mem-
ber of Adat Shalom 
Synagogue. 
He has been 
cooking for nearly 
half his life. His 
passion and talent 
in the culinary arts exceeds the average 
14-year-old. He was a contestant on 
Master Chef Junior, which had many in 
the community watching every week 
rooting him on. Even after being on 
such a big TV show and getting rec-
ognized, he remains humble. He did 
cooking demos on Detroit news chan-
nels and for Friendship Circle.
Sammy’
s smile and radiant positivity 
are contagious. People say he has a way 
of making you feel like you’
re the most 
important person in the room. Sam 
is uplifting and funny. He truly cares 
about the greater good of the world 
and works toward bettering the people 
around him every day. Everyone Sam 
meets leaves each interaction better 
than they came. And if someone is 
doing something wrong, Sammy is 
always the first to help fix it. ■

Matti Friedman

an award-winning
Israeli journalist, author 
and IDF veteran

SHABBAT MORNING, MAY 4

9:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service 
9:45 a.m. Shabbat Torah Study with Ruth Bergman
10:00 a.m. Soulful Yoga with Rabbi Rachel Shere 
12:30 p.m. Matti Friedman will lead a Post-Kiddush 
 
discussion

THE ALEPPO CODEX

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 3

6:00 p.m. Shabbat Rocks 
 co-led by the youth of Adat Shalom
7:15 p.m. Shabbat dinner
8:00 p.m. After dinner presentation by Matti Friedman
 

 
SPIES OF NO COUNTRY

 Kids’ activities

For information 
and dinner reservations,
call 248.851.5100 
or register online at: 
adatshalom.org/synergy-shabbat

All presentations are free of charge

Adat Shalom Synagogue
is honored to welcome

SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 5

10:30 a.m. Presentation by Matti Friedman 

 ISRAEL AND THE MEDIA

 
In partnership with the Walk for Israel