14 | APRIL 29 • 2021 

T

his year, the Jewish News has 
once again partnered with 
Jteen, a Jfamily program based 
at the Jewish Community Center of 
Metropolitan Detroit, to recognize 18 
remarkable teens in our community who 
excel in academics, sports, business, 
activism and tikkun olam — among 
many other areas. 
 They all have one thing in com-
mon — they are making a difference in 
their communities. In what has been an 
exceptionally difficult year for so many, 
it is wonderful to recognize the positive 
achievements of the exceptional teens in 
our community.
Enjoy reading the following snapshots 
of this year’s crop of Rising Stars, pre-
sented in alphabetical order.

ABBY CHAYET

Abby Chayet, 16, of 
West Bloomfield is a 
junior at Bloomfield 
Hills High School. 
She is an award-win-
ning dancer, a mem-
ber of National 
Honor Society, and 
an involved student 
in many clubs such 
as DECA, Principal’s Advisory Committee, 
Key Club (benefiting local charities) and 
Jewish Student Alliance. Abby is also on 
her high school tennis team and a writer 
for her school newspaper; perhaps her 
most endearing qualities are resilience and 
compassion.
She volunteers with many organiza-
tions such as Make A Wish, Housing the 
Homeless at Temple Israel, Top Soccer and 

the Friendship Circle, where she serves on 
the Teen Executive Board. 
Since the pandemic began, she par-
ticipated in five different food drives, 
delivering meals to frontline workers 
and those with food insecurity. Abby 
raised funds for Beaumont Hospital’s 
Moonbeam program, ensuring pediat-
ric patients could still enjoy bags full 
of glow items during the holiday time. 
Last October, she shopped for and 
dropped off Halloween packages for 
each and every patient in the pediatric 
unit at her local hospital. In addition, 
she volunteers her time reading virtual-
ly each week to a young boy in Pontiac 
through a book buddy program. 
Having a sibling with serious medi-
cal issues has shaped Abby. She knew 
firsthand how it felt to be hospitalized 
and was worried about how kids in the 

Meet 18 amazing teens making an impact in our community.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZZ CARDWELL, JCC

COMPILED BY JN STAFF

