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