Meet 18 amazing teens making a COMPILED BY JN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIZZ CARDWELL, JCC ABBY CHAYET
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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 common — 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, presented in alphabetical order.
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APRIL 29 • 2021
Abby Chayet, 16, of West Bloomfield is a junior at Bloomfield Hills High School. She is an award-winning dancer, a member 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 organizations 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 participated 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 pediatric 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 virtually each week to a young boy in Pontiac through a book buddy program. Having a sibling with serious medical issues has shaped Abby. She knew firsthand how it felt to be hospitalized and was worried about how kids in the
