Miles Friedman | Congregation B’nai Amoona

Miles Friedman, son of Heidi and Dan Friedman of Skokie, Ill., chose to have his bar mitzvah at Congregation B’nai Amoona because he felt such a strong connection to his community there. Having moved away from St. Louis three years ago, he still thinks of it as home. His mother said, “When he thinks of the perfect Shabbat experience he imagines it at B’nai Amoona. He loves the feeling of being ‘home,’ surrounded by his family and lifelong friends.”

He feels that he is a valued member of the B’nai Amoona community and is encouraged to actively participate. Rabbi [Carnie] Rose, Rabbi [Orrin] Krublit and Cantor [Sharon]Nathanson are so warm, thoughtful and encouraging that he feels supported, cared about and loved when he is there. He feels good about himself when he is there, and he is always excited to return.”

For his mitzvah project, Miles chose to volunteer as a buddy with Keshet’s Buddy Bowling program. He really enjoys bowling and playing with new friends made it even better. The new friends were a few classmates from Sager Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago and his Keshet bowling partner, a 13 year-old boy.

Keshet Buddy Bowling is a fall/winter recreational league in the Chicago area, for adults and children with special needs. They are paired with a buddy that helps them set up the ramps, collect and roll the balls and provide the Keshet bowler with any support needed to ensure everyone has a good time. Miles loved seeing his teammates learn to bowl and felt great about what they were accomplishing. 

Another organization Miles supported was Maot Chitim, a Chicago-based non-profit which assists needy members of the Greater Chicagoland Jewish community with Passover and High Holiday and other food related needs, so that they may observe the holidays and daily life in a traditional and dignified manner. He has been involved with them for the past three years. 

He has loved packaging and delivering the meals at Rosh Hashanah and Passover as he gets to meet a wide range of people. He gets to push the boxes in the delivery wagon, carry them into the recipients’ apartments and chat with them for while. Miles also loves the treats they give the kids.

Miles chose Keshet and Maot Chitim because he likes to help other people and he liked that both organizations engage kids of all ages.