The Silver Family
The Silver Family: Just Days Away from Their B’nai Mitzvah!
Rabbi Shulman had the pleasure of speaking with the Silver family the week before Maddie and Sam’s b’nai mitzvah at HEA. The Silvers are looking forward to coming together with the HEA community, their family member, and friends for this joyous occasion. “Everyone whom we love will be there to support our kids and their accomplishments and recognize this milestone in their lives. It’s really special when you can take the time to pause, to bring in the joy, and have gratitude for all the blessings,” shared Susan Silver.
Susan grew up in Denver, down the street at Temple Sinai. She came to the HEA community at the age of 25 when she was in search of a morning minyan after her younger brother passed away. Susan found the comfort and community she was looking for at HEA. Later when she met and married Andrew, who moved to Denver from New Jersey, they made their home at HEA. Susan’s father, Jerry Kirshenbaum, was also a very active member of the morning minyan for years. Susan and Andrew recall sharing their first High Holidays together at HEA and feeling that the service felt familiar and like the right place for them as a couple.
Later the Silvers got involved in the HEA community as a young family, with Maddie and Sam attending the HEA Preschool, Tot Shabbat, and Shir Hadash with their parents. “It was so nice to give my kids such a positive Jewish experience, opportunities to learn about the holidays, and all that mushy goodness.” The Silvers have prioritized Shabbat dinners, blessings their children on Friday nights, and building a strong Jewish identity in their home based on Jewish values and rituals. 
Shir Hadash played an especially meaningful spiritual role for the Silvers while Andy was going through a career change. “We would go regularly, and it gave us a lot of comfort to have a spiritual community during a time of transition.” Andy now works as Senior Director of IT Communication at DaVita, while Susan is a psychologist focused on supporting adults dealing with trauma and mood disorders.
This coming Shabbat, Maddie and Sam will have the opportunity to lead Shir Hadash services themselves and give back to the HEA community. Through the b’nai mitzvah process, it has been a pleasure for Susan and Andrew, as well as the HEA clergy, to witness how Maddie and Sam have grown individually and, at the same time, rely on each other. As Susan stated, “It’s impressive to see how they have evolved as students and have come into their own in terms of their responsibilities and prioritizing study for their b’nai mitzvah. It was really important to both of them.” The Silver b’nai mitzvah will, in fact be the second generation of Silver twins being called up to the Torah together, as Andrew is also a twin. And what a joy it will be for all to celebrate doubly with the Silver family at HEA!