Nicole Braverman, Nikki to her friends and family, is a junior at the Frankel Jewish Academy (formerly known as JAMD). I have known Nikki since she was in pre-school. She is a graduate of Hillel Day School, celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah at B’nai Moshe back in 2003, and attended 9th and 10th grade at West Bloomfield High School. Nikki is smart and friendly, and an excellent basketball player.

In addition to her many other fine qualities, Nikki is a regular at our Wednesday evening minyan.

Yes, you heard that right. If you show up on Wednesday in the Cantor Klein Chapel, you will see Nikki, seating in the back row, end seat, with a siddur in hand, participating in the service. Her presence is reliable, her face becoming more familiar each week to the other Wednesday regulars. She recently struck up a conversation with another minyan participant, and discovered that he is the grandfather of one of her friends.

How did Nicole Braverman become a minyan regular? It all started with her transfer to the Jewish Academy. Nikki soon learned that Jewish Academy students are required to complete a minimum of ten “contact hours” at their synagogue or temple. When Cantor Berris, Daniella Mechnikov and I visited our B’nai Moshe students at the Academy recently, to discuss how they might fulfill synagogue contact requirement, we suggested such ways as reading Torah on Shabbat or volunteering in the L.I.F.E. program. Nikki, however, came up with her own idea, and she and the synagogue are better off for it.

I must admit, I’m not sure if all the Frankel Jewish Academy students are dutifully attending the synagogue as they are supposed to. But Nikki Braverman is not like the others. She admittedly takes her responsibilities very seriously. If life hands her a challenge, she fulfills it without fail. Nikki takes the same approach to her school’s requirement for Community Service, and for her studies in general. When I asked Nikki why she transferred to the Academy, she replied that, “it was to get a better education.” Nikki adds, “Here (at the Jewish Academy) I have a better relationship with my teachers and classmates.”

And now Nikki has a better relationship with her synagogue. What started as a means of meeting a school requirement has emerged as a highlight of her week. Nikki tells me, “It’s a good feeling to be there. I feel that they really need me.” During basketball season, Nikki left practice early in order to arrive on time for the minyan. Soon she will be starting her 5th year on an AAU basketball team. Nikki told me there might be a problem attending on Wednesday. I thought to myself, “OK, here’s the end of her commitment to minyan.” But then Nikki added, “Rabbi, do you think it’s all right if some weeks I attend a minyan on a night other than Wednesday?”

Nikki has inspired her parents, Les and Gail Braverman, with her new commitment to the synagogue. Gail told her daughter that if Nikki would ever be unable to attend the service, then Gail would go in her daughter’s place.

Imagine if everyone felt, and acted, like Nicole Braverman. Wouldn’t it be something if every one of us felt a sense of responsibility to maintain the minyan, or otherwise come to the synagogue on a regular basis? Wouldn’t it be great if all who commit to attend follow through on their promise, even if it means disrupting their schedule from time to time? Come Wednesdays to the evening service to meet Nicole, and then choose your own day to “follow in her footsteps.”