Autistic teen reaches within to achieve spiritual goal

This is a story about transformation, determination and community. This is a story of how 14-year-old Danielle Dryzer had her bat mitzvah celebration last month at Heska Amuna Synagogue. A bat mitzvah (bar mitzvah for a boy) is a coming-of-age time for Jewish teens. The teen becomes responsible to observe commandments of the Torah, the key text of Judaism. A bar or bat mitzvah service, held after the teen attends religious school study and receives tutoring, transforms a child into an adult in the Jewish community. Danielle’s was a transformation on several levels. Danielle is autistic. She didn’t speak her first sentence until she was 7 1/2. Now she goes to West Valley Middle School. She gets occupational and speech therapy. The oldest of Dr. Scott and Lynn Dryzers’ three children has grown verbally and emotionally. Read Article

By Amy McRary