To Life!

Teens

Benton's Place

Beth El creates a cool youth wing
to keep teens involved.

RONELLE GRIER

Special to the Jewish News

is

any synagogues find it a challenge to
keep teens involved after their b'nai mitz-
vah year. At Temple Beth El, the chal-
lenge lies in getting their teenage students to leave
the building — especially when they're spending
time in the synagogue's new youth wing, better
known as Benton's Place.
The newly renovated and fully equipped multi-
room wing is a virtual teen paradise, complete with a
big screen TV, the latest video and arcade-style
games, a pinball machine, pool, foosball and air
hockey tables; a cappuccino bar, a computer -room
and plenty of comfortable couches.
The wing is named in memory of Benton Slatkin,
who drowned four years ago at age 15. He was the
son of Leslie Slatkin of
Bloomfield Hills and the late
Dennis Slatkin. It was Benton's
older brother, William Slatkin,
who donated the start-up money
for the project. Both boys cele-
brated their bar mitzvah at
Temple Beth El.
"Benton always hated the fact
that there was nowhere to go
with his friends," said his moth-
er, Leslie Slatkin. "Rabbi
Castiglione knew that the future
Benton Slatkin
of the Temple, and of Judaism,
lies with the kids. What struck
me most at the [May 16] dedication ceremony is
that the graduating students all said they'd be corn-
ing back."
Having a special place within the synagogue just for
teenagers has been a longtime dream of Rabbi David
Castiglione, who thought it was important for kids to
be able to socialize within a Jewish environment. He
hopes that Benton's Place also will motivate students
to continue their Jewish education through high
school. The area was dedicated May 16.
"When kids want to cut loose and socialize, they
really have very few options other than the malls,"
the rabbi said. "If we don't keep our kids connected
to the synagogue, attendance drops away after bar
and bat mitzvah year. They love it here. In the last
21/2 months, 280 kids have used the wing, and that's
with limited hours."

Home Away From Home

The youth wing has been open to grades 7-12 on
Monday and Thursday evenings, before and after
religious school and b'nai mitzvah classes. A new
program called "Wacky Wednesday" will be held
every other week from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., where

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teens will do a social action project, have
hinch and participate in recreational activ-
ities. The facility also will be used on
Saturday nights for dinner programs and
Havdalah services.
According to Temple Beth El Youth
Director Denise Goodman, the new wing
has resulted in enhanced bonding and
increased friendships among the teens.
"This year, we have 31 kids going to the
second session at Camp Tamarack together
because they've developed such close
friendships. In the past, we've never had
more than six," she said.
Goodman's daughter, Arianna, is a fre-
quent visitor to Benton's Place. "It's her
home away from home," said Goodman.
"She and her friends can't wait to get
there, and I literally have to turn off the games and
the lights to get them to leave."
Arianna donated some of her bat mitzvah gift
money to the wing. "I practically live there," she said.
"There's plenty to do; it's a great place to hang out."
Josh Simon, an eighth-grader from West
Bloomfield, agrees. "It's a place you can go before or
after class and really relax," he said.
More than 200 people of all ages attended the
dedication. Ray Abrams of Farmington Hills hung a
plaque honoring his late wife, Shirley, in whose
name he and his family donated the electronic enter-
tainment equipment. Dr. John and Judy Marx of
West Bloomfield also were recognized for their sig-
nificant contribution to the synagogue Youth
Endowment Fund.
"The synagogue has always been like a second
home," said William Slatkin, who is in his junior
year at Indiana University in Bloomington. "It
makes me think about my brother and all the time
we spent here. The one thing that was missing was a
place like this. It's great to finally see it all come
together. I feel like I've 'done right' by my brother;
this is something Benton would have loved." ❑

Clockwise from top left:

Leslie and William Slatkin of
Bloomfield Hills flank the
mezuzah put up to dedicate
Benton's Place.

Benjamin Smargon Cole, 13,
of Franklin and Abigail
Levitsky, 13, of Birmingham
play foosball.

Enjoying themselves at Benton's
Place are Ari Hollander, 7, of
West Bloomfield; Billy
Whiting, 14, of Farmington
Hills; Ethan MacWilliams, 17,
of Farmington Hills; Lathan
Saperstein, 16, of Franklin;
and Scott Lowen, 17, of
Farmington Hills.