CTeen cuts the ribbon at Ventnor Teen Salon

And while he has friends in his Tuckerton neighborhood, none of them are like the ones he made through Chabad Teen (CTeen) at the Shore.

“Those friendships are probably one of the best friendships I’ve ever had,” Desiato, 17, said. “These friendships are more morally friends. They don't go behind your back. They always have respect. They have good manners. They know how to accept jokes and sarcasm. They have a sense of humor. They are just truly perfect friends. Although nothing is perfect, they are perfect in my opinion.

CTeen at the Shore offers Jewish teens not only the opportunity to create new friendships and increase engagement within the community, but also a safe space in which to interact and have fun.

Desiato was one of the teens present Sunday morning at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Ackerman Family Center's new teen lounge, located in the former Atlantic Chinese Alliance Church on Dudley Avenue in Ventnor Heights. The center also includes a synagogue for prayers and classrooms.

Desiato has been a member of CTeen for about four years, having joined the group right after his bar mitzvah. During this time, he attended many events and holidays and celebrated more Jewish holidays with CTeen.

Today, the group makes Desiato feel like home, but with more Jewish teenagers around. Jonathan Kovacevic is one of the new friends he made.

“We became more of a group of friends and not just a community group,” Desiato said. “We became daily friends.”

The salon has been open for about a year, but the ribbon-cutting ceremony was postponed until just before summer, when donors could attend, said Rabbi Leibel Scheiman, the center's youth director.

Bob Ackerman met Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport three years ago. When Rapoport, director of CTeen at the Shore, contacted Ackerman about the center, he was immediately very supportive. The Ackermans own the building that houses CTeen.

“That was before all these problems with Hamas today,” Ackerman said. “But you just knew things were going to come to something like this. Keeping these teenagers together, religiously and culturally, seemed like a simple thing to do.

Ackerman and his wife Florence cut the living room ribbon during Sunday's ceremony.

The lounge includes table tennis and foosball tables, as well as a games station. Rapoport, Scheiman and Desiato were among those who gave speeches at the ceremony.

CTeen backers Lori and Mark Rubenstein had the same response to Rapoport's idea: “Let's do it.”

“Anything for the community,” Lori Rubenstein said. “Now is the most important time to do (something) because we really need generations to follow and learn without ever forgetting.”

“Lori and I are very fortunate,” Mark Rubenstein said, “and we believe in giving back to the community, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Although the fair has been operational for about a year, the timing of its official opening is all the more significant given the war between Israel and Hamas.

“With the rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses and criticism of Israel, many teenagers feel isolated and alone,” Rapoport said. “Having a group of people like them to connect with and give each other strength and encouragement is very important. This is why this show is more important than ever.

The fair gives teenagers the opportunity to share their positive experiences as well as their concerns.

“(They can) share what's going on if they're experiencing any form of anti-Semitism or anything like that,” Scheiman said, adding that the lounge provides a space for teens to learn how to deal with meetings in public as well as on social networks. . “Everyone is on social media today, and you just scroll through some of the comments and see some crazy stuff.”