Member Spotlight: Ben Siamon

Ben Siamon is a Freshman at Arizona State University. He was born and raised in Arizona with his younger brother, Sam, his parents Robert and Jackie Siamon and their two dogs. Ben has been a Temple Solel member his whole life. His grandfather Mel Engel (z”l) was a past president on the Temple Solel Board.

Ben’s interests include musical theater, basketball, community service, telling jokes and Hawaiian shirts. His parents during the pandemic have inspired him. “They were able to keep a positive attitude and make the best of the situation we were given,” he says.

Ben states, “A big part of being at Solel for me is getting to know people that are members and a lot of people became like a second family to me.” Ben has been involved with TSTY (Temple Solel Temple Youth) during High School. One of the last things he remembers doing was the senior lock-in at Temple Solel before the pandemic. “I’ve noticed much more involvement from younger people in the youth group so I think it’s definitely looked at as up and coming,” he states. Ben has also been involved by helping at the Bistro on Sundays. He is proud to be a Temple Solel member because of the mitzvah work through Mitzvah Day at Solel. “It inspired me to continue doing mitzvah work and becoming the Social Action Vice President of NFTY-SW and now doing a social justice cohort at ASU Hillel.”

He volunteers by “cleaning up on Tempe Beach Park and organizing a community service event with therapy dogs right now.”

He is motivated by “having a light at the end of the tunnel and at some point if you put in the hard work that you’ll reach it.” His future goal is to continue working in the Jewish community and hopefully do marketing for a sports team.