I never imagined that one decision would change my life—but that’s exactly what happened when I finally agreed to attend the CTeen International Shabbaton.
My family began going to Chabad about eight years ago. Coming from a conservative background, I didn’t know what to make of it at first. My rabbi told me about the CTeen Shabbaton, but I wasn’t interested. I figured it was just another weekend program like the ones I had gone to before.
But my mom kept nudging me to try it. She said it would be fun, powerful, and totally different. Eventually, I gave in and said, “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Turns out, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
At the time, I attended a high school where there were maybe three Jewish students in the entire grade. I didn’t know what it felt like to be surrounded by people who shared my identity. But at the Shabbaton—standing in the heart of Times Square, singing and dancing with thousands of Jewish teens from around the world—I finally experienced it. I felt the energy, the pride, and the unity that comes from being part of something bigger.
Unfortunately, my CTeen journey was cut short by the pandemic. I only had one full year in the program. But the impression it left on me lasted far beyond high school.
When I started college at Ramapo, a small liberal arts school in Mahwah, NJ, I quickly realized that Jewish life on campus was almost nonexistent. That’s when I knew I needed to take action. CTeen had shown me how vibrant and empowering Jewish community could be—and I wanted other students to feel that too.
So I partnered with my local Chabad rabbi, and together we launched Chabad on campus. It wasn’t easy, but we started small and grew steadily. One event at a time, we began building a community.
Even now, as a college student, I still love coming back to CTeen events. They remind me of where it all began—of that first leap I took when I said yes to something I didn’t fully understand, and how it led me to a life of meaning, connection, and leadership.
CTeen didn’t just give me a community. It gave me the confidence to create one for others.
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