Small Border Town Jew

I was the only CTeener from my small border town on the way to the CTeen International Shabbaton. I was nervous and didn’t know anyone. But CTeen welcomed me like family—and that weekend in 2013 changed my life.

CTeen showed me that being a proud Jewish teen was possible—even in a place where there weren’t many Jews my age. After attending four Shabbatons, I went on the CTeen Heritage Quest to Israel and Poland.

I’ll never forget walking out of a concentration camp with my friends, singing “Am Yisrael Chai.” Despite everything, we are alive and united.

Spending Shabbat in Jerusalem and Tzfat with local families reminded me what love for another Jew looks like.

Back on campus at American University in D.C., I joined Chabad my first semester—and eventually joined the board for three years. Thanks to Chabad, I even met my boyfriend.

Now, as a college senior, I look back and realize CTeen gave me the strength to be a proud, unapologetic Jew. And I still keep in touch with many friends I made there.