Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Spanish-language track, this year’s CKids International Shabbaton will once again welcome a delegation of families from across Latin America, with an expanded program for both children and parents.
Children from Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Panama, who are already beginning their journey to New York for the Shabbaton, will join hundreds of CKids participants for the weekend, led by Spanish-speaking counselors. While the children take part in the full CKids programming, their parents will have their own Spanish-language track, including a dedicated program before visiting the Rebbe’s Ohel, a guided tour of Crown Heights, and a series of classes throughout Shabbos and Sunday.
“It’s a great honor to provide families with a top-tier program where they will come away feeling deeply inspired and proud of their Judaism,” said Rabbi Chai Kohan, director of Merkos 302’s Spanish Desk. “I truly believe this experience will spark personal growth in everyone involved.”
The Spanish program features a lineup of lecturers and shluchim, including Mrs. Molly Resnick, Rabbi Sholom Ber Shuchat, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, and Rabbi Shui Rosenblum, who will share insights and inspiration throughout the weekend.
“What makes this especially meaningful is the dedication of these children,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “Many come from remote communities with little Jewish infrastructure, yet they put in the work to reach this stage. Beyond the growth in their Jewish knowledge, they get to feel connected to a global community of Jewish children their age.”
The delegation also includes families from beyond Latin America. In Cascais, Portugal, Be’er Goldstein joined Hebrew school midway through last year and only participated in a few JewQ tests. But attending the regional championship left a strong impression. “He came back this year determined,” said Mrs. Raizel Rosenfeld, Shlucha in Cascais. “He showed up consistently, put in real effort to study, and became the winner.”
The CKids Shabbaton, hosted by CKids International, the world’s largest Jewish children’s network, brings together over a thousand children and parents from more than twenty-five countries. With JewQ now active in ten Latin American countries, the growing international delegation is one more sign of the program’s expanding global reach. This year’s Shabbaton takes place this weekend, March 20–22, in Crown Heights.
