As Shabbos came to a close at the largest international gathering of young Jewish professionals, more than a thousand young Jewish professionals packed the Oholei Torah ballroom for an emotional evening of solidarity and Jewish pride.
“Shavuah Tov CYP,” declared Rabbi Beryl Frankel, director of CYP International at Merkos 302, as we welcomed the energetic crowd.
“Each one of you is a light and a leader. I’m inspired by your unwavering commitment to stand proudly wherever you are and uplift and include those around you,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CYP International at Chabad World Headquarters, before introducing Igor Tulchinsky, investor, philanthropist, and Chabad supporter, to share some words.
“Look around this room,” said Igor, addressing the crowd. “A thousand young Jews in Crown Heights on a Saturday night. That is not normal. That is not accidental. That is Jewish history in motion. You are not here to watch it. You’re here to carry it.”
Tulchinsky spoke about the responsibility of Jewish leadership and the urgency of building lasting homes and families. “Commit to a Jewish future that lasts,” he said. “Choose a life that makes the right choices obvious. Become the next strong link. Live upright. Build deliberately. Love without apology. Pass strength forward.”
Moments later, a live video feed connected them to hundreds more gathered 10,000 miles away in Bondi Beach, Australia, to the Chabad Young Professional community there, still reeling from the tragic terrorist attack.
Rabbi Mendy Ulman, director of CYP Bondi and Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s brother-in-law, shared words of encouragement as the Crown Heights crowd watched on screen. The connection between the two communities was palpable. Chants of “We love you, Sydney!” echoed through the ballroom.
“This live connection from New York to Bondi and back has been immense for our community,” Rabbi Ulman said. “It has given us strength beyond words. In the past, our young community might have felt a little far away because of the physical distance between us and the rest of the CYP world. But this moment we shared is so powerful we feel closer than ever to the international community.”
The connection, he said, has given his community renewed conviction. “It’s given us strength to stand up tall in these difficult times,” Rabbi Ulman continued, “to continue to be proud Jews, to keep having Shabbat dinners and Torah classes, to find our Jewish partners, and to build a brighter future for the Jewish community here in Sydney.”
The crowd then burst into a heartfelt rendition of Ani Maamin, soulfully bridging the two gatherings across the globe.
For Jacob Kasper, a 27-year-old from Estonia, the moment resonated deeply. His older brother lives in Australia and attends Chabad events there. When news of the Bondi attack first broke, fear was his immediate reaction.
“When we saw the Australian young Jews together with us through the livestream, mourning yet still celebrating their Jewishness, it reminded me that we have to keep adding goodness to the world,” Jacob said.
Jacob’s journey to Crown Heights underscores what draws young Jews from around the globe to CYP Encounter. Seven years ago, while researching his family tree, he discovered an unexpected truth: he was Jewish. He contacted his local Chabad rabbi, and a new chapter began.
“In Estonia, you’re always explaining what it means to be a Jew; nobody really knows,” he said. “Sometimes you need a place to recharge. This weekend recharged me physically and spiritually.”
The Motzei Shabbos program continued with a musical Havdala, candles flickering across the crowded hall. Followed by an emotional rendition of “Ani Maamin,” arms draped over shoulders, voices rising together in the ancient declaration of faith. For many in the room, it set the tone for a night of joy with purpose.
Then the music kicked in.
Singer Yoni Z took the stage, and the ballroom erupted. The energy surged, and for hours, young Jews from over 100 cities worldwide danced together, celebrating a Jewish people that survives despite all odds.
“Tonight was the culmination of an incredible Shabbos,” said Rabbi Nissi Lepkivker, director of CYP Encounters. “The energy was building all weekend, and tonight it reached its peak. These young professionals came looking for something meaningful and they found it.”
As the night wound down, participants looked ahead to Sunday’s program: a preparatory experience at the Queensborough Theater in Bayside featuring singer Shulem Lemmer and Rabbi Yitzchok Schochet, followed by a visit to the Ohel, a chance to daven, write a pan, and carry the inspiration of the weekend into quiet reflection and personal prayer.
But for now, on this Motzai Shabbos in Crown Heights, the message was clear: We grieve, we remember, and we build.
Love it!