CTeen Summer’s new music video, “Pack Your Bags,” is making waves among Jewish teens across the world. The video, which was directed by Chaya Faistman and written by Chava Witkes, features the vocals of Shmuli Marcus and Yonatan Shafigi, and celebrates the power of unity and the impact of summer on young Jewish people.
The video debuted at CTeen’s Times Square concert and stars teens from various CTeen chapters, including CTeen Ontario, CA, CTeen Northridge, CA, and CTeen Irvine, CA. The catchy tune and upbeat lyrics encourage viewers to “join the crew” and be a part of the CTeen family.
For Grace Boaziz, a member of CTeen Northridge, partaking in the music video production and the CTeen programs has been a life-changing experience. “Meeting other Jewish teens who are proud of their heritage and excited about being part of the CTeen family has been incredible,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about myself and my faith through these programs, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of them.”
The video has already inspired other teens to get involved with CTeen and start their own chapters. During the shoot, Grace met twin girls who drove three hours to star in the video.
“We’re Jewish, but we’re not that connected,” they admitted. “You guys seem so proud to be Jewish and so involved with CTeen and everything.”
“You know you guys could make your own chapter,” Grace suggested.
One week later, the twins messaged Grace that they are currently working on launching their very own CTeen chapter!
“Summer is a time of growth and change,” said Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, chairman of CTeen and vice chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, regarding the inspiration behind CTeen Summer. “It’s a time when teens can step out of their comfort zones and discover new things about themselves and their heritage. The CTeen Summer programs offer an incredible opportunity for Jewish teens to connect with their peers and explore their Jewish Identity, all while having fun.”
The lyrics of “Pack Your Bags” reflect a sentiment of unity befitting this year of gathering, with lines like “Join the crew, every Jew, it’s not summer without you” and “Every soul, all as one, together we are strong.” The video also highlights the importance of Ahavas Yisroel, with a remix of the famous lyrics, “To love a fellow Jew, just the same as you, is the basis of our holy Torah.”
With the release of “Pack Your Bags,” CTeen is poised to continue making a positive impact on young Jewish people across the country.
With much appreciation to Rabbi Shmuel Fuss of CTeen Inland Empire for obtaining filming permissions.
