Photos: Shalom Ross – Merkos 302
At the CTeen International Shabbaton, 1,241 teens wrapped tefillin in two hours, smashing records in a tremendous display of Jewish pride at the largest gathering of Jewish teens.
“Being Jewish in Kansas City means you’re used to being one of the only Jewish kids at school,” said David Wasserman, who joined the weekend with the Kansas City delegation led by Rabbi Avremi and Mushky Baron of KCTeen. “Most people have no idea what tefillin are. They’ve never heard of them. So the idea of standing in New York with thousands of other Jewish teens, all wrapping tefillin together, feels almost unreal. I need to bring this energy back home.”
David was one of 1,241 teens who made history on the first morning of the CTeen Shabbaton. At the CTeen Mitzvah Stand in the Bedford Armory, teens wrapped tefillin at record speed, guided by fellow teens, shluchim, and even some unexpected guests.
Sergeant Mike Barratta and Igor Pinkhasov, commanding officer of the 71st Precinct, stepped in to help, joined by Rabbi Yaacov Behrman. The iconic tefillin wrapper Yossi Farro, moved from teen to teen with practiced speed. Even Jewish media personality Yaakov Langer, founder of Living Lchaim, wrapped tefillin on someone else for the first time in his life.
But most of all, in true CTeen fashion, it was the teens helping each other perform the mitzvah. “Did you put on tefillin? Poniste tefillin?” they called out in numerous languages. Each teen who wrapped received a sticker marking their place in history.
The tefillin stand is no stranger to public squares. It has been a global fixture since the Rebbe launched the tefillin campaign in 1967, a bold response to the Six-Day War. Today, in the shadow of October 7th and a surge in antisemitism, that visibility is urgent again.
“Rather than dwelling on negativity, we empower our teens to embrace their Jewish identity, lead in their communities, and practice Judaism proactively,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International at Merkos 302. “When the world is silent, these teens respond with action. This record-breaking tefillin event isn’t just a number—it’s a declaration: ‘We are here, we are proud, and we will never back down.’”
The Rebbe often spoke of tefillin’s power to inspire those who witnessed it. Every sticker handed out, every photo posted online—each is another ripple spreading outward.
In recent years, tefillin has gone viral, with teens around the world posting “tefillin selfies” across social media, inspired by the Rebbe’s call to action for a new generation. At the Shabbaton, that digital pride turned physical. Thousands of arms wrapped. Thousands of identities reclaimed.
“I’ve wrapped tefillin before, but never like this,” David said. “To be part of a world record isn’t just cool—it’s meaningful. Every single one of us is making a commitment together. We’re saying that no matter where we’re from, whether it’s Hong Kong or Kansas City, this mitzvah connects us. And that’s something I’ll carry home with me.”
