By Yossi Weinstein
The girls of CTeen Summer were gearing up for a dream trip to Israel. For months, they had been counting down, packing their bags, and looking forward to a summer filled with new experiences, iconic sights, and cities, as well as memories with friends that would last a lifetime.
However, less than a week before departure, safety concerns due to the ongoing war with Iran forced an abrupt change. With new restrictions on travel to Israel, the program faced a choice: cancel the trip or pivot and find an alternative.
Within 72 hours, CTeen Summer leaders successfully executed a full program pivot. Flights were booked, new accommodations secured, and an entirely different itinerary crafted. This time, not in Israel, but through Poland and Hungary. While the boys’ division continued to Israel weeks later, the girls’ group took a different route and explored the Jewish history in pre- and post-war Europe.
“For these girls, this summer experience isn’t a luxury, it’s an anchor,” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302, emphasized. “It gives them the strength to carry their Jewish identity with confidence throughout the year. Our priority was making sure they didn’t miss out on that, no matter what.”
The pivot was made possible thanks to the fast, decisive support of RootOne. RootOne is an initiative that typically focuses on improving the affordability and educational impact of immersive teen Israel travel. However, in light of the situation in Israel, they expanded the eligibility of their $3000 Vouchers to include European trips for this summer only, in order to maximize the number of teens that could have transformative Jewish experiences at a time when Israel wasn’t accessible due to travel restrictions.
RootOne also brought in Israeli teens to join the CTeen girls, giving the trip the same sense of conviction and empowerment girls usually gain in Israel itself. They swapped stories, asked hard questions, and returned ready to lead: with the language and confidence to speak for their people back home. RootOne’s research consistently shows that this Israeli teen integration, and the cross-cultural friendships that form as a result, are some of the most impactful aspects of their trips.
The girls spent the first part of their trip traveling through Poland, from Warsaw to Krakow, walking in the footsteps of a history most had only read about. They stood where communities once thrived and where they were decimated. Along their journey, they visited Majdanek and Auschwitz, prayed in the shtetl of Krasnik, bringing to life a dark, abandoned shul that hadn’t been restored since before the war, amongst the many other poignant stops.
Everywhere they went, they brought light into places that had been drowned by darkness. The girls walked through forest paths in Tykochin, where the entire Jewish population had been massacred in a single day. They davened and said Tehilim in Jewish cemeteries with crumbling headstones. In towns where Jewish life once thrived, the sound of Jewish songs and laughter returned.
“I feel I came out stronger and more in touch with my Jewish heritage,” said Liora. “I saw a balance of tragedies and simchas and will stow these memories in my pocket, where I may reach for them in the future.”
While in Vienna, they got to explore the many castles and gardens throughout the city, and ended the day at an amusement park. The girls had a great time, and it was an amazing way to finish off an incredible day.
The second half of the trip took them by bus to Balaton, Hungary, where Rabbi Shlomo Köves and Rabbi Tzemmy and Sophie Bassman of Chabad of Hungary graciously and swiftly stepped in to host the group on short notice. In Balaton, the girls volunteered in an old, overgrown Jewish cemetery, clearing debris and restoring gravestones. They scrubbed headstones, pulled weeds, and uncovered names no one had visited in decades.
In Bratislava, they visited and davened at the grave of the Chasam Sofer. In Szentendre (outside Budapest), they toured the tiniest synagogue that had once stood as a laundry room and was later turned into a synagogue to commemorate the community that had perished in the war. It is still used 7 times a year.
“I met new people, grew from the activities, and learned so much: from the classes, to davening, and really from each other,” said Tally, 16, from Miami. “We laughed, sang, prayed, and explored what Judaism really means. I realized it doesn’t matter where you are from in the world, how religious you are, or who you think you’re supposed to be. I met people just like me, became close with them, and we grew together. Even if you think you won’t, trust me, you will.”
The group returned with packed journals, tight-knit friendships, and a different kind of pride. One that was a little quieter, a little more introspective, and rooted more deeply in their souls.
Summing it up, Emerson shared: “This was the best experience where I was able to learn about my heritage and make lifelong friends!”
