Up and down Kingston Avenue, The streets are alive. Sounds of singing fills the air as thousands of Jewish teens pour into Crown Heights from every corner of the globe.
They’ve come from Morocco, Moldova, and Slovakia, from rural towns where they’re often the only Jewish kid in their school. By Thursday evening, 4,578 teens from 486 cities and 60 countries will have arrived for the 18th annual CTeen International Shabbaton, the largest gathering of Jewish Teens.
Kira Rothschild, a teen from Sydney, shared her excitement from the airport before boarding. “It takes a five-and-a-half-hour plane ride, followed by a fifteen-and-a-half-hour plane ride,” she said. “It is full of stress, excitement, and shared joy.”
Last year’s Shabbaton truly inspired her spiritual growth. “I now keep Shabbat, dress more modestly, pray every day, and so much more,” she said. My CTeen helped me so much to show that this is me and this is my identity.”
Twelve Spanish-speaking countries will be represented at this year’s Shabbaton, led by Merkos 302’s Spanish desk. France is sending one of its largest delegations ever, of over 500 teens, And from Perth, Australia, teens have logged more than 30 hours of travel to be here.
Accompanied by their dedicated shluchim and shluchos, groups of teens can be seen visiting 770, putting on tefillin, learning in the Rebbe’s shul, and visiting the Rebbe’s room. Flags of all stripes and colors mark the arriving delegations, each one representing a city, a chapter, a community sending its teens to Crown Heights.
Kira, for her part, knows exactly what she’s here for. “I hope to bring back this high spirits and joy,” she said, “and show we are brave and strong and we are Jewish and proud and we’re not afraid.”
