Teens Spend Weekend in CH

Landing in JFK New York airport, a group of excited teens bounded off the airplane in anticipation of what was set to be an unbelievable weekend in New York.

This is the fifth annual trip for Jewish teens who attend public schools, organized by Rabbi Shmuly Gutnick of the Chabad Youth Network.

The teens were hosted by the hospitable Gutnick family, where everyone agreed it felt like a home away from home.

The trip began with a stop at Nosh World, where the kids had ice cream and fueled up on kosher candy. Friday they enjoyed breakfast at the bagel shop and a trip to the Statue of Liberty.

Arriving back in Crown Heights, the teens appreciated the 15 minute alarm bell warning them Shabbat was almost here.

The girls lit Shabbat candles, and everyone, dressed in their best, headed to 770 for evening prayers.

One teen commented on how she has never seen so many black hats in one place before.

After a delicious Friday night meal and some inspirational words of Torah and chassidus the teens saw what it was like to chill out without their ipods. Shabbat day was dedicated to shul hopping and cholent tastings all over town.

Motzei Shabbat the group hit the town, starting with Havdallah in Times Square, the famous Jerusalem 2 pizza shop, Toys R Us, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center ice skating.

On Sunday, after davening shachris, they headed to the Matzah Bakery, Kingston Ave, the famous Chabad hat store, Hasofer were Rabbi Shloimy Klein gave them a special presentation and 770.

Before departing for Manhattan they stopped off at Albany Bakery where they were treated to doughnuts and drinks, then to Manhattan once more for some shopping on 5th Avenue and Canal Street.

The teens saw that it is possible to celebrate Judaism in today’s modern world and enjoy every minute of it.

A special thanks to Itzick Yarmush, Shmuel Lavy Yarmush, Simi Gutnick and to all those that helped make this trip a success.