“The 1st Shabbos I Kept Was at the CTeen Shabbaton”

Bringing together teens from eight cities up the Californian coast, the first CTeen Regional Shabbaton took place last Shabbos in sunny S. Diego, CA. The teens enjoyed a spirited Shabbos, complimented with trips to La Jolla Cove, scenic Torrey Pines, the newly opened Sky Zone and Belmont Park.

Jewish pride, the thread that connected the exciting activities from Friday through Sunday, was a huge boost for the teens, who were mainly public school students.

“This was the first Shabbos I’ve ever kept,” explained Joey Amirey, who drove in with Rabbi Eli Baitelman and a van full of teens from Pacific Palisades. “I didn’t think it would be so enjoyable. It’s definitely an experience that I will always carry with me. “

Still fueled with the excitement of Shabbos, Joey and his fellow CTeens climbed atop a deck overlooking baseball stadium Petco Park for a festive Melave Malkah and bonfire.

“It was a Shabbaton that every Shliach would have been proud to have his teens attend,” said Rabbi Sapochinsky from Westlake. “The teens walked away feeling that they’re part of something larger than themselves and are all really looking forward to the February Shabbaton in New York.”

“Seeing how much the teens were inspired and encouraged from our first Regional Shabbaton, has helped inspire us to look forward to more Shabbatons in other regions,” said Leah Rivkin of CTeen, coordinator of the girls’side of the Shabbaton.

The Shabbaton culminated with a banquet where teens shared moments of Jewish pride and made public hachlotos tovos. ”The hachlotos and Sunday reflections of the teens were incredible,” commented Rabbi Chaim Ozer Metal, who brought a group of 15 teens. A video of highlights from last year’s International CTeen Shabbatonin New York was shown, reassuring the teens that though it may be hard to part after such a meaningful weekend, they can look forward to spending another awesome Shabbos together, in Crown Heights on the 28-30 of Shvat, February 8-10, 2013.

Special thanks to Rabbis Yonah Fradkin and Zevi New for hosting the boys in Scripps Ranch, and Rabbis Moishe Lieder and Daniel Bortz for hosting the girls in University City.