Chabad Teen Gala Celebrates Teen Impact, Awards Fifty Teen Volunteers

Chabad of Orange County, directed by Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston, is presently gearing up for another exciting year engaging teens in positive activities and community volunteer work.  In recognition of the Teen Leadership Initiative, Chabad honored more than fifty teens from Orange County at a recent Teen Gala evening. Over 200 people attended the summer award ceremony held at the new Chabad Center in Monroe. Chabad’s Teen group is the largest Jewish teen network in Orange County, NY.

The “Teen Leadership Initiative” offers local Jewish teens the opportunity to participate in a variety of community service, educational, meaningful and exciting events. Community service options include volunteering at Chabad’s vibrant Hebrew School, participating in the newly established Friendship Circle which services children with special needs, CTeen leadership, and attending CTeen and CTeen Jr. programs.

The Teen Gala included speeches, recognitions and awards, candle-lit elegant dinner and desserts as well as a concert for the teens with singer/songwriter Duvy Burston, son or Rabbi Pesach and Chana.  A photo booth, sparklers and a beautiful journal were additional highlights.  Teen were awarded from Central Valley, Monroe, Goshen, Chester, Middletown, Washingtonville, Warwick and Cornwall.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening were teen volunteers Brooke Reese and Jillian Meyers of Monroe. Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston delivered opening remarks, congratulating the teens’ tremendous accomplishments and encouraging acts of giving above all.

“We are celebrating the impact and power of youth!” said Rabbi Pesach Burston.   “We are incredibly proud that over fifty teens are using their energy and time dedicated to community service and helping others,” adds Chana.

Sarah and Kaylah Favia, Tom Einav and Amir Mosker of Monroe shared their experiences volunteering for the Friendship Circle which serves local families with children with special needs.  The Friendship Circle provides services and support for Jewish children and teens with special needs through the help of trained teen volunteers and professional therapists.

“The Friends at Home program has been a great experience,” said Tom Einav. “We visit Griffin each week and hang out like all teens do, playing basketball, catch, tag, dance, play board games and even go stick hunting.  Uno is a real favorite too!  I’m really happy Amir and I decided to sign up for this program.”

Friendship Circle parent Stephanie Patsiner of Monroe expressed the benefit her teen son has had from working with the volunteers.

Amir Mosker, who is both a CTeen leader and Friendship Circle volunteered, shared his experience. “Being a CTeen leader has been an enriching experience for me to get all my buddies to come to CTeen and encourage friends to participate in Mitzvot and community giving.”

CTeen leaders Lola Sale of Harriman and Ariel Koyfman of Chester also spoke about their pride in serving as CTeen leaders.   

Evan Leeds of Chester and Dani Gold of Central Valley shared insights about the joys of volunteering at Chabad Hebrew School and attending CTeen events.

”CTeen has meant so many things to me over the last three years such as community, family, service, and pride. I get to hang out with my Jewish friends and do meaningful and fun activities,” said Evan Leeds of Chester, “A weekly highlight for me is volunteering at Chabad Hebrew School.  It’s really cool to be back as staff at the same place I attended as a student. Each week I have fun with the kids, helping them learn to read Hebrew, reading Jewish stories and playing sports outside.”   

Isabella Hauck of Middletown reflected on the CTeen Eternal Flame Convention in Washington, DC, which focused on Holocaust education and combating anti-Semitism.

“Visiting the Holocaust Museum made a strong impact on my Jewish identity and made me feel even more determined to stand proud as a Jew,” said Isabella Hauck of Middletown.  “We have the responsibility to educate others so that these despicable and horrifying acts of violence never happen again.”

Meaningful gifts and awards were given to each honoree, and a lively convert with Duvy Burston finished off the festive evening. Chabad is presently gearing up for another successful year engaging youth in positive activities.  For more information on the Teen Leadership Initiative, log onto ChabadOrange.com, write chana@chabadorange.com or call 845-782-2770.