At 13,000 Feet, Young Professionals Draw Perspective and Strength
Sixty young Jewish professionals from 36 cities gathered for the sixth annual Chabad Young Professionals Encounter: Guatemala, a four-day summit focused on resilience, identity, and Jewish leadership in a post-October 7 world, with an impact that reverberated across the globe.
“The Rebbe taught us the power of bringing Jews together in an immersive Jewish environment,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “Weekends like these empower the Jewish leaders of today. In a time when global challenges threaten, we’re seeing young Jews who want to step up, and we aim to give them the structure to do it.”
They had come from 36 CYP communities worldwide, from Paris to Palm Beach, for the sixth annual Chabad Young Professionals Encounter: Guatemala Leadership Summit, hosted by CYP at Merkos 302. The annual shabbaton focused on resilience, identity, and purpose.
The weekend was packed with challenges and meaning. Attendees climbed one of Central America’s tallest volcanoes, camped under the stars, and engaged in guided Chassidus meditations. The physical intensity paralleled deep spiritual exploration. In late-night farbrengens and open-mic conversations, participants grappled with what it means to live proudly as a Jew when headlines are hostile.
“Everyone had a chance to speak,” said Alex Rosenberg from Boston. “People opened up about fear, pride, and the responsibility we carry. It made me feel less alone and more empowered.”
Some, like Hanna Toba Marks, were returning for a second time. “Last year, my highlight was Shabbat with everyone,” she said. “This year, it was 100% farbrenging by the bonfire on the mountain. You have to come.”
The Shabbos was hosted by Chabad of Antigua, led by Rabbi Chaim and Daria Silber, who serve the region’s steady stream of Jewish travelers. On Friday night, their courtyard was filled with various languages, including Hebrew, French, Spanish, and English, as young professionals from over 30 Chabad Young Professional communities connected with Jews from across the globe. For many, it was their first Shabbos, an experience that included soulful singing, Chassidus classes, and a moving Havdalah under the night stars.
“True leadership begins when you’re willing to be uncomfortable,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, Director of Chabad Young Professionals International. “It’s one thing to climb a mountain. It’s harder to look inward. What we saw here was young people confronting their own challenges—and that’s what makes them ready to lead others.”
Beyond the physical challenge, the summit demanded soul work. Workshops tackled big questions. What is my unique role in the Jewish story? How can I lead with conviction back home? Rabbis from across the CYP International network—including Rabbi Zevi Geisinsky (Great Neck), Rabbi Shmuel Neft (Rockford), Rabbi Mendy Plotkin (Dallas), and Rabbi Nissi Lepkivker (CYP International), guided discussions that combined Chassidus, relationship building, and leadership training.
“The highlight of my trip was farbrenging under the stars and learning Chassidus,” said Daniel Gerach of New York. He also described riding an ATV through Mayan villages, organic coffee farms, and rural communities, a closing trip that reminded participants of the diverse world in which their Jewish identity must live and lead.
“The camaraderie by the end was electric,” said Erika Lupuloff from Washington, D.C. “It’s hard to describe, but this trip gave me a spiritual lift I didn’t know I needed.”
Sunday’s ATV and coffee tour brought participants through scenic villages and lush plantations, offering a hands-on connection to the local culture. But the ride back to Antigua wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of something larger. Before boarding flights home, participants wrote personal commitments—actions they’d take to strengthen their communities back home. Many pledged to host Shabbos dinners, start learning groups, or take on mitzvot with new consistency.
Steven Gerach from West Palm Beach summed it up: “You climb a volcano, see fire explode into the sky, sit with Jews from three continents, and talk about how to live with purpose? Yeah. That’s going to stay with me.”
The weekend in Guatemala was only the beginning. Building on the momentum, many participants will reunite this summer on the CYP mission to Israel, strengthening their commitment to Jewish resilience, community, and leadership.
For more information about CYP Encounters, visit chabadyoung.com/ or email encounters@chabadyoung.com.
