How A Summer Journey Empowered Public School Teens to Live Jewishly Back Home
For most teenagers, summer means camp, sports, or relaxing with friends. But for Moshe Solomon and Daniel Bashan, this summer meant something much more profound. They joined dozens of other boys from across the United States, Europe, and Israel for the CTeen’s Israel Journey, a three-week experience that wove together learning, adventure, and Jewish pride.
More than the fun times and the memories that were created, the boys came back home with a stronger Jewish identity and the confidence to live more proudly as Jews back in their everyday lives.
“The experience these boys get on this trip is like no other. For three weeks, they are living and breathing their heritage, seeing what it means to be a Jew in today’s world,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302 and CTeen International. “These are lessons and commitments they carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
For Moshe, who joined from CTeen Kensington, Brooklyn, NY the trip was transformative. “The singing and dancing at the Kotel on Shabbat was definitely my highlight,” he shared. “This journey showed me that Judaism is a vital and central part of each and every one of our lives, and something that needs to be constantly reinforced and increased. When I get home, I’m going to continue to learn and develop my understanding of Judaism.”
Moshe, who had rarely worn tzitzis before, has committed to wearing tzitzis more often, “no matter where, no matter when.” Inspired by the experience, he also pledged to continue keeping Shabbos and to study more Torah.
CTeen Summer Israel Journey, directed by Rabbi Nachman Rivkin, and coordinated by Rabbi Mendy Lepkivker gave the teens a once-in-a-lifetime summer experience. The group, led by Rabbi Chaim Ozer Mettal bonded while exploring Israel’s holy and iconic sites. Davening at the Kosel, visiting the Gaza border, floating in the Yam Hamelach, and walking through the ancient water tunnels of Ir Dovid, were just a few of the highlights of the trip. They traced Jewish history in Chevron at Maaras HaMachpela, navigated Chizkiyahu’s tunnel and the Bar Kochba caves, and danced with thousands of fellow Jews during an electrifying Shabbos at the Kosel.
But beyond the touring, it was the moments of deep connection to Yiddishkeit that left the greatest impact. In Tzfas, the boys spent time with bochurim in yeshiva, and in Yerushalayim, they experienced a powerful evening at Mayanot Yeshiva, immersed in Torah learning and the atmosphere of yeshiva life. These encounters planted seeds for the future, with several boys now considering a gap year in Israel before college.
Daniel, of CTeen Hallandale Beach, FL, expressed the Jewish pride and identity he felt on the trip. “Before I went to the CTeen Israel Journey, I never imagined that I would be inside the Western Wall tunnels. Connecting to my history in such a real way made me realize how special it is to be a Jew and a proud Jew. Being surrounded in an environment of Torah and mitzvos has impacted me by helping me build a better relationship with Hashem.” Daniel also committed to putting on Tefillin every day.
“We’ve been hearing from shluchim that their teens are walking back into public high schools with a new resilience,” said Rabbi Mendy Lepkivker, CTeen Summer coordinator. “Even with antisemitism, and especially when it’s aimed at Israel, they have the confidence to stand tall as Jews. Some are even starting Jewish clubs, bringing Yiddishkeit into their schools in ways they never imagined before.”
The trip was made possible thanks to the support of RootOne, an initiative that focuses on improving the affordability and educational impact of immersive teen Israel travel.
RootOne also integrates Israeli teens into the program, building bridges that last long after the summer ends. One of those teens, Benaya Sherabi of CTeen Eilat, now brings his tefillin to school daily to help friends put them on. Just last week, he even helped his teacher wrap tefillin for the first time in years.
Stories like his played out across the group. Now, as the school year begins, Moshe, Daniel, Benaya and their peers are stepping back into classrooms with something new: the courage to lead, the confidence to live openly as Jews, and the inspiration of a summer in Israel that will shape them for years to come.
