At Tri-State Shabbaton, Teens Discover the Power of Jewish Belonging and Pride
Seventeen-year-old Alexa Roth of Stony Brook, NY, remembers feeling nervous before her first CTeen Shabbaton. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she said. “I just knew I wanted to feel more connected to my Jewish identity.” Stepping outside her comfort zone to spend a weekend with Jewish teens she had never met turned out to be a life-changing decision. That first Shabbaton led to three more, including her most recent: last week’s CTeen Tri-State Shabbaton.
That unique Shabbaton connection came quickly. From the moment Alexa stepped off the bus Friday afternoon at the Palisades Mall, she found herself surrounded by laughter, music, and a sense of belonging with new friends from other chapters. The teens, representing eight CTeen chapters from New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, started their weekend with games at Dave & Buster’s, an instant icebreaker that set the tone for what would become an unforgettable Shabbos.
By the time they arrived at the Clinton Inn Hotel in Tenafly, NJ, the air was already filled with excitement. The Shabbaton began with guest performer Tali Yess, whose music and stories inspired and uplifted right before ushering in Shabbos with a special candle lighting ceremony.
“Many of these teens are the only Jewish kid in their class,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “That can feel isolating, like no one around them understands. A Shabbos like this gives them strength. They walk away proud of who they are, and ready to share it.”
At Chabad of Tenafly, Kabbalas Shabbos was alive with energy, dancing, and singing that carried into the meal. The teens bonded over shared experiences, learning, and stories of Jewish pride. Alexa found herself opening up to others, drawn into deep conversations between bursts of spontaneous song.
Shabbos day continued with inspiring talks, davening, and Torah learning. Guest speaker Tali Yess returned with another moving message, but what touched Alexa most was hearing her peers share their own stories about summer programs, community projects, and what being part of CTeen means to them.
“It was so powerful to see how different we all are, yet we have this common Jewish heartbeat,” she said. “That’s what CTeen does. It makes you realize you’re not alone.”
That afternoon, the teens went on a visit to two local senior homes, where they brought joy and song to the residents. The girls also toured a mikvah, learning about its meaning and sanctity in Jewish life. “It was really special,” Alexa said. “It connected what we were learning with something tangible yet so spiritual.”
As Shabbos ended, the group gathered once more for a musical Havdalah led by Yess. “I’ll never forget that feeling,” Alexa said. “It was like saying goodbye to Shabbos, but holding onto everything it gave us.”
The weekend wrapped up Sunday with a trip to the American Dream Mall, where teens reveled in the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and celebrated with a lively Melava Malka.
“We had an incredible Shabbaton weekend connecting with amazing teens,” said Rabbi Yaakov Wilansky, who leads the Chabad of Roslyn, NY, CTeen chapter. “The teens are already asking for another Shabbaton, even before the international one in February.”
The Shabbaton was made possible by:
Shluchim:
Rabbi Yaakov Wilansky
Rabbi Eli Steinhauser
Rabbi Daniel Namdar
Rabbi Motti & Chaya Grossbaum
Rabbi Shais & Rochel Weller
The Merkos 302 Team
CTeen HQ staff:
Mushka Lewis
Mushka Osdoba
Mushka Laufer
Raizy Leitner
Esti Alperowitz
Avi Stein
Ozzy Belson
Ari Lipskier
