CTeens From Across Asia Head To Hong Kong For First Ever Regional Shabbaton

From Mumbai to Shanghai and Bangkok to Singapore, Jewish teens across Asia are on their way to Hong Kong this week for the CTeen Asia Shabbaton, held October 15–18.

The city will be transformed into the nerve center for Jewish teen life across Asia, as 100 teen leaders representing 17 CTeen chapters in the CTeen Asia network, are taking part in this historic weekend, including new chapters Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Shanghai, Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok and Nichada Thani.

Many of the teens come from small, far-flung Jewish communities where the local Chabad House is the sole infrastructure of Jewish life, and where a teen may be one of only a handful of Jewish kids in their city and the only ones in their class. Facing tremendous misinformation, they are the sole representatives of Judaism to their peers. This weekend they’ll spend Shabbos with peers from across the continent, knowing they aren’t alone. Gaining knowledge and skills to bring back home to their communities and CTeen clubs they lead.

“This weekend is a milestone in the growth of Jewish life across the region,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “We hope the friendships and initiatives these teens create here will have a ripple effect. They will return to their communities as proud ambassadors, bringing Jewish life and vibrancy wherever they go.”

Hosted by the CTeen Hong Kong Chapter led by Rabbi Mendy and Mushka Rabinowitz, as well as the first Shluchim to South-East Asia, Rabbi Mordechai and Goldie Avtzon, the summit marks 40 years of Chabad in Asia. 

The Shabbaton opened Thursday night with a welcome dinner. Over these four days, the teens will learn about the history of Hong Kong’s Jewish community, study with Shluchim, hear from local community members, and lead talks and roundtable discussions on what it means to be a Jew. The goal is to give each teen the knowledge, skills and inspiration to go home and take a bigger role in Jewish life in their own community.

After Shabbos, the group will climb Victoria Peak for a Havdalah ceremony overlooking the Hong Kong skyline. They will then cross the harbor to Chabad of Kowloon for a Motzei Shabbos gathering.