CTeens West Coast Inaugural Summer Trip

Last Sunday Hay Elul 5770-August 15th, 2010 Chabad Teens network “Cteen” West Coast in conjunction with Chabad Teens Network of Merkos, participated in it’s inaugural outing with an Atving trip @ the Oceano Dunes in Pismo Beach, California.

Organized by rabbi Eli Baitelman of Chabad of Pacific Palisades and Rabbi Sholom Ber Rodal of Chabad of Mt Olympus the event was a tremendous success.

More than 65 people and 50 Teen boys joined together for a day of fun, excitement and meaningful Jewish Experiences.

Participating Chabad houses were Chabad of Brentwood led by Rabbi Ahereleh Teleshevsky & Rabbi Mendy Hecht, Chabad of Pacific Palisades led by Rabbi Eli Baitelman & Rabbi Shlomo Zaks, Chabad of Tijuana/Chula Vista ,Ca led by Rabbi Mendel Polichenco, Chabad of Mt Olympus led by Rabbi Sholom Ber & Rabbi Meir Rodal and chabad of the Beach Cities/Redondo Beach led by Rabbi Dovid Lisbon.

A number of parents joined in on the trip as well as some of the Chabad Rebbitzens.

The group on their way north to the Central California Coast stopped at Chabad of S. Barbara, CA led by Rabbi Loschak to daven and hear the Shofar blowing and they also watched some inspirational segments of the weekly living Torah from the Rebbe. Three boys put on tefillin for the first time during this trip.

Next they had lunch at the Dunes where each teen got to ride their own Hondo 250ex ATV for two hours in the massive dunes area led by guides who instructed them how to use and maneuver the machines.

Afterwards they had a BBQ dinner in a nearby park with delicious Burgers & Hot Dogs and played some sports. At the end of the BBQ everyone gathered together in a circle and heard words of Jewish inspiration from the participating rabbis.

Each Chabad group also had a representative speak about what makes them proud to be a Jew and what they love about Chabad. Some parents were so overcome with emotion at the pride displayed by the teens, that they asked to speak as well and described their nachas and appreciation to Chabad for all their hard work and dedication to their communities, the teens and the Jewish people.

It was capped all of by a grand dance and with all the participants hands on their friends shoulders.

Said Max Gordon a participant from Chabad of Mt Olympus: “this is awesome.” Yosef from Pacific Palisades remarked “count me in on the next outing, I loved this one.” Liron from Brentwood commented “it was nice to have so much Fun and Judaism combined in the same trip”

Everyone agreed that such group trips need to continue and that Chabad Teens “Cteen” would continue to expand and among the future plans are for a Paintball trip in the fall and a White water rafting trip in the spring.