The colorful postcard marketing the 6th Annual CTeen Shabbaton in New York, showcased a “PhotoShopped” image of the Shabbaton and Jewish superstar Alex Clare, who is plastered on Manhattan jumbotrons and billboards. Clare performs Microsoft’s famous “Too Close” song, which peaked at number 4 on the U.K. singles chart and number 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, The 1,000 Shabbaton participants from over 110 communities around the world would have never dreamed of the climax to the three-day Shabbaton that took place during the Havdalah ceremony in Times Square last week.
The 10 jumbo screens of the American Eagle building broadcasted slogans encouraging teens to perform mitzvot and acts of goodness and kindness, accompanied by footage of teens positively channeling their incredible energy at their local CTeen programs and at CTeen’s two-week traveling camp, CTeen Xtreme. The main screen displayed a live feed of Alex Clare’s stellar Havdalah service and concert, and peaked with a specially made video about the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the inspiration behind the Chabad Teen Network, speaking of the incredible power of youth.
The International CTeen Shabbaton is an annual reunion of Jewish teens from across America, Europe, and Israel. Building on the incredible success of the past Shabbatons, this year’s fresh program and revised itinerary was unmatched. The Friday program featured seven different-styled tours of the Big Apple, geared for the first timers to New York, the adventurous types, the shoppers, and the cultural types.
During the Friday night program of the Shabbaton, Alex Clare shared his personal journey with the teens who were amazed to learn how the British superstar keeps kosher, Shabbat, and learns Torah even on tour.
The event culminated with a Choice Award Gala which honored the teen leaders for their great efforts in strengthening their local CTeen chapters and their involvement in planning and arranging programs with the international leadership board.
“This experience is definitely something our teens will take with them wherever they go,” Rabbi Michoel Goldin, Teaneck’s local CTeen director. “The friends they made, the lessons they’ve learned, and the Jewish pride they gained won’t fade with time.”
CTeen is a social club where teens learn about themselves and their heritage through giving to others and participating in interactive, hands-on activities. The CTeen International Shabbaton is open to all Jewish teens in the community, regardless of affiliation.
