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On long journey home, teens contemplate impact of largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world
By: Karen Schwartz
A group of 15 Jewish teenagers from Singapore made the long journey last week to join thousands of their peers from around the globe for the annual CTeen (Chabad Teen Network) Shabbaton in New York City.
Held annually since 2009, the Shabbaton is the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world, bringing together more than 4,500 participants from over 60 countries. From Thursday through Sunday, the group was immersed in a packed program that blends fun with deeply meaningful experiences: a visit to the historic synagogue at 770 Eastern Parkway (Lubavitch World Headquarters); prayer at the Ohel—the resting place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory—and an authentic, vibrant Shabbat embraced by the Crown Heights community in Brooklyn.
On Saturday evening, they headed to a Havdalah ceremony and concert held in Times Square. For one unforgettable evening, the “Crossroads of the World” transformed into a powerful epicenter of Jewish pride, as towering digital billboards lit up with Jewish themes and CTeen activities from around the globe, which was followed on Sunday with a moving closing event.
This trip to the United States was a first for Jacob Leigh, 13. He says that, growing up in Singapore, he’s heard for years about how impactful CTeen is. Now, he’s finally old enough to participate in the Shabbaton, an annual highlight on the calendar.
“It was just an amazing experience, seeing thousands of Jewish teenagers just like me, singing and dancing with Jewish pride on the street,” he says. “Coming from a small but proud community, it was special to see Jewish people out and about wherever you look in New York.”
“It’s very different to Singapore,” Leigh adds with a laugh.
Building Jewish Identity in the Youth
Leigh, whose family moved to the Southeast Asian city-state from London nine years ago, wears a kippah daily and goes to a Jewish school.
“Jewish life in Singapore is great. Thankfully, we have an amazing synagogue and community,” he says. “There are Jewish people from all over the world that settled in Singapore, and there is always something happening: services, classes, and events at the synagogue, gatherings at homes, and trips and things to do for teens at our CTeen chapter.”
“The country has strict laws regarding antisemitism, which is helpful,” explains Gili Goldman, 14. “I proudly wear a small pendant of the Land of Israel with a little Star of David in the middle, and I’ve never heard anything but positive feedback about it.”
She says coming to the Shabbaton for the first time last year, she was surprised to meet people from so many different backgrounds. “They come from places I didn’t even know these communities existed. It’s very inspiring to see. Once I experienced it last year, I knew I had to come again.”
The group was led by Simcha Abergel, who, along with her husband Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, serves as the Chabad-Lubavitch emissary to Singapore, under the auspices of the Jewish Welfare Board in Singapore.
“It is important for the teens to come to events like the CTeen Shabbaton, and give them the opportunity to meet young Jewish people just like them,” she tells Chabad.org. “It does so much to fortify and strengthen their Jewish identity, and to know they don’t live on an island, but rather are part of one people, wherever we come from around the world.”
For Adara Makany, 14, that was the main takeaway from coming to the Shabbaton.
“I got to meet girls from France, from the United States, and from many other countries,” she says. “We spoke about how together, we’re all part of one big family.”
Snow Delays
The Singaporean cohort usually stays in New York for around a week, but this year, their trip was unexpectedly extended. A powerful snowstorm and nor’easter blanketed the tri-state area with up to two feet of snow, grounding thousands of flights and prompting travel restrictions across New York City and other areas at the beginning of the week.
“CTeen International and the local community stepped up in an unbelievable way,” Abergel says. “Hosts were happy to extend their hospitality, and the teens had a chance to see more Jewish and distinctly New York sites, thanks to the delay.”
Finally making it back home on Wednesday, Daniel Khafi, 16, says he found the trip eye-opening. His family has been in Singapore for 70 years, and he began wearing a kippah to the international school he attends last year.
“Once I started wearing it proudly, a number of people began asking me questions about Judaism, and I’m usually happy to engage if they’re honestly interested, which, thankfully, most of them are.”
He was particularly struck with the energy at the event.
“The joy and the dancing, the concert in Times Square, and visiting 770, it was just incredible.”
Makany says she hopes to return to CTeen again. “It is very good to find a sense of community.”
“The Jewish pride, the Jewish love and connection that unites us all, it was an amazing experience,” Leigh enthusiastically agrees. “It doesn’t matter where we’re from or how we’re different. That one thing that we have in common—being proud Jews—is more than enough.”
