Teen Competition Goes Viral

In a campaign entitled “8 weeks, 8 Tickets,” CTeen is holding a weekly contest with each winner receiving an all expenses paid trip to its international Shabbaton. Each week the teens are given a different challenge or mission, and the victor is the one receiving the most votes on Facebook.

In the recently concluded third week of the contest, participants were charged with creating Jewish themed memes (comically edited images which get transmitted online virally) which were then posted to CTeen’s Facebook page. The memes covered topics from minyan to kugel, sefirah to tzitzit.

Avi Goldshmidt, from Rabbi Dovid Flinkenstein‘s Wilmette, IL, CTeen Chapter, was announced the winner with more than 400 votes.

“My eyes were glued to the computer all of Sunday watching my picture get like after like until I finally won the contest,” said Avi Goldshmidt. Asked why he wanted to win so much, he answered that he has already attended the Shabbaton, and was itching to go back. “The feeling is so amazing when you’re gathered with over 300 Jewish teens making Havdalah in Times Square. I can’t wait to go again this year.”

“We couldn’t believe the excitement it generated,” said Rabbi Mendel Perlstein, CTeen program manger Director. “The competition generated hundreds of new CTeen fans, and each contestant ran their own campaign to get more likes, and more votes.”

Week 4’s contest is already underway, with CTeen fans spreading the word about the Shabbaton in an effort to get their friends, family and neighbors to vote for them this time round. The anonymous contest sponsor says his goal was to generate excitement about the upcoming Shabbaton, and feels the contest is turning out to be a success “beyond his imagination.” CTeen also gave special thanks to Shliach Eli Baitelman for helping facilitate the contest.

According to Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Shabbaton Director, not only are CTeen members involved, but the Shluchim directing the local branches are excited by the grassroots support and participation garnered by the completion. “Every kid who participates ends up campaigning throughout the whole neighborhood, and gets all his or her friends involved in voting.

“The best part is that the prize is a trip to a Shabbaton which has proven to be life changing for so many teens,” says Rivkin. “So the effects of this project won’t be ending any time – it has created a chain reaction of which the positive results will long be felt.”

To join or vote in the contest, please visit www.facebook.com/JewishTeens and to find out more about the Shabbaton go to NYshabbaton.com