“Shabbat across the Atlantic,” CTeen’s first annual European shabbaton, proved that Jewish pride and friendship run much deeper than language and mentality barriers.
Driving in from cities as far as 16 hours away, teens from Austria, Germany, Russia and France flocked to downtown Berlin for an uplifting weekend of Jewish pride and friendship, organized by Rabbi Levi Pruss.
Berlin, the city that symbolized the darkest chapter of our century now radiates with the light of the lively farbrengens, discussions and hachlotos made this past Shabbos.
On Friday, the teens ventured a daring zip line course and biked across Berlin, visiting the city’s famous landmarks. Peering over the shadow of the Berlin wall, the teens broke out in Shema Yisroel, proudly proclaiming the message of geon Yaakov that echoed throughout the entire shabbaton.
The highlight of the spirited Shabbos was the Aliyos Auction, where teens chose challenging hachlotos for themselves such as wearing a kippah at all times in Paris, and keeping kosher. One boy from Germany boldly announced that he would switch over from his non-Jewish school to a Jewish school.
“With Shabbos in Europe ending at 11 p.m., we came well equipped with plenty of activities and Shabbos entertainment,” explains CTeen director, Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, “but the teens just wanted more toichen and farbrengens. It’s amazing to see how thirsty they are for Yiddishkeit!”
The Motzoei Shabbos program opened with a public havdalah ceremony in Alexander Platz and was followed by a soul stirring bonfire and lively dancing.
At the farewell banquet, Berlin’s Head Shliach Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel addressed the teens, pointing out how they proudly roamed the very streets that once were made Judenrein. Following his moving address, the teens rose to their feet and broke out in song, proclaiming that “Am Yisroel chai!”
“As the teens return home, the momentum from the shabbaton is spreading across Europe,” says Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and chairman of CTeen. “European Shluchim now want more shabbatons and are signing up for regular CTeen programming.”
Wow!! It looks like these boys had an amazing time:) yasher koach to all those who planned such an amazing event! CTeen does great shlichus!!
let’s reverse the effect- we should davka bring ppl closer to yiddishkeit in the place where so many yidden were wiped out, kind of like turning Gaschmius into Ruchnius- making up for the so many neshamos that lost the opportunity to do torah and mitzvos.
The boys look like they are having a good time but Germany of all places!!????? Keep my family out of there!
AMAZING!! Cteen does it again!! Hatzlachah Rabbah!!
fun!