Photos: Bentzi Sasson
The colorful postcard marketing the 6th Annual CTeen Shabbaton in New York showcased a “PhotoShopped” image of the shabbaton and Jewish superstar Alex Clare advertised on Manhattan’s jumbotrons and billboards.
Never would the 1,000 shabbaton participants from over 110 communities around the world have dreamt that this would be a reality at the climax of the three-day shabbaton during the Havdallah ceremony in Times Square.
The 10 jumbo screens of the American Eagle building broadcasted slogans encouraging many of the 10 mivtzoim accompanied by supporting footage of teens doing mitzvos at their local CTeen programs and at CTeen’s two-week traveling camp. The main screen displayed a live feed of Alex’s Clare stellar Havdallah service and concert, and peaked with a specially made video of the Rebbe speaking of the incredible power of youth.
Video: Alex Clare performs in Times Square
At the CTeen Leadership Choice Awards ceremony during the shabbaton’s closing banquet on Sunday, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, spoke to the teens about how much the the Rebbe cherished the youth and how much the Rebbe believed in each and every one of them that they can literally change the world. “I wish I was your age,” Rabbi Krinsky said, charging the teens with the mission to use their abilities to their fullest potential.
During his keynote address to the teens, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, vice-chairman of Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch and chairman of CTeen, revved up the electrified hall. Encouraging the teens to pack their bags with a priceless mitzvah, he proclaimed in his inimitable Kinus-Hashluchim-banquet-style tone, “You may be going home now, but you are taking the shabbaton back home with you!”
Teens were then presented with awards by both Rabbi Krinsky and Rabbi Kotlarsky, who commended them for their efforts in strengthening their local CTeen chapters and their involvement in planning and arranging programs with the international leadership board.
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky closed the formal part of the banquet’s program by reading greetings sent by President Obama in honor of the shabbaton. “Uniting Jewish youth from diverse backgrounds, occasions like the CTeen International Shabbaton provide important opportunities to explore your faith, develop leadership skills and push yourselves to reach for new heights,” Obama stated.
The amazed shluchim and teens in attendance all had one question for CTeen: how did they pull it off? CTeen’s director, Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, shared the secret of this year’s shabbaton’s epic success. “It was the Rebbe’s brochos,” he explained. “Throughout all of the preparations, we literally saw how the Rebbe is guiding us every step of the way!”
Click here to see a 3D photo of the epic event.
Video: Rebbe’s video plays in Times Square:
I love you so much! And so does Hashem and the Rebbe.
picture is worth a thousand words
Until now there were no real teen Chabad programs – everyone else was taken care of, early childhood, kids (tzivos hashem), college students, grownups etc- the ‘teen factor’ was a missing – I am truly proud to be a Lubavitcher seeing the CTeens – Machayil el Choyil!
DOWN TO THE VERY LAST DETAIL!!!! AMZAING!!!!!
I see that for the most part, the boys are kept with the boys and the girls are kept with the girls. How inspiring. We are able to bring out the best in our mostly not yet religious teens, without compromising on standard set by the Rebbe and Halacha. Go shimon.
A fellow Akshan 😉
Shoutout to Zevi and Musy New of CTeen San Diego–what an incredible weekend you gave your teens. All the brachos to every person involved in this program.
No words can describe how awesome this was! Go alex clare!!
To my cousins Shimon and Leah Rivkin:
Shimon, I always knew you were dynamic and that Leah, you are so talented, but together b”h, you rock!
You have done so much and I’m proud to be your cousin! May Hashem give you the strength to continue your amazing work! You cannot rest until each and every teen is shomer torah u’mitzvos. If anybody can do it, it’s the 2 of you.
I’m looking forward to see what other peulos you manage to pull off. Keep making me proud!
Chana, and Chanky, you ladies rocked that event. Yasher Koiach!!!
Behind every successful event there are women…Leah Rivkin, Chanky Friedman, and Chana Grifkin, This would not have been the success that it was without them!
Where you hiding Mendel Perlstein??
A million Dollar ceo! How he gathers top talent and delegates so well. This guy is pulling off mega events close to five time a year. and ALL for the sake for the Rebbes shlichus. An inspiration.
Go Chanky Friedman!! Without you the event would not have been as amazing and incredibly organized.
Beyond words!!!
True Shlichus nachas for the Rebbe!
A good word to the rabbis who strive all year to mekarev the kids and bring them in to this weekend. May the rabbis and the teens themselves mekarev many more and continue to bring such tremendous nachas to our Rebbe!
A huge shout out to every Shliach, present or otherwise, who made this project a reality! הנה הנה משיח בא!
An amazing weekend. Great work all. Would like to have seen some pictures of the rabbis – with the groups that they brought in!