Small Border Town Jew
I was the only CTeener from my small border town on the way to the CTeen International Shabbaton. I was nervous and didn’t know anyone. But CTeen welcomed me like family—and that weekend in 2013 changed my life.
CTeen showed me that being a proud Jewish teen was possible—even in a place where there weren’t many Jews my age. After attending four Shabbatons, I went on the CTeen Heritage Quest to Israel and Poland.
I’ll never forget walking out of a concentration camp with my friends, singing “Am Yisrael Chai.” Despite everything, we are alive and united.
Spending Shabbat in Jerusalem and Tzfat with local families reminded me what love for another Jew looks like.
Back on campus at American University in D.C., I joined Chabad my first semester—and eventually joined the board for three years. Thanks to Chabad, I even met my boyfriend.
Now, as a college senior, I look back and realize CTeen gave me the strength to be a proud, unapologetic Jew. And I still keep in touch with many friends I made there.
https://neosurfpokies.com had me thinking about that moment walking out of the camp singing "Am Yisrael Chai" — that kind of shared strength is hard to explain to anyone who hasn't lived it. What struck me most was how a single Shabbaton in 2013 eventually led to a Chabad board position years later, which says a lot about how early experiences quietly shape later choices. I've seen the same pattern in my own community, where one welcoming weekend ends up anchoring someone for years.
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This is a touching account of how CTeen helped turn an uncertain first trip into years of friendship, community, and personal growth. The memories of Shabbat and traveling with friends clearly left a lasting impression. On another note, SoFlo Wheelie Life offers a simple browser-based motorcycle challenge centered on balance and wheelies.