By COLlive reporter
As a powerful snowstorm swept through New York following this weekend’s CTeen Shabbaton, the Crown Heights community and beyond sprang into action to care for approximately 2,000 teens left stranded by widespread travel disruptions.
Blizzard conditions overnight made it impossible for many participants to catch scheduled flights home. While some teens managed to leave early in an effort to avoid the storm, hundreds found themselves stuck in Crown Heights, with others stranded for hours at JFK and Newark airports.
CTeen International, led by Chairman Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky and Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director, quickly arranged a full day of programming for Monday to ensure the teens remaining in New York would be cared for and engaged despite the unexpected delay. Teens enjoyed a snowman-making competition, with two winners receiving a free Shabbaton weekend next year, crafts, basketball games with Oholei Torah students, and more activities. Some teens even used their extra time in New York to give back to the Crown Heights community, volunteering to help shovel the streets during the storm.
“As soon as we became aware of this emergency situation, we immediately sprang into action to try and do everything we could to ease the burden of every Shliach, many of whom are exhausted following the three-day packed schedule of the CTeen weekend,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky.
At the airports, volunteers worked tirelessly to assist those waiting for updates. Members of Shomrim, led by Mendy Hershkop, assisted by Yaacov Behrman of the Jewish Future Alliance, coordinated the transfer of food to 300 stranded teens at JFK Airport.
Sruli Yavich of Shmira arranged four buses to transport 300 teens from JFK back to Crown Heights using Bais Rivkah buses, with drivers Shloimy Ezagui, Mendel Backman and Yossi Kahan organized under his direction.
Back in the neighborhood, mosdos and community leaders opened their doors without hesitation. Rabbi Sholom Goldstein, Shimon Sabol and Benny Wolf made Bais Rivkah buildings on Crown Street and Lefferts Avenue available for programming and activities. Rabbi Sholom Ber Baumgarten opened the Jewish Children’s Museum to host the teens. Oholei Torah, under the direction of Shmeilach Rosenfeld, opened its basketball court and swimming pool to provide additional space and recreation. Teen boys joined Chavrusah learning session with Oholei Torah Zal bochurim, coordinated with the assistance of Menahel Rabbi Chony Lesches.
Meals for hundreds of teens were provided through the generosity of Itzik Benabou of House of Glatt together with caterer Bentzion Cohen, ensuring that no one went hungry during the extended stay.
The chesed extended beyond Crown Heights. Members of the Chabad community in Hillside, NJ, braved treacherous road conditions to drive to Newark Airport and bring 30 stranded teens back to their homes, where families opened their doors to host them until travel becomes possible.
What could have been a chaotic and frightening experience for hundreds of teenagers instead became a powerful display of achdus and care. Once again, Crown Heights and neighboring communities demonstrated that when guests are in need, the response is immediate and wholehearted.
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