Mountain Top Havdalah Completes Unforgettable Shabbos For CTeens Across Asia
The CTeen Asia Shabbaton reached its high point this Shabbos, as 100 teen leaders from 17 chapters across Asia came together in Hong Kong for a Shabbos full of singing, learning and new friendships.
Friday night, the teens welcomed Shabbos together with a meal in a beautifully set hall, filled with singing and dancing. The evening continued with icebreakers that brought teens from different countries together, an “Ask Me Anything” session and a farbrengen that went deep into the night. “The teens were so welcoming and warm,” said Yehudah, a volunteer on the trip. “They instantly bonded.”
Shabbos morning opened with breakfast and a morning program, followed by davening at Chabad, where the aliyos were auctioned off for mitzvah commitments. After lunch, the teens took the floor for Teen Talks, with several sharing their own stories. Yehudah described one such story as “very moving, I think it really uplifted everyone who listened.” In the afternoon, the group set out on a 90-minute hike up to Victoria Peak, with beautiful views of the city the whole way up.
“The Rebbe taught us to recognize the power of young people’s idealism to change the world,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, chairman of CTeen International. “This Shabbos, we put the teens center stage to lead and inspire their peers. It’s one thing to hear a message from a rabbi. But when someone your own age, facing the same challenges you face, shares their story, it empowers you so much more.”
At the summit, as Shabbos ended and night settled over the city, the teens gathered for Havdalah. When asked about his favorite part of the Shabbaton so far, Jacob, a teen from Singapore, pointed to that moment. “It was really beautiful,” he said. “There was a guitar, everyone was singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was amazing.”
For many of these teens, moments like this meant something more. Most come from communities where they may be one of only a handful of Jewish kids in their city. On the peak, they stood among 100 Jewish peers from across the continent. “My favorite part of the Shabbaton so far was meeting so many other Jewish teens my age,” said Aidan, an Israeli teen whose family now lives in Shanghai. “Our Jewish community in Shanghai is small, so it meant a lot to be with so many others who share my experiences.”
The celebration continued after Havdalah. The group rode the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, then crossed Victoria Harbour on the Star Ferry to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, where they gathered for a group photo with the skyline behind them. “It was really an incredible sight,” said Yehudah. “Jewish teens from all across Asia, standing together as one.” The evening culminated at Chabad of Kowloon with a festive Melave Malka, filled with music and dancing late into the night.
The Shabbaton, organized by the CTeen International Team at Merkos 302, was hosted by the CTeen Hong Kong chapter led by Rabbi Mendy and Mushka Rabinowitz, together with Rabbi Mordechai and Goldie Avtzon, the first Shluchim to South-East Asia, and marks 40 years of Chabad in Asia and the incredible growth of CTeen Asia. It wraps up Sunday, as the teens head home to Mumbai, Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore and beyond, ready to bring what they gained back to their families and fellow teens.
