Times Square pulsed with energy on Saturday night as 7,000 Jewish teens from 60 countries transformed it into a powerful display of faith, resilience, and unity.
Photo by Shalom Ross – Rivkah Laber
Times Square pulsed with energy on Saturday night as 7,000 Jewish teens from 60 countries transformed it into a powerful display of faith, resilience, and unity.
They weren’t there to explain their Jewish identity—they came to embrace it, unapologetically and out loud. Some arrived from war-torn regions, others from communities facing rising antisemitism, and many from places still recovering from natural disasters. Despite their different backgrounds, they stood together, demonstrating the unbreakable strength of their shared heritage.
“Shavuah Tov, CTeen!” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International, which organized the event, greeted the crowd from the stage, his voice ringing through the glowing billboards and weekend bustle. The teens responded in thunderous unison, kicking off a night where Jewish pride took center stage in the heart of New York City.
Among them was Alan Krasnov, a high school senior from Buenos Aires, standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands who came to make their Jewish pride visible. With one collective motion, they covered their eyes and recited the Shema, their voices merging into a single, powerful declaration of faith amid the city’s towering screens and flashing lights.
Alan was one of 42 teens from CTeen El Lazo in Buenos Aires, led by Rabbi Ari and Hindy Levy. Their chapter is part of the world’s largest Jewish teen network, with 841 chapters across the globe. The group had traveled to New York for the 17th annual CTeen International Shabbaton, where 4,000 teens first spent a meaningful Shabbat in Crown Heights before turning Times Square into a public display of Jewish leadership and activism.
“Back home, most of my classmates aren’t Jewish. I’m usually explaining who I am and why I do things differently,” Alan reflected. “Tonight, no explanations were needed. We all knew why we were here, and we knew we weren’t alone. I can’t wait to take that energy back home.”
The timing of this event was especially significant. In a year marked by war in Israel, increased hostility in schools and online, and mounting challenges for Jewish communities worldwide, these teens sent a clear message: their faith and unity would not waver.
As the night’s celebrations reached their peak, the music and dancing paused for a solemn moment. Thousands stood together in silence, singing a prayer for peace in Israel and for the return of hostages still held in Gaza. In tribute to the Bibas family, who were murdered in cold blood, orange balloons drifted skyward, carrying with them a collective hope for justice and remembrance.
The event was not just about commemoration but about action. In a powerful demonstration, a classic New York City food truck was koshered live on stage, educating many teens on the physical process that transforms the ordinary into something sacred. The demonstration marked 50 years since the Rebbe’s Kosher Campaign. It was dedicated to Rabbi Tzvi Kogen, who was murdered in a terrorist attack earlier this year after dedicating his life to bringing kosher observance to the region.
The energy in Times Square soared as Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon joined the teens, along with Jewish music stars Lipa and Tal Vaknin, who led an electrifying celebration of Jewish life and identity.
This unforgettable night culminated an inspiring weekend. Throughout the Shabbaton, teens attended workshops, visited 770 and the Ohel for spiritual guidance, and drew strength from one another’s stories and experiences.
“The Rebbe taught that Jewish youth have a unique power to lead because of the idealism and boundless energy they bring to everything they do,” said Rabbi Kotlarsky. “That’s exactly what you see tonight—thousands of teens, representing hundreds of communities, standing completely unfazed, stepping up with the confidence to take that light back home and share it with their peers.”
In a world that often challenges their identity, these teens chose to stand tall. In Times Square, they didn’t just celebrate their Judaism—they proclaimed it for all to see.
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