As thousands of Jewish teens from around the world gathered at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 18th annual CTeen International Summit, 10 members of the Chabad of the Five Towns CTeen chapter were among those taking part in what organizers called the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world.
The local teens joined more than 4,500 participants representing roughly 900 chapters across 60 countries for the summit, which culminated in the “Live the Life Event,” on Feb. 22. The program, broadcast globally, focused on encouraging teens to embrace and publicly express their Jewish identity at a time of rising antisemitism and social pressure.
“It ignites a sense of Jewish pride that stays with our teens way longer after this weekend ends,” said Hadassah Geisinsky, Chabad of the Five Towns CTeen director. “it gives them confidence to live their faith openly and happily in a world that challenges their values of being a teen.”
She said this experience taught the kids that they are part of something much larger than themselves or their Five Towns CTeen chapter.
“The goal is to ignite and love for that passion of being a Jew,” Geisinsky said. “It gives them the feeling that they are a leader and to bring all this to your community. It’s more than inspiring, it empowers the teens.”
For Five Towns participants, the experience offered both a sense of connection and empowerment, as they stood alongside peers facing similar challenges in schools and communities worldwide. The summit’s theme emphasized living Jewish values openly and confidently.
“Seeing everyone being Jewish and having a sense of pride for it was truly amazing to me,” said Olivia Rubin, leader of the Five Towns CTeen chapter.
Rubin, a junior at Hewlett High School, joined CTeen because she heard all of her friends talk about it and wanted to be involved in a Jewish organization. She said her favorite part of the weekend was hearing first-hand stories from hostages held captive by Gaza in the Oct. 7, 2023 war.
“I had only heard a point of view from soldiers, never from a hostage,” she said. “I learned that if you have ambition to see the person you love, it gives you the courage to stay alive.”
The closing ceremony featured a range of speakers and performers, including UCLA student Eli Tsives, who has spoken out against campus antisemitism, and Jewish content creators using social media to promote Jewish pride. Athletes, entrepreneurs and musician Nissim Black also appeared, highlighting expressions of Jewish identity across different fields.
“Standing in that arena, surrounded by the future, you feel the strength and the hope of this generation,” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, chairman of Chabad’s global networks, wrote in a statement. “When thousands of diverse teens gather with this kind of clarity and pride, it creates energy that spreads to their communities across the globe.”
A delegation from Bondi Beach in Australia underscored the global nature of the movement, while one of the most anticipated moments included remarks from recently freed hostages, who shared messages of resilience and faith.
For teens from the Five Towns, the weekend was not just about attending a large-scale event close to home, but about bringing its message back to their own schools and communities — choosing, as organizers emphasized, not to respond to hate with retreat, but with visibility, pride and light.
“I feel like if you’re a very outgoing, talkative person like me then CTeen is for you,” Rubin added. “I didn’t see myself being different during the weekend and I loved that.”
To learn more about Chabad of the Five Towns’s CTeen chapter, contact Hadassah Geisinsky at (516) 458-3694.
