This past weekend, 5,000 Jewish teens from around the world gathered for a Shabbat of inspiration, Torah study, connection and Jewish pride. Here are our top 4 moments from the program:
From Gaza to Times Square
At the post-Shabbat event in Times Square, the crowd roared a thunderous Shema Yisrael, the declaration of faith. They were led by former hostage Segev Kalfon, who, deep in the dungeon tunnels of Gaza, vowed to one day declare his Jewish faith in the face of his cruel Hamas captors.
Bondi Heroes Share
The teens also heard from their peers from Bondi, who shared how they chose faith over fear and beauty over bitterness. The crowd cheered when Priva Schlanger, whose father was killed in the attack, shared her message of positivity.
Strong Jewish Teens
One teen shared how he chose Shabbat over his chosen path as a professional swimmer, another shared how she realized that she could not be in a relationship with a gentile, and a third told about how he made the decision to put on tefillin and then went on to help others do it too. They were joined on the stage by a surprise guest: a Mexican native who’d been taken hostage in Gaza on October 7.
The Epic Havdalah Ceremony
Every year, the teens look forward to the moment when Havdalah is (symbolically for most) made in Times Square, demarcating the end of Shabbat and the start of the new week.
