Judaism 101
Growing Jewish
3 weeks ago Emilio Chayo 0
Being Jewish is no easy task. Whether we are in Tel Aviv, Brooklyn, or Cancun—every single one of us faces daily struggles. In my opinion, though, we—teenagers—are the ones who have the hardest task. As teens, we find ourselves involved in a fight mightier than any in history but a battle that happens so frequently Read More
Ekev, a Dvar Torah
2 months ago Quincy Barret 0
Hi! My name is Quincy, I live in Manchester and this year, I am venturing into the world of CTeen Connection. My articles will mainly be short divrai torah (often with a question and answer format), attempting to reveal some of the hidden lessons from the weekly parashah (Torah portion). In this week’s parashah Ekev, Read More
Are Tattoos Taboo? (The Torah’s Take)
4 months ago Hannah Butcher 0
In December, after I turned 18, the first thing my friends asked me was if I was going to get a tattoo. Something inside me held me back from jumping head-first into a tattoo parlor, however. At the International Shabbaton I realized why, exactly, I hesitated to get inked. Like me, many Jewish teens stand Read More
Lashon Hara
4 months ago hkaplun 0
We’ve all heard the phrase “easier said than done.” Ya, know “I’m going to start waking up earlier” “I’m going to exercise more” “I’m only going to watch one more episode of this show.” There are mitzvahs that are easier said than done too, one being not speaking, or hearing, Lashon Hara. Lashon hara is Read More
Know an Aleph, Teach an Aleph
5 months ago hkaplun 0
As a CTeener, I’m sure that you’ve heard countless of stories about the Rebbe and his teachings; a Shabbat D’var Torah is barely complete without mentioning the Rebbe. Personally, I love hearing stories about people going to the Rebbe for guidance or a blessing; his answers, and his ability to know exactly what to say, Read More
Let’s Celebrate Jewish Pride
5 months ago Leighest 0
By Sara Serfaty//M. Viejo, CA When it comes to Israel, from the war back in 2014—Operation Protective Edge—to the riots in Gaza now, the presence of media hypnotizes readers into believing lies. Today, I did a presentation at my CTeen chapter, CTeen Mission Viejo, about why it is important to support Israel. During the beginning Read More
10 Shabbaton Lessons to Remember for Life
7 months ago Hannah Butcher 0
Last week, I participated in my final International Shabbaton as a CTeener. My favorite part of each Shabbaton has always been the Shabbat lectures, which include intimate, enriching, and spiritual discussions with rabbis and rebbetzins from across the nation. This year, in order to ensure that I made the most of my last Shabbaton, I Read More
The Mitzvah of Tzniut
8 months ago Leighest 0
Sarelle Franco/ Los Alamitos, California I definitely stand out in a crowd. As the representative of the Jewish nation in my school, I dress modestly, wearing skirts and shirts past my elbow. It’s a challenge, but it’s one that I enjoy doing. You may ask, how did I, a student in public school, make the Read More