For thirty-two teenaged boys hailing from Colombia, Brazil and Argentina, CTeen’s recent five-day winter camp in S. Paolo, Brazil was a unique experience.

Fun, adventure, and an opportunity to take part in a Jewish environment were key aspects of the trip. Here, daily Torah classes and extreme sports went hand-in-hand.

“Because this was our second year running the camp, we wanted to offer the teens an even better and more meaningful experience than before,” shared Rabbi Chai Kohan, director of CTeen Espanol and Merkos’ Spanish division.

Teens also had the opportunity to engage with the local Jewish community of S. Paulo by visiting the Hebraica, a local Jewish Federation that hosted them for a night of fun and entertainment.

“At camp, I learned about Torah and mitzvot in a whole new way,” shared Benjamin Rodriguez from Barranquilla, Colombia. “We heard interesting stories and lessons that reflect the importance of mitzvot. It was great to learn and experience a new side of my Jewish identity. I really hope that I’ll be able to have a similar experience at another CTeen camp in the future.”