Planting Seeds, Growing Leaders: Chabad’s Global Teen Network Continues to Thrive

As social media amplifies everything from personal insecurity to open antisemitism, today’s youth are navigating a world that feels more hostile and confusing than ever. For thousands of Jewish teens, CTeen isn’t just an after-school program. It’s the first place they feel truly seen.

Arianna Zalik’s CTeen journey began at the end of her freshman year, when a friend invited her to a Shabbat dinner hosted by Rabbi Dovid and Talia Goldschmidt. It was there she heard about the CTeen chapter that was being launched in Atlanta.

Three years later, what started with a handful of teens in Atlanta has grown to hundreds of participants, and Arianna now serves as the Ambassador president — overseeing major planning and outreach. Around 25 teens hold leadership roles in CTeen Atlanta, organizing Shabbat dinners, planning menus, designing décor, and making sure every detail comes together. “It gives us a chance to experience what it’s really like to run things — to lead, to organize, to set an example,” she said.

Arianna feels CTeen shaped her entire high school experience. “Jewish identity isn’t always fully supported around you,” she explained. “Even for kids in Jewish schools, CTeen reinforces the importance of connecting to heritage, spirituality, and tradition. And for public school kids, it’s a safe space to explore Judaism and be surrounded by like-minded people.”

Up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, another CTeen chapter, led by Rabbi Chaim and Nina Shemtov, has seen a similar surge. Now a 10th grader and a CTeen ambassador, Izzy Krishtul first heard about CTeen from counselors at the local Gan Izzy summer camp. “After COVID, I hadn’t been connected to anything Jewish at all,” she said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to get back into it.” Today, she helps encourage other teens to join, saying CTeen has become “the strongest part of my Jewish identity” and makes her “more proud of who I am, especially with everything going on in the world.”

But CTeen isn’t limited to just the United States — it has become an international phenomenon, with nearly 850 chapters worldwide. In Israel, Rabbi Mendi Malkieli heads a CTeen chapter in Rishon Lezion involving over 6,000 teens. After October 7th, he noticed a major shift. “Suddenly teens wanted connection, meaning, belonging — more than ever before.”

The impact has extended beyond programs and events. Many of his teens stay in touch long after they move on, including alumni now serving in the IDF. “I have boys in Gaza right now. They call me before operations and ask for a blessing,” he said.

Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International, quoted the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s words: “If you influence an adult, you influence one. If you influence a teenager, you influence a generation.” He shared that at the recent International Conference of Chabad Emissaries, more than 250 Shluchim requested guidance on setting aside dedicated spaces in their Chabad Houses — places where teens can feel they belong.

In Budapest, Sophie Bassman leads CTeen alongside her husband, Tzemmy. She says many teens there are discovering their Jewish identity for the first time. “This age is when they’re curious, when they want to understand where they come from,” she said. After October 7, participation has only grown. “Our message is simple,” she added. “Nothing will stop us, and nothing will dim our light.”

Rabbi Chida Levitansky, who leads CTeen Sydney — home to one of the largest “CTeen Lounges” in the world — agrees that the teen years are the most critical. “If you can inspire them as teenagers,” he says, “it leaves an impact for life. With teens, you can give and give — and you won’t always see the results right away. But when you do, you realize you’ve helped shape a life.”

For these rabbis and rebbetzins, the work ahead is just as urgent as ever: reaching students before life pulls them in other directions, and giving them something solid to carry long after they’ve left the classroom.