News items

Chabad launches new Jewish Teen Club

MONROE (November 1) - Chabad Teen Network Group’s Vision: Discover Ourselves and Volunteer for a Greater Cause – Together, We’ll Better the World

Chabad of Orange County has launched the newest teen society in the neighborhood: The CTeen Network.  The local chapter of Cteen, which is part of the fastest growing Jewish teen network, compacts exhilarating fun and meaningful projects into a program that’s thrilling and uniting. CTeen demonstrates that educational and service is the pillar of personal growth.

CTeen, which is open to all Jewish teens in the community regardless of affiliation, meets once a month for events including:  Icebreakers, teambuilding activities, peer‐to‐peer discussions, educational debate sessions, provoking video presentations, community service activities, exciting recreational trips and Shabbatons.

Teens love to socialize, and they love to network. The CTeen Network takes these skills that teenagers have mastered throughout time, and creatively channels their talents toward making a difference in the community.

“CTeen’s goal is not just to get together and have a good time," said Rabbi Pesach Burston, director of Chabad of Orange County and head of the local CTeen chapter, “It's also about encouraging our teens to take a leadership role.  Our mission is to provide a nurturing environment where teens can learn about themselves through giving to others, identify with others who share the same faith, and be part of a group that focuses on building core values with an emphasis on character development,” Rabbi Burston explained.

“CTeen events transforms free time into constructive time and blends the perfect opportunity to have fun with friends and have a dynamic Jewish experience, by incorporating volunteer programs, community service events, and recreational projects that raise Jewish awareness, while feeling good about making the world a better place.  We are shaped not by what we receive but by what we do,” he added.

At the recent kickoff event, the first of many scheduled events for 2010/11, the teens performed “Spiritual Open Heart Surgery.”  Teens tackled the difficulties in making decisions, and how life’s hardest battles are fought within ourselves.

For one of the activities, “Stuck Together,” Cteen participants tried to accomplish a goal while being stuck to another person.  Each pair of teens were tied by wrists and ankles and had to accomplish the goal of packing gift boxes for women in shelters; in conjunction with Safe Homes of Orange County. The teens, who were very resourceful, felt proud of their accomplishment.

The next CTeen event will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 4:00 to 5:30pm, at Chabad’s new Monroe/Chester Location, 1170 Route 17m, Suite 1 (Upper level parking lot), in Chester.

For more information visit www.ChabadOrange.com/Cteen, or to request a brochure and CTeen Calendar, contact Rabbi Pesach and Chana Burston at 782-2770 or email CTeen@ChabadOrange.com

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