Aksel Levis jokes that he is a “statistical miracle” as the only Jewish student in his school, yet he sees it as his responsibility to carry his Torah learning, observance of Shabbat and Jewish law, and generations of heritage in every hallway he walks.
His is just one of the many inspiring stories emerging from young Jewish participants of CTeen (Chabad Teen Network). This past weekend, 500 Jewish teenagers from 28 European countries gathered for the continent’s largest Jewish youth event, turning central Budapest into a scene of song and color. The European Jewish Teen Congress, held Nov. 27-30, brought participants to historic sites across the Hungarian capital, including Madách Imre Square, where the proudly Jewish rally unfolded near the former boundary of the wartime ghetto.
Early Friday morning, the square filled with teenagers celebrating openly in a place where their ancestors once faced confinement nearby. For Rafael Haimoff of Hanover, Germany, also the only Jew in his school, it marked the rare moment of standing among peers who understand what visible Jewish identity demands today.
Organized by EMIH (Association of United Hungarian Jewish Congregations) and the CTeen International team at Chabad-Lubavitch world headquarters, for many of the teens the annual gathering is the one space where Jewish life feels tangible. Elizabeth Geller, from Prague, described it as an inner turning point. “For the first time, Judaism wasn’t just something I heard and read about. I felt it in my heart.”
Stories like Rafael’s and Elizabeth’s appeared again throughout the weekend. Those individual journeys converged Friday when 500 voices joined together in the square while Israeli Ambassador Maya Kadosh, local leaders and diplomats looked on. Upbeat Jewish music blared over speakers as the teens reclaimed a space once marked by historical persecution.
“This gathering sends a powerful message of hope,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, chairman of CTeen International. “Despite all odds, Jewish youth are thriving in Europe. The impact will reverberate across the globe with each kid returning home empowered to lead and inspire their peers.”
The weekend’s programming matched the day-to-day situations these teens find themselves in. Roundtable discussions addressed questions about faith, suffering and personal relationship with G‑d. Workshops showed how Torah speaks to modern challenges. Teen leaders shared the pressures they face and why they choose Jewish pride over blending in.
Rabbi Shlomo Kovesh of EMIH noted Hungary’s reputation as a peaceful environment for Jewish life, with a community of 100,000. He cited the 10 Chabad centers that have sprung up in Budapest over the past 20 years, as well as two Jewish schools, a yeshivah, and a university, run by 28 emissary couples. Senior rabbinic leadership, including Rabbi Boruch Oberlander, continues to guide this renewal.
Shabbat brought visits to the Danube River memorial where teens recited Shema Yisrael together, the sound of hundreds of young voices carrying forward over the water. During Shabbat afternoon Teen Talks, participants shared personal histories. Tim Holland, also from Hanover, described learning that he was Jewish at age 9 and four years later, at his bar mitzvah, watching his grandfather step into a synagogue for the first time since the Soviet era. “I saw tears in his eyes,” he said. “At that moment, I felt deep pride in Jewish life being brought back into my family.”
As Shabbat ended, teens held Havdalah ceremonies at their host locations before reuniting at Obuda Shul for a melaveh malkah celebration. A Chanukah Wonderland filled the space with interactive booths leading into the closing ceremony and a “Hachlata Auction,” where participants committed to new Jewish observances. Sunday morning brought final prayers, a mitzvah raffle and emotional farewells as buses departed for the airport and final city tours.
In Copenhagen, Denmark, Rina Aronsohn returns to a school where she, too, stands nearly alone as a Jewish student. She keeps Shabbat, dresses modestly and remains visibly Jewish by choice. Upon her departure, she said: “As Chanukah approaches, I’m going to bring the light of this weekend back to my hometown and to everyone around me.”
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