Hours after 8K Jewish teenagers from 60 countries filled the Nassau Coliseum for the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world, for what was meant to be the closing ceremony, nearly 1,500 of them are now stranded in New York as the winter storm has cancelled flights across the East Coast.

With rescheduled flights not expected until later this week, CTeen is extending the experience with workshops, activities, and programming, giving teens who rarely have access to a large Jewish peer group more quality time together.

Kira Rothchild, who traveled with the Sydney delegation, is among those still waiting in New York. “Unfortunately, I have to miss some important schoolwork,” she said, “but I get to enjoy this experience with everyone and embrace the New York spirit. It’s just so amazing to be part of.”

The teens come from across the globe, from Brazil to Barcelona, and many have never seen snow before. For a large number of them, this weekend marked the rare experience of being surrounded by Jewish peers; back home, many are the only Jewish students in their school.

“The Rebbe taught us that one is never stuck,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International. “We don’t control the situations we find ourselves in, but how we respond, we do. Instead of seeing this as a setback, the teens are seizing the opportunity to grow and connect with their peers in an uplifting environment.”

The CTeen team worked around the clock with the CTeen Shluchim and Crown Heights vendors and generous community members to create the extended program, with fun activities, powerful workshops, meals, and lodging, giving teens who rarely have access to a large Jewish peer group more quality time together.

Nava Emanuel of CTeen Skokie had planned to fly home, but instead finds herself on an overnight road trip back to the Midwest with 50 teens from six cities across three states. “We were all really worried about spending so long cooped up on a bus with 50 people,” she said. “But it actually ended up kind of fun. Some of us got to study Torah with the rabbi, we all said Shema together, and we got to spend more time with each other and meet teens from other chapters.”