New York City’s top elected officials joined more than 4,500 Jewish teenagers from 60 countries on Thursday night to kick off the 18th annual CTeen International Summit—the world’s largest gathering of Jewish teens—with a powerful solidarity event highlighting Jewish resilience and pride.

The message was clear: Jewish teens are stronger and prouder than ever. The evening held special meaning for a delegation of teens from Sydney, Australia, including survivors of the deadly Chanukah terror attack two months ago.

The international conference, held in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, brought together New York City Comptroller Mark Levine; Speaker of the City Council Julie Menin; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; Council Member Crystal Hudson; Jahmila Edwards, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; District Leader Pinny Ringel; Deputy Consul General Mr. Michal Kaplan of the Czech Republic; and Carmen Esser, Head of the Political Section at the German Consulate.

NYPD Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, Chief Charles Minch; Ronald Perez, Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct, accompanied by Jonathan Connors, Community Affairs; NYPD  Chief Richie Taylor; and Kenneth S. Gorman, Inspector, Transit Bureau Brooklyn.

Representing Chabad was Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen, as well as Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, the PR Liaison at Chabad Headquarters, and Rabbi Shimon Rivkin of CTeen International.

The event was the first of numerous uplifting programs at the four-day Summit, which runs through Sunday and is organized by CTeen, the Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest Jewish teen organization. CTeen operates 900 chapters in over 60 countries worldwide, empowering Jewish teens to explore their identity, develop as leaders, and build connections to Jewish life and community.

The evening’s most powerful moment came when 17-year-old Priva Schlanger took the stage together with the Sydney delegation. Schlanger’s father, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was among 15 people murdered during the Chanukah terror attack at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Just months before his death, Rabbi Schlanger had launched CTeen Bondi and begun planning for this trip. His daughter traveled to New York with a delegation from CTeen in Sydney to continue what her father started.

Together with 4,500 teens from 486 cities, the Bondi delegation joined in singing “Oseh Shalom”, a traditional Jewish prayer for peace.

Comptroller Levine welcomed the teens from more than 60 countries in Spanish, French, and Hebrew, sharing a message of solidarity and support.

“This is a challenging time for Jews around the world,” Levine said. “But we are inspired by the strength of the teens from Sydney, including Priva. You are the pride of the Jewish people.”

Speaker Menin, the first Jewish Speaker of the New York City Council and the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors whose family found refuge in Sydney, Australia, addressed the teens.

“This is the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world, and I can’t describe the hope and pride I feel looking out at all of you,” Menin said. “You embody Jewish pride, and that is exactly what we need more of.”

Turning to the Sydney delegation, Menin added, “Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your bravery. You are our heroes. The fact that you are here is a reflection of your strength.” She noted a personal connection to Australia, sharing that after the Holocaust, Australia was the only country that accepted her mother and family. “We are so thrilled to have you here.” Rabbi Kotlarsky, who had just returned from a conference of Chabad rabbis and leaders at Bondi Beach, spoke about the impact of the Australian teens’ decision to attend.

“These teens lived through something no teenager should ever have to experience,” Kotlarsky said. “And their response has been to show up, be more Jewish, and be more proud.”

Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez pledged to the gathered teens that fighting antisemitism extends beyond any single community.

“It’s not just the responsibility of the Jewish community. It’s the responsibility of everyone,” Gonzalez said. “antisemitism has no place in this city.”

Council Member Hudson, who represents the Crown Heights district where the event took place, urged the teens to take pride in who they are. “Be proud of your heritage. Be proud of your religion. Be proud of who you are,” she said.

Rabbi Shimon Rivkin, Director of CTeen International, who emceed the evening, recalled that only months ago, Rabbi Eli Schlanger had sat in his office at Chabad Headquarters, requesting to open a chapter in Bondi. Seeing Priva carry that work forward, Rivkin said, was a continuation of her father’s mission.

The Summit will continue through the weekend with programming across NYC and will conclude with a closing ceremony at Nassau Coliseum on Long Island on Sunday. The 2026 gathering represents the largest in the event’s 18-year history, with over 8,000 in attendance.

Photo Credit: Rivkah Laber/CTeen