Heritage Quest Ends, but Teens' Global Impact Has Just Begun

When Abby Eskenazi of Wilton, Connecticut returns to school this fall, she intends to deepen Jewish connections among her peers. She was among a group of teenage Jewish girls, many the only Jewish students in their schools, who recited the Shema together at Auschwitz-Birkenau during the summer - a site where over a million Jews were murdered.

"Standing together as a Jewish youth group and reciting the Shema was special," Said Rachel Rosenhouse from CTeen Coral Springs, Florida, "for those who cannot anymore and for us who can."

The three-week Heritage Quest program, operated by CTeen, moves participants from sites of Jewish destruction in Poland to Jewish communities in Israel. According to Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International, "Today, many Jewish teenagers are constantly dealing with antisemitism, whether on social media or even in school. When they stand together at these important Jewish sites with fellow Jewish teens who know exactly what that feels like, they go home with the pride and strength it takes to be an advocate for their faith."

The Poland portion included five days covering Warsaw, the Lublin region, and Kraków. Participants visited the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery, Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, and an restored 18th-century synagogue in Łańcut, alongside sites of destruction including the Warsaw Ghetto, Majdanek, and Auschwitz-Birkenau. The itinerary also included the gravesite of Reb Elimelech in Lizensk and Shabbat services in a historic Kraków synagogue.

"Havdalah in the ghetto was the most powerful moment on the whole trip for me," Said participant Bayla Miller, adding that the experience taught her about "Jewish perseverance" Amid both joyful and tragic history.

Counselor Sara Fajnland observed that the all-girls format enabled participants to connect with one another and their heritage authentically. After a week in Poland, the group flew to Israel.

"Landing in Israel after a week in Poland was remarkable, especially seeing the girls' excitement as we made our way to the Kosel to Daven," Said trip leader Dinie Rapoport. "The sense of unity and homecoming was truly heartwarming."

The two-week Israel portion included activities in the Galilee, the Negev desert, Jerusalem, and Machane Yehuda. Participants met Rabbi Liraz Zeira, a Chabad representative to Jerusalem college campuses who spoke from prosthetics after losing both legs during IDF reserve duty in Syria the previous year. The group also visited the Gaza envelope, Sderot, and the Nova Music Festival site in Re'im, where hundreds were killed on October 7th. They met families affected by the war and visited wounded soldiers at Tel Hashomer Hospital.

"Israel felt so safe," Said Sarah Tucker from CTeen Newport Beach, California. "I never once felt unsafe during my trip, and especially in Israel, in the middle of a war, I felt at home."

Many participants committed to specific practices: daily prayer, lighting Shabbat candles, Torah study, and maintaining Hebrew learning. Rachel Rosenhouse reflected that "Jews come in so many different fonts, with various levels of knowledge, but overall we all come together and sing the same songs. Judaism is all about being a proud Jew and living by Am Yisroel Chai in every aspect of life."

The RootOne initiative supports the program, offering a $3,000 voucher after eight hours of pre-trip learning. Pre-registration for 2027 trips is open at cteensummer.com.