Arielle Suissa, a freshman at Winston Churchill High School and a proud member of Baltimore’s CTeen chapter, took the stage at the CTeen International Shabbaton, a gathering of 4,000 Jewish teens from 60 countries in New York City, the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world. Representing Baltimore, Arielle shared her personal story of resilience — inspiring peers from Hong Kong to Buenos Aires to Israel by showing how embracing Jewish pride can turn even the hardest moments into a source of strength and leadership.
Surrounded by her peers, Arielle shared how she was living an ordinary life in Potomac, MD until she experienced things thrown at her, name-calling, and other forms of harassment. Yet despite the challenge of feeling alone and targeted, she chose to stand up, lean into her faith, and turn that challenge into a source of strength — not just for herself, but for those around her.
Inspired by her Jewish pride and the support of her CTeen community, Arielle became a role model for her peers, showing that leadership begins the moment you decide to turn hardship into action.
Arielle attended the Shabbaton with fellow teens from the Baltimore delegation, under the guidance of Rabbi Eli and Chana Solomon, Directors of CTeen of Baltimore.
The annual summit, held from February 28 to March 2, gave teens a powerful platform to connect, learn from each other, and step into leadership roles — at a time when Jewish teens worldwide are navigating rising antisemitism and questions about their identity.
This year’s theme, “Shine On,” challenged teens to stand proud and live their Judaism boldly, no matter the pressures they face.
Over the weekend, participants heard firsthand stories of courage — from teens who saved their tefillin from California wildfires to Israeli teens who kept celebrating Shabbat under rocket fire, to students who stayed visibly Jewish on campus despite hostility.
“Sharing my story in front of thousands of teens made me realize that my experience — something I thought was just mine — actually connects me to Jewish teens everywhere,” said Arielle Suissa. “We’re all facing challenges, but the Shabbaton showed me that standing proud makes us stronger — together.”
Rabbi Eli Solomon reflected on the moment. “Watching Arielle stand up and share her story with thousands of peers was incredibly moving,” said Rabbi Solomon. “Our teens came back not just inspired, but ready to lead — and to show their friends here in Baltimore that Jewish pride is something to wear proudly every single day.”
“As a parent, seeing my daughter stand up and share her story with thousands of teens was incredibly moving,” said Kerri, Arielle’s mother. “She came back not just inspired, but confident — proud of who she is and ready to make a difference in her own way.”
“When a teen like Arielle shares their personal story with thousands of peers, the impact is exponential,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Chairman of CTeen International at Chabad World Headquarters. “Hearing from someone their own age, who understands their world, carries a power no adult could match. That energy doesn’t stop in New York — it travels home with every teen, reaching friends, classmates, and entire communities.”
The teens also visited the Ohel, resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose empowering belief in the unique power of youth to lead inspired the creation of CTeen.
“Standing at the Ohel with thousands of teens made me think about my role back home,” said Arielle. “It showed me that leadership doesn’t mean waiting until you’re older — it means stepping up now.”
The weekend concluded with a Havdalah ceremony in Times Square, where 7,000 teens publicly celebrated their Jewish identity and took part in a live koshering of an iconic New York hot dog stand — marking 50 years since the Rebbe’s Kosher Campaign began.
“We didn’t just talk about Jewish pride — we lived it, right in the heart of Times Square,” said Mikhael Vainer. “That’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”
About CTeen Baltimore
CTeen Baltimore, led by Rabbi Eli and Chana Solomon, is part of CTeen – The Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest Jewish teen organization, with 841 chapters in 60 countries. CTeen empowers teens to become leaders and changemakers through acts of kindness, social responsibility, and Jewish learning — all inspired by the Rebbe’s belief in the unique power of teenagers to drive positive change.
For more information about CTeen Baltimore and upcoming programs, contact:
Rabbi Eli Solomon
Eli@jointhecircle.com
443-985-5022
