image sourced from original article at Former Israeli hostages Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, and Segev Kalfon joined thousands of Jewish teenagers in New York's Times Square to recite the Shema prayer during the annual Chabad Lubavitch CTeen International Summit. The emotional gathering brought together young participants from around the world in a public display of faith and solidarity.
The ceremony also honored the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration and claimed the life of Rabbi Eli Schlanger and fourteen others. Organizers announced that a new youth center, Rabbi Eli's CTeen Lounge, will be established in Sydney to continue his work and legacy.
Schlanger's daughter addressed the crowd, urging attendees to respond to tragedy with action and resilience. Meanwhile, Segev Kalfon is set to travel across the United States to share his experiences in captivity, while more than one thousand teens attending the summit remained in New York due to severe winter weather, participating in additional programs as they awaited departure.
