Over 500 Jewish teens unite in Budapest for Europe’s largest gathering of Jewish youth

Friday morning marked a historic moment in Budapest, where more than 500 Jewish teenagers from 28 countries across Europe gathered for the continent’s largest Jewish teen gathering. As part of the European Jewish Teen Congress, organised by EMIH (Hungarian Jewish Association) and CTeen International, the world’s largest network of Jewish teens, the teens united for a moving display of Jewish pride and resilience in the heart of the city’s former Jewish Ghetto.

“This gathering sends a powerful message of hope. Despite everything, European Jewish teens are standing strong and growing stronger,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of Chabad World Headquarters. “We see how moments like this have a ripple effect. Every teen here will bring that strength home and uplift their friends and their communities.”

Chief Rabbi Rabbi Shlomo Kovesh opened the program with the importance of this gathering, followed by remarks from Israel’s Ambassador Maya Kadosh. Three teens led Torah passages, underscoring the leadership emerging from European Jewry’s next generation. IDF reservist Noam Buskilla then inspired the crowd with a heartfelt prayer for the Jewish people across the globe and a spirited Am Yisroel Chai.