On Monday, the second day of Chol HaMoed Pesach, my wife and I organized our annual Six Flags trip for Bcteen. This year was especially meaningful, as 26 Bukharian Jewish teens joined us.
The group arrived in the morning, and we began the day with a beautiful minyan for Shacharit. Afterward, we stopped at Holy Schnitzel to pick up kosher-for-Pesach sandwiches, then headed straight to Six Flags for a full day of fun. Those who signed up only paid $90 thanks to the financial support of the BJCC.
The teens thoroughly enjoyed themselves—they had an incredible time. In the evening, we held a minyan on the bus for Mincha, and later davened Arvit when we returned to the center.
Overall, the trip was a very special experience. It gave the teens a chance to connect with one another while also reinforcing that it’s possible to observe kosher for Pesach and still fully enjoy a day out together.
BCteen was founded to support “at-risk” teens—those on the fringes of the community and vulnerable to assimilation. Functioning more like a family than a network, it celebrates Jewish and Bukharian culture, provides education, and fosters a sense of pride in Jewish identity—especially vital in a generation facing high levels of assimilation.
By Rabbi David Shushan
