Taaseh And Lo Taaseh: The Positive And Negative Commandments Of Being A Mom On A Passover Program
By Evey Joseph Leibow
As a mom, as soon as you realize you’re going on a Passover program, it’s almost like you can hear an angelic choir singing in soprano. A weight is immediately lifted off your shoulders because you know that you’re no longer the captain of one of the biggest holiday projects of the year. So, let’s think of positive commandments as the things that you are now able to do because you’re going away on a Pesach program. And then, on the flip side, there are all the negative commandments of the things you no longer have to do by going away. Like the rest of the Jewish people, we have the do mitzvahs and the don’t do mitzvahs.
One of the most incredible things about going away on a Passover program is the ability to rest. It may seem simple, but as a mother, making Passover, keeping everyone entertained, keeping the kitchen stocked, and cooking every meal means you get very little rest this yom tov. When you go away on a Passover program, you can rest all you want. There is a team of professionals who will do all the cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and meal planning on your behalf. So, if you want to take a nap or go to bed early, you can, because someone else is taking care of all that. Between carpools, afterschool activities, lessons, weekend sports, and night learning, you’ve earned more your share of relaxation, so take advantage of it!
Everyone is always telling mothers that they need to engage in “self-care,” that they can’t pour from an empty cup. But what does that actually mean? It means you carve out time to do the things for yourself that recharge your batteries and make you feel taken care of. It’s doing the things that fill you up and make you feel like the best, happiest, healthiest version of you. These could be things like resting, eating healthy, exercising, doing yoga, reading, or giving yourself a facial. While everyone’s version of self-care is different, Passover programs provide diverse and ample opportunities for moms to give themselves some much-deserved love.
In Sicily with Leisure Time Tours, you can relax in the Verdura Spa’s four outdoor thalassotherapy pools heated at different temperatures, each with varying salt densities and minerals, while breathing in the beauty and serenity of the surrounding olive groves and lemon and orange trees. Others relax in a clay sculpting class or Zumba dancing. I once saw a mom of five riding a bicycle across the picturesque oceanfront hotel property with the wind in her hair and a serene smile on her face. For some it will be a fresh kosher l’Pesach cappuccino and the latest novel on a terrace lounge-chair, attending a shiur, or hearing a speaker. There are endless ways moms can give themselves the gift of self-care in a luxurious environment.
Life is so busy. I can honestly say that I don’t know a single mother who doesn’t wish she could spend some quality time with one or more people in their lives. A spouse. A friend. One-on-one time with her child. A parent. Whoever it may be, moms have a list of people they would love to spend quality time with. Pesach programs, with their kids’ camps, babysitters, and on-site activities enable moms to share that time bonding with the special person or people of their choosing.
With all the cooking, cleaning, and carpooling, who has time to try something new? On a Pesach program, moms can leave it all behind, allowing you to try something new, inspiring, and invigorating. From thrills like swimming with dolphins and zip-lining, to hearing inspirational shiurim from the world’s most lauded rebbeim, and thought-provoking lectures by leaders in a multitude of fields. From moonlit concerts to spending days by the beach or pool while watching your kids play as you sip kosher l’Pesach cappuccinos or cocktails. At Kosher by Malka in Cancun, you can take a mixology class or indulge in a wine or tequila tasting. You can also try boat rides, waterfall hikes, volcano tours, skiing, bike riding, yoga, pickleball, beach volleyball, snow-shoeing, kayaking, and touring local sites. Whatever you choose, enjoy yourself, and savor the excitement that comes with it.
Any woman making Shabbos or yom tov knows, unless she’s blessed to have in-house help, she will be up and about the entire evening. Checking on the soup, making sure the food goes on the hot plate, cleaning up messes, and fetching more drinks…all of this will interfere with one’s enjoyment of the Seder. However, at a Pesach program, you can show up at the Seder with no worries about the soup, the maror, or anything else. When you’re on a Passover program, you can actually sit and be a part of Maggid. You can hear all of Hallel. You can be present and involved because someone else is doing all the serving and cleaning. It’s a beautiful thing when you can take your kids to the pool on Erev Pesach, knowing your only job is to shower, get dressed, and show up to a beautiful Seder.
When thinking about Passover programs, everyone knows that the biggest perk is not having to do all the cleaning and prepping for Pesach. Aside from enjoying a vacation with family or friends, you can skip the labor-intensive cleaning and kashering and just enjoy yourself. In fact, your main job after each meal is to just bentschand go do whatever you want to do. That’s it.
How long before Pesach does the average balebusta start her meal planning? The answer is probably weeks if not months. When attending a Passover program, this is not your problem. Chefs are flown in from all over the world and culinary professionals work on your behalf to create the most memorable holiday meals that your entire family will enjoy. Ram Destinations in Miami presents a Chef de Formaggio (cheese chef), who prepares homemade burrata, bocconcini, and fresh mozzarella, paired with heirloom tomatoes, basil pesto, aged balsamic vinegar, and Passover herb toast points. Do you want to go to the poolside ice cream bar, or grab a cappuccino in the lobby? Whatever you choose, you didn’t have to plan or prep it and that always tastes a little sweeter.
I don’t know about you, but in my town, erev yom tov shopping is not for the faint-hearted. Whether you are trying to snag a bunch of shmurah matzos at Costco or a decent cut of meat within days of the holiday, you better prepare yourself. Regardless of how much you plan, there are always last-minute items you need to pick up and a long line of people who need the same thing. But if you’re on a Pesach program, it’s just not your job. Someone else is buying the matzah, the Leben, the Leiber’s chips and whatever nosh your family eats. Someone else is making sure there’s enough coffee, eggs, fresh fruit, and milk. In the times of Instacart and food delivery, we might think that it’s not such a big deal anymore, but the truth is that not having to worry about stocking your home with all of the essentials is a big deal. It’s a huge weight lifted off your shoulders.
In my mind, when I think of Pesach at home, I immediately think of cooking: the dinners, the salads, the desserts, the Seder plate, the snacks. Pesach and food are almost synonymous. And that doesn’t even cover chol hamoed packed meals for trips, breakfasts, and more. It is just an incredible amount of food prepping and cooking, no matter how you slice it.
Aside from cleaning, cooking is the biggest task of the holiday. But when you go on a Passover program, someone else has that covered. Instead of spending days leading up to the holiday working tirelessly in the kitchen, moms can get a massage, read a book by lake, or take a pottery class. They can stroll along the beach or enjoy a yoga class. Having the weight of cooking lifted off of your shoulders means you can use that energy to recharge your batteries so you can truly enjoy Pesach.
When you’re on a Passover program, entertaining the kids is all taken care of. From nighttime concerts and shows to kids’ clubs, pools, game rooms, teen lounges, sports facilities, and adventurous excursions, the list of fun and exciting activities is endless.
There should be a special edition of Aishes Chayil for Pesach. There’s just so much mental, emotional, and physical work involved. To ensure you enjoy the freedom of Pesach with the perfect Pesach program for your family, visit https://passoverlistings.com where you can learn about the Passover programs firsthand by reading reviews, descriptions, seeing pictures, and learning about the food, kashrus, and amenities. There is a pricing tool available so you can price out your program, and also take advantage of their dedicated concierge service. Chag Sameach!
