By Evey Joseph Leibow
As a Jewish mother, I could literally sit here until tomorrow thinking of reasons why going on a Pesach program this year is a great idea, literally the answer to my prayers. Some of those reasons might be in-house entertainment, gourmet meals, babysitters, poolside barbecues, and daytime excursions. Yes, all of those are great reasons for taking a vacation. But this year there’s an even better reason for going away. This is the first year in a long time when we have four straight days of Chol Hamoed. So why not take advantage of it?
Imagine a getaway to the Catskills with Melour, where you can enjoy a cozy bonfire or an invigorating mountain hike without worrying what time yom tov starts. Or imagine sinking your feet into the golden sands of Playa Mujeres as your kids splash and play—with your only time concern being whether or not they will have enough energy after dinner for a night concert? Or maybe you’d rather explore Greece, a land filled with ancient temples, the Parthenon, and Byzantine monasteries, where you can soak up the beauty of the Aegean Sea and its turquoise waters as a guest of Kosher Culinary Travel. Wherever you choose to go, this is your chance to truly savor your vacation time bookended by meaningful and uplifting Shabbos and yom tov experiences.
Think back on the past year. I think we can all agree that we’ve been through a lot these past 12 months. Between the election, the war, growing antisemitism around the world, and natural disasters (hello Los Angeles fires!), I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want or need a truly relaxing vacation, some time to decompress, spend quality time with the family, deepen your relationship with your spouse, or just spend time relaxing in nature.
This year also offers new, revamped, and exotic programs. You can choose from across the globe: America, Panama, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Israel, Morrocco, Dubai, Australia, Japan, and more. Some programs are brand new, some are in new locations, and many have listened to suggestions, seen what has worked and what could be improved, and built their programs to surpass what they have achieved in past years. Some programs have significantly upped the ante regarding entertainment, performers, experiences, lecturers, and excursions. And the food…oh, the food! Every year it gets better and better. On Passoverlistings.com you can read about themed restaurants, sushi chefs, on-site bakeries, meat carving presentations, local and imported wine offerings, mixologists with custom cocktails, gourmet chefs flown in from all over the world, and more. The program hosts want their guests to ooh and ahh over their culinary offerings and this year is shaping up to be a culinary delight.
If you’re more into nature, there are Pesach programs in the Catskills with Melour, where, in addition to gourmet meals, you can hike and ride bikes in the scenic mountainside. Or maybe you prefer to sit on a soft, white, sandy beach and have cocktails served to you or take your child jet skiing for the first time?
Maybe you want to discover new places, take in museums, and immerse yourself in culture and history. Whatever vacation and recharging means to you, passoverlistings.com can help you find whatever flavor of vacation means for you and your family. Between the different countries, styles, vibes, crowds, and offerings, there is something for everyone. Take advantage of this year’s extended Chol Hamoed stretch. Book your program now—you’ll be glad you did. After all, this is going to be the best Pesach yet.
