Family-Friendly Passover Retreats, also known as Pesach, is the most celebrated holiday in Israel. It is a time of family reunion, joyous celebration and deep spiritual renewal. It is a week-long celebration with many traditions that include spring cleaning the home, throwing out all leavened products, or chametz and replacing them with unleavened bread, or matzah.

A popular way to celebrate the holiday is to join a Passover Program. Typically offered at resorts, these programs take care of all Jewish necessities including fully equipped synagogues and daily minyanim as well as scholars-in-residence, lectures, shiurim and children’s programming. Many programs even offer named celebrity singers, comedians and a variety of other entertainment.

Pesach Programs Demystified: Navigating the Options for an Unforgettable Celebration

Some programs even go the extra mile and offer day trips, shopping excursions and tours of local Jewish history. These are a great option for those who want to experience the beauty of a particular destination but may not have the time or ability to plan it themselves.

One seasoned senior program operator told JI that with the cancellation of this year’s programs, vendors are “giving everything back.” This is leaving operators holding the bag and it is not likely that their insurance coverage will cover the loss.

Another important thing to consider is the demographics of the participants. Will they be modern orthodox, chareidi, secular or Sephardi? If there are a large number of families with young kids, make sure that the program has child friendly activities and/or childcare.