Passover begins April 19th, but not everyone who celebrates the Jewish holiday will be doing so at home.
According to my pal from high school who is now a chef at one of Hawaii’s top hotels, many people who observe Passover will be celebrating in paradise. Including the rabbi who will be overseeing food preparation done by my friend in the hotel’s kitchen.
But it’s not just Hawaii’s five-star resorts that will be offering Passover seders for guests who plan their vacations to coincide with the holiday. A number of hotels and cruise lines the world over are also preparing to accommodate Jewish families next month.
A quick check online reveals that there are several tour operators that specialize in Jewish travel. These specialty travel companies book Passover getaways to lodgings that offer seders and kosher dining.
For example, Totally Jewish Travel is currently offering Passover vacations in exotic locations from Israel to Italy. There’s even an ad for a Passover safari in South Africa. Closer to home, Jewish families can celebrate Passover at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld and the Scottsdale Princess in Arizona. In addition, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge, Maryland, and the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles are both offering Passover getaways complete with seders, lectures, classes and other programs.
Seders are multi-course meals that include symbolic foods and a retelling of the Exodus story from the Old Testament. Since bread and other leavened foods may not be consumed during the eight-day holiday resorts must plan accordingly to accommodate their Jewish guests.
But it’s not just high-end resorts that go out of their way to make Passover vacations ones to remember. Many major cruise lines — including Disney, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Celebrity and Holland America — cater seders on cruises that take place during Passover week. Often a cruise line has a rabbi or cantor sail with them to lead the ritual dinners, while other ships offer kosher-style meals upon request.
Meanwhile, some hotels, like the one my friend works at in Hawaii, cordon off special dining areas to keep kosher-for-Passover food separate from other meals being served in the building. Others have separate kitchens that have been specially cleaned and prepared for the holiday.
Have you ever taken a Passover vacation?
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