300 at Pesach in New England

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui

“Pesach in New England” promised to satisfy the whims and desires of discriminating kosher travelers looking for a breathtaking Northeastern locale to celebrate Pesach.

And it seems like they did just that.

Some 300 people – families and young couples – spent the holiday at the award winning Topnotch Resort and Spa nestled on 120 acres in Stowe Vermont, one of the most picturesque villages in America

“Pesach in New England” was a new collaborative effort between the experienced culinary team of Greenwald Caterers in Lakewood, NJ, and Bruce Backman, logistical coordinator of the “National Jewish Retreat,” the Jewish Learning Institute’s (JLI) celebrated summer learning vacation.

Guests were treated to a memorable and flawlessly run Strictly Kosher Pesach complete with Uplifting Prayer Services, Stimulating Lectures, Exhilarating Children’s Activities, Superb Entertainment and of course, the Finest in Gourmet Cuisine.

Their Scholar In Residence was Professor Rabbi Lawrence Schiffman of Yeshiva University, a specialist in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Judaism in Late Antiquity, the history of Jewish law, and Talmudic literature.

Leading the davening they has the Texas born Chazzan Zalman Traxler who captured and inspired the hearts of all who heard his sweet, tenor voice.

On one of the nights, guests enjoyed a concert with Sholom Jacobs, a regular at Chabad of Five Towns, NY, who developed a love and appreciation for music at a very young age and nurtured it into a singing and chazzanus career.