Heading overseas for a Pesach retreat
The 2023 retreat, organised by David and Chana Walles, attracted 500 guests from Britain, America, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia.
The idyllic Greek island of Rhodes is a popular setting for Pesach retreats, evidenced by Kosher Travelers’ success last year at the island’s Elysium Resort and Spa.
The 2023 retreat, organised by David and Chana Walles, attracted 500 guests from Britain, America, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia.
Next month’s Pesach retreat at the same resort is sold out with 600 guests.
Set on the waterfront at Kallithea beach, just a 15-minute drive from Rhodes city centre, Elysium Resort and Spa boasts facilities including outdoor and indoor heated pools, Turkish steam bath, gym, sauna and spa.
The entire hotel is kosher glatt mehadrin under the supervision of Rabbi Berel Simpser of Florida.
David said this year’s 10-night Pesach retreat from April 23 to May 1 will include about 25 per cent who are repeat guests from 2023.
“We have a waitlist if there are any last-minute cancellations,” he said, noting that most guests are English-speaking Jews.
“Our emphasis is on creating a communal, family-like experience where all ages are made to feel welcome. Limiting the number to 600 guests makes it possible for us as hosts to get to know everyone and creates a boutique atmosphere for all.”
In 2008 David, Chana and their four children made aliyah from Melbourne and continued their work in the travel industry.
Among the guest speakers this year are Rabbi David Meyer and Rabbi Yossi Fachler, who are both from Britain; leading Australian scholar Rabbi Dr Laibl Wolf; and Aleeza ben Shalom, host of Netflix series Jewish Matchmaking who recently visited Australia.
Entertainment will be led by popular Israeli singer Ohad Moskowitz and The Solomon Brothers.
Kosher Travelers is also hosting Pesach retreats in Israel at Jerusalem’s five-star Inbal hotel and at the Kfar Maccabiah Hotel in Ramat Gan.
Eli Feiglin’s Aussie Pesach will be in South Africa this year at The Capital Hotel and Resort in Zimbali, a 20-minute drive from Durban’s international airport, from April 22 to May 1.
Formerly The Fairmont Hotel, the resort was purchased by the Capital group during COVID and has since undergone an extensive refurbishment.
It has 150 rooms, suites and villas with multiple dining areas, three swimming pools, spa and kids club.
Guest speakers for this year include American author and world affairs commentator Dennis Prager.
Feiglin said guests already booked for this year are mainly from America, Britain, South Africa and Australia, and includes some from Russia and Argentina.
“We currently have more than 200 guests booked and will cap numbers at about 300-350 guests,” he said.
“We are still taking bookings during March, although some room categories may be sold out.”
Feiglin has hosted Pesach retreats in South Africa including Palace of the Lost City at Sun City in 2014 and in Durban in 2015 and 2016, in Queensland (including in Cairns in 2018 and the Gold Coast in 2017 and 2019) and last year in Phuket, Thailand at the Avani+ Khao Lak Resort.
Enquiries: koshertravelers.com; aussiepesach.com
comments