Out of all the Jewish holidays that take place throughout the year, Sukkot and Passover are the longest and most labor-intensive. Passover 2023 is eight days (seven days in Israel), and Sukkot followed by Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah is nine days (eight days in Israel). School-age children are on vacation from school, and many adults take off for the entire holiday. There is usually an eight to ten-day period around each holiday where everyone in the family is on vacation, so why not take the opportunity to get away? Each holiday has its own special rules and preparations, so going away on your own might be difficult, but that is where a holiday program comes in to take care of all the details.
The Passover programs industry has been around for many years and is well established. They took a hit during COVID, as did all travel-related industries. Passover 2022 was proof that Passover programs are back in business. There were once again programs all over the world. These programs fill up very quickly and have waiting lists. After one or two years of preparing for the holidays at home, people were desperate to get away. Before COVID, Sukkot programs were becoming more and more popular. Israel was always a very popular vacation destination for Sukkot, but there were also organized programs in other countries. COVID put a stop to all that, but it looks like Sukkot programs are also making a comeback.
Sukkot Programs
Observant Jews build a sukkah or hut where they eat all of their meals and try to spend their time during the holiday. Israel was always convenient for Sukkot because most hotels and kosher restaurants have a sukkah. No need to build a sukkah at home, and no worries about finding a sukkah every time you want to eat. However, Israel was completely closed to tourists for Sukkot for the past two years due to COVID. Israel finally opened its doors to tourists in March 2022, in time for the holiday of Passover. Many families have planned their Sukkot vacation in Israel for 2022. Some of them have had tickets for the past two years that they kept postponing because the country was closed. At this point in time, it is not easy to get tickets to Israel for Sukkot as flights have been booked up for a while.
If you can’t get tickets to Israel, don’t worry because there are many other options for Sukkot programs. There are organized Sukkot programs in Cancun, Dubai, Morocco, Prague, Tunisia, Greece, Italy, and Cyprus. In the United States, there are programs in Miami and Arizona. If you don’t want to deal with putting up a sukkah and cooking all those meals, then one of these Sukkot programs might be the perfect fit for your family. Most of the programs are at resorts on the beach with many activities to keep you entertained. They all have pools and provide all of the holiday meals as well as religious services. Sukkot 2022 begins on Sunday night, October 9th, and ends on Sunday night, October 16th, followed by Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, which is one day in Israel (Monday, October 17th) and two days outside of Israel (Monday, October 16th and Tuesday, October 18th. There is still plenty of time to find a Sukkot program for your family vacation.
Passover Programs
The holiday of Passover just ended about one month ago, but observant Jews are already starting to research where to spend Passover 2023. The holiday of Passover is a lot of work which is why so many families choose to take vacation time and go away to a Passover program. Some families return to the same program each year, while others choose to go to a different country each year. Passover falls out in the spring months, so the weather is usually warm and pleasant no matter where you choose to go, unless you are heading to Canada for some spring skiing.
There were Passover programs throughout Europe and the United States as well as Dubai, Bahamas, South America, Panama, South Africa, Mexico, Morocco, and Israel. There are many different types of Passover programs to choose from. Some people want to just relax at the pool and get spa treatments while the kids are in the program’s day camp. Others want more sightseeing and adventure, so they go to a program with opportunities for day trips, hikes, and water sports. There are so many options for Passover programs that, with a little research, you can find the Passover program to suit your needs and your budget.
For many Jewish families who take one vacation a year, they choose Sukkot or Passover. They choose a time that the kids are off from school anyway, which is a consideration for parents of young children. They are also holidays that require a lot of preparation, meal planning, and cooking. This is the perfect time to head to a program at a resort in a foreign country. Many programs offer daycare, entertainment, lectures, and day trips. All of the programs include accommodations, meals, and religious services. The rest of the amenities and activities will depend on your budget. There is a Sukkot program or Passover program to suit your family vacation.