$140 Million Pesach Hotel Programs a Virtual Sellout This Year
Pesach 2015 appears to be the year for travel as anyone searching for an airline seat to destinations like Florida or Arizona will find out when they try to book a flight. Seats are scarce and the prices exorbitant. Upward of 60,000 Jews will be spending the eight-day Yom Tov in more than 120 destinations.
One relative newcomer who has greatly expanded its option this year was the Prime Restaurant Group with programs at three major resort destinations, including its flagship program in Laguna Beach. Many of the vacationers prefer the luxury destinations by such operators as KMR and Lasko.
Another newcomer that has taken the market by storm is the Ohr Naava organization which is sponsoring a program at the Sheraton Crescent in Phoenix. Few programs were still advertising looking to fill the remaining rooms.
Truth is that it makes me happy. Jews are doing well, Baruch Hashem. Kein yirbu.
What disturbs my rest is that Jews choose not to spend Pesach at home, namely in Israel. Moving here may be very difficult for many but to vacation here? Something tells me that ruchniyus is not the primary factor when people decide where to spend their yuntiv. Nu, I bless everyone that you should fall in love with your homeland. In the end - it is the only place we have on earth. There is no country where Jews stayed long enough that didn't ultimately expel us. Even our beloved USA didn't let many of our bretheren find refuge here when escaping from the Nazi inferno.
Another thing that I wonder is if 140 million dollars were also given to the poor this Pesach....
On that note I want to thank the many who did come forth and give to those in need. מי כעמך ישראל. May Hashem repay you in a million different ways and for eternity. To see the smiles on the faces of those who receive is greater than all of the kosher li-pesach sponge cake and other limitless edibles that people are going to be ingesting this Pesach in Laguna Beach.
Bi-ahava rabba to all of my brothers and sisters and with a bracha that we should always be the givers and never the receivers,
Me
