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Orchard Mall

Travel

Getting Away
For Passover

Over 35 Fine Shops,
Restaurants, Salons & Services
for the Entire Family

WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN

Orchard Lake Road • North of Maple

248-851-7727

Judy and Sam Pruchno: Passover in Palm Springs works for them.

Spring
Merchandise
rriving Daily.

ei\1 14,

Shop early for the
best selection ever.

6720 Orchard Lake Road

West Bloomfield, Michigan

(next to Deli Unique)

248-855-6566

COMPLAISANT

CELEBRATION
CONNECTION.

4/2
1999

.DIRECTORY
in our Classified Section

104 Detroit Jewish News

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to The Jewish News

S

hifra Zwick was tired. A
working wife, mother, moth-
er-in-law and grandmother
with a packed schedule,
Zwick was looking forward to a full
celebration of Passover but not all the
home chores that go along with an
exacting observance.
That was two years ago, when she
found a solution that worked for her
and her extended family. As owner of
Doneson World Class Travel in
Southfield, Zwick settled on a Florida
trip that would let her be true to her
faith, spend time with close relatives
and fit vacation activities into the
mix.
Zwick booked everyone into hotel-
apartments in Miami, ordered kosher-
for-Passover catered meals for their
seders as well as throughout the holi-
day and arrived a few days early to
shop for paper products, produce and
perishables.
Before leaving Michigan, she sent
treasured serving items ahead to make
the furnished units, which offer a

cleaning staff, feel more like home.
She was glad that religious services
were conducted in the building and
recreational opportunities were just
outside the door.
"I said I'd never do this, but it has
worked out so well," says Zwick, who
made the same arrangements last year.
Although unable to return this holi-
day season because her accountant
husband is swamped with clients, she
looks forward to going back again.
Zwick believes apartments offer the
right environment for observant fami-
lies with young children, who can go
to their private kitchens to snack on
kosher Passover food.
For a family of four, the costs,
including travel, run about $4,500.
But what has worked for Zwick's
brood still is more responsibility than
others care to accept. These are the
people who choose resort hotels set
up with kosher kitchens.
Rabbi Yale Butler of Pittsburgh
has coordinated hotel Passover pro-
grams for 20 years. He's picked the
Lakeview Scanticon Resort and
Conference Center in West Virginia
for 1999 participants. Costs, exclud-

ing travel, are $999 per person.
This is for people who don't want
any fuss for the holiday," Rabbi Butler C—\
explains. "I call it a cruise on land for
families who want to spend time
together away from other pursuits.
They have an opportunity to attend a
synagogue on premises, learn through
lectures we set up, get to meet new
people and enjoy the experience of a
tennis and golf resort."
Judy Pruchno has signed up for a
Passover resort package for three years
and has booked a spot in California
this year.
"I would not have done this when
the children were small," says
Pruchno, whose youngsters are grown
and moved away. "I keep kosher and
don't have the energy to set up the
house for just my husband and me."
In the World Wide Kosher plan the
Pruchnos enjoy, a cantor conducts the
seders, and there is a Detroit group
that forms a large table together. In
the past, Pruchno's son has been can-
to r.
• "I can spend the afternoons at lec-
tures, walking or sitting at the pool,"
Pruchno says. "We've been close to
suburbs and so I also can go shopping
or to art galleries during the week. I'm
with a lot of people my own age, and
I can forget about anything and every-
thing."
Observant travelers seeking a more
exotic experience could sign up with
the Sterling Experience, which offers
Passover programs in Bermuda. This
season's guests will celebrate the holi-
dayand enjoy luxury recreation
amenities at the Southampton
Princess, where costs start at about
$4,000 per person.
Terry Rotenberg, owner/manager
of Gemini Travel in West Bloomfield,
has not had a request for Passover
vacation opportunities in many years,
but when a client recently wanted
information on holiday cruises, she
did some research.
"I found three cruise lines who
offer seders and kosher meals —
Norwegian Caribbean, Princess
Cruises and Royal Caribbean," says
Rotenberg, who says the food general-
ly comes packaged and frozen from a
contracted caterer.
"A rabbi is on board to conduct
services, and the kosher food is avail-
able throughout the trip, although it's
not glatt kosher. Of course, it's impor-
tant to notify the cruise line about
religious preferences as soon as reser-
vations are made. Prices will not be
affected by Passover observance."