I Love Pesach Programs

During the year, being gluten-free can be tough, and kind of alienating when you’re with family and friends and have to be conscious about every meal possibility. 

Passover, or Pesach, is different and is a much easier time for all of us GF folks. Cakes, cookies, potato kugel, and anything else that during the year requires a label is generally gluten-free on Pesach. And that’s really great for someone like me, who has a serious sweet tooth all year round. 

And honestly, unlike during the year where finding gluten-free products, or desserts in restaurants, or any alternative to our wheat obsessed society almost guarantees mediocrity, this is generally not the case on Pesach. Creating Pesach deserts (packaged or otherwise) seems to have been a real focus in the last decade because the actual products seem to have gotten better and better.      

One of the best ways to experience this freedom from gluten is to go to a Pesach program and enjoy the luxury of being away with family and friends without the hassle of having to cook for almost a week previous to the holiday. Going to a Pesach program allows for the freedom from the stress of preparing for the holiday outside of clothes shopping, and making sure to get your hair and nails done, but also allows for you to enjoy time with your family in an elegant relaxed setting. 

But, of course there’s a twist, and it’s this. In order to ensure that the Pesach program that you are going to will actually meet your gluten-free needs, it’s important to choose an Orthodox program. Regardless of your own religious affiliation in fact, because many orthodox programs host a diverse group of participants and families. But the purpose of choosing such a program that is incredibly strict in terms of how kosher for Passover the entirety of the program will be is to ensure that you will be able to participate without worry of exposure. 

In fact, the only gluten on the entire table will be Matzo, and I’m sure you already know to avoid that anyway. 

There are so many programs to choose from, so many options to consider, so many places that you and your family can be together and enjoying the festivities, so choose carefully. Make sure to choose a program in a location in which the weather is good, and where you can enjoy being outside for many of these programs have day trips during chol hamoed (the days that are less stringent) and also in a hotel that you care to stay in because this is a very long holiday. 

And more than anything my gluten-free friend, make sure that the program you are attending is an Orthodox Pesach Program that is high to a very high standard of being completely kosher for Passover, that way you never have to worry, and you can enjoy the holiday with your family, and hopefully, enjoy the sun in wherever you choose to enjoy Pesach.