New York Post reports:
Organizers of a Passover getaway for 700 New Yorkers say they feel passed over after a California hotel allegedly canceled their stay despite a $1 million deposit.
Joseph Allaham, of kosher steakhouse Prime Grill, has organized Passover trips under his Prime Experience brand since 2014.
This year, his lawyer Mark J. Heller claims, Allaham booked a 10-day event at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines in San Diego back in November, but “the Hilton organization refuses to honor their commitment to host this event or to return the proceeds they received as an advance.”
He says one family paid $230,000 to bring all their kin on the April trip meant to include guest speakers, rabbis, a kids’ camp and entertainers.
Heller told us, “Just as the pharaohs in ancient days caused the Israelites to suffer and endure starvation, the Hilton management in La Jolla . . . has chosen to ‘pass over’ . . . [guests] by refusing to welcome them.”
The dispute is now headed to arbitration in California.
A Hilton spokesperson said it “does not comment on matters in pending litigation. The rules applicable to the arbitration which the hotel filed in California against the Passover group prohibit us from further comment.”
IF YOU WANT TO MECHANECH YOUR CHILDREN PROPERLY THEN DONT GO TO HOTELS FOR PESACH
Everyone who is so quick to judge has to understand that there are still these hundreds of people left stranded so close to Yom Tov. That is very sad.
I’ll host that family for $230,000!
B”H I think this is sad, however it is not a tragedy in my opinion. The way I look at this is that it is an inconvenience that it’s not a physical sickness I hold that IT IS NOT A TRAGEDY. A none physical problem is not tragic. Yes it’s a sad thing that the Hilton Hotel would choose to cancel something like this and it is really a hardship and plenty of trouble for the families involved. Their are also probably 2 or more sides to this story. My opinion is this problem can in NO way be compared… Read more »
Even though I could afford a luxury pesach getaway or to stay at home and hire a chef, I don’t!!!
Y??? Because pesach we try to continue the minhagim, to b machmir!! And we do it happily!!! Yes I hire more housekeeping help, and the kids help!!!
But it doesn’t mean that everyone is like that!! I know very normal healthy families, that need the program and structure that they get in the hotel!! And I mean SPIRITUALLY!!! If they stay home they might not experience pesach!! So let’s not be so judgmental!!!
do Lubavitchers go to Pesach programs?
While I am sorry that the hotel has inconvenienced people’s Pesach plans, this whole story is laughable. There are literally thousands of people who struggle to afford the basic necessities for Pesach and the elite class are complaining that their luxurious hotel getaway Pesach experience has been compromised. Honestly, all that money should be donated to families in need, and that would save many people a headache.
Yetsias Mitzrayim is about being able to exit from your “own” limitations. Everybody has their personal mitzrayim to get out from.
For the highest levels of ruchnius!!!
Hope that was a joke..
There is NOTHING more ruchniusdik than cleaning and turning over the house for Pesach – and no better chinuch –
when you understand the true meaning of chometz. I’m sorry, but “the highest level of gashmius” is not always the best. What do these kids learn? If you need the hotel due to health reasons or family reasons, kol hakavod! But I’m happy my kids have the schus to be home.
Many people do not have the luxury of being able to make Pesach at home. There are many people with health or mental health issues where they can’t put their home together and are often not wanted by family members.
Other people like to focus on ruchniyus instead of cleaning and others look forward to Pesach–our holiday of Freedom as an appropriate time to serve Hashem through the highest level of gashmiyus possible.
May Hashem help each and every one of these families to get all their money back and have a positive, happy meaningful Pesach this year.
It’s a trip well worth it, and with the falling rand it’s very, very reasonable for supmtuous accommodations and programming!
May Hashem be preparing us all for a grand Pesach celebration in Eretz Yisroel with Moshiach now!
Hey, you don’t know the full story!
We all have to remember that all these hotel programs canceling is really all Hashgocha Pratis. All part of Hashem’s Master Plan. Obviously He did not want His precious children
spending Pesach in these specific hotels.
people stay home hire two housekeepers and one chef thats the life. and have your spoiled kids peel the veggies.
I was actually having this discussion with my friend the other day, even with plans to go away regardless of the venue, it’s best to prepare the house clean wise for pesach, your circumstances or the hosts could change even last minute . Prepare enough even for the sake of being yozi
But a hotel that has been in business for years and only give a small deposit on a CC this way you are ok
A person who BH always goes to a HOTEL!!!!!
I’m sorry for all the people that innocently booked with him. He never pays his bills. Look into where he was last year, the year before and the year before that. Then you will know why the Hilton cancelled on him
Like comment #1.
Do the guests left out in the cold qualify as dichfin?
Would they like to join our family at the seder?
It is clear these programs must have bond insurance.
What’s going on here?
WHAT! comparing losing out on an entertaining luxurious Yom Tov , to Bnei Yisroel suffering in Mitzrayim!!! Absurd and totally not understanding Pesach and Yetzias Mitzrayim
With all the hotels canceling there Pesach trips this year- I hope my wife wont cancel our Pesach at home! (With all the work shes doing she just might!) Let me get back to helping her!– “Stop stop where are you going with that cookie!!!!”