By COLlive reporter
Guests of one of the “Pesach programs”, one of a wide industry of kosher retreats that provide food, accommodations and entertainment during the Pesach holiday, are claiming they have been mistreated and underserved.
While industry insiders called it one of the most successful Passover seasons in memory, it was reported that two programs have abruptly closed (the Smilow family program in New Mexico and the Socoloff family program in Las Vegas) just before Pesach.
Pesach programs are a mostly unregulated service. There are an estimated 125 programs hosting more than 100,000 people, according to KosherToday.com. The prices and kashrus vary according to the program and guests mostly rely on ads and word-of-mouth in deciding on a program.
Guests of the Royalty Pesach Retreat held at the Glen Cove Mansion and Conference Center on the North Shore of Long Island in New York said they are speaking out because they want to warn others to expect a negative experience if they sign up to attend retreats run by the same company.
People who spent Pesach at the program this year and in past years both described similar faults such as food shortages, lack of programming, staff walkouts, and filthy and unhygienic conditions.
Moshe Press, a resident of Flatbush who ran the program and a parallel one at Mountain Laurel Resort in Pennsylvania, dismissed the claims and said they were driven by hate.
The guests that spoke with COLlive.com said the criticism – that was first shared by private individuals on Facebook – was long overdue.
“What I truly don’t get is how he commits the same egregious ‘mistakes,’ year after year, and he continues to organize a program every Pesach, each year cheating hundreds of people out of hard-earned money and not delivering on anything they expected to receive,” one past guest of the program told COLlive.
One guest, a resident of Crown Heights, described attending the program 4 years ago and being told that the room for his children was assigned in a neighboring hotel. His kids “had to cross a major highway to get to their room.”
A larger issue was insufficient food, he said. “The chef said he had been told to cook for 700 when in reality there were 1200 people there. There was no tea room either, so basically everyone was hungry for much of the time. At some point, my kids found a trailer of mangoes and avocados and we were sharing it around because we were starving.”
Buffets were described as “war zones,” with food being brought out in trays for about 200, which needed to serve 1,000. After the first day, much of the food was old and recycled and leftovers were served, 95 percent of which was spoiled, guests reported.
Other guests described mealtimes that were “disastrous,” with food not appearing on the Seder night until 2:00 am, and other meals hours late or even canceled at the last minute.
One guest said the year he was there with his extended family, to their horror, the kitchen was shut down by the health department, after one of the many guests who fled the program after the first two days contacted authorities about the mismanagement.
“I myself went into the kitchen to try and find a Kiddush cup I had misplaced, a few days into Yom Tov,” he told COLlive. “The kitchen was indescribably filthy. You had to slide through the kitchen because the floor was covered in a layer of slime and filth, and the sinks and counters were overflowing with dirty dishes, pots, pans and food – some still left over from the Seder.”
This year as well, stories from disappointed guests have been making the rounds on social media, combined with photos of messy kitchens, burned food, and meager portions.
Many people did make alternate arrangements after the first two days, citing many ill guests and terrible conditions.
The worst part of it, many of the guests we spoke to said, was the lack of management. “There was no one to talk to. Mr. Press was nowhere to be found for most of the time. There was no one to ask for help or to complain to about the lack of service and the entertainment and other programs which never materialized as had been advertised.
“I think the time has come for someone to shut this down. How is it possible this is still happening 4 years later? He is not an honorable person. He cannot continue to steal and cheat people for so many years without anyone stopping him,” he said.
“To add insult to injury, he gave my credit card to different vendors, and then for months after Pesach he kept giving my card number to vendors. I was charged 3 times what I was supposed to pay. I had to dispute many charges and was forced to change my credit card number to block him.”
OWNER RESPONDS
Moshe Press responded to the claims in a phone conversation and later in an email to COLlive.com in which he indicated that some of the claims were being driven by disgruntled past guests of the program or competitors.
“We were always known for an abundance of food,” he said. “We always donate major amount of leftover food to Tomche Shabbos in 6-7 neighborhoods – several trucks full.”
As for the cleanliness, he said: “We have great hygiene and that’s why we didn’t serve the cholent this year as a precaution when most others would’ve served it and probably everyone would be fine. We always have tons of extra food.”
He said one guest who was ill following a meal was her fault. “A lady was hospitalized and the cause was she ate 4 (yes, 4) delicious rib steaks until she had to be carted away in an ambulance.”
Regarding fluctuating times, he said: “Our schedule is never exact as we allow everyone to make a minyan any time they want. For example, we allow Chassidish 10:00 minyan Chabad 11:00 minyan etc. We accommodate our guests. You come back late from a trip we will have fresh steaks grilled just for you,” he said.
Shea Rubenstein, Executive Vice President of the Marine Park, Brooklyn JCC, was a guest at the program this Pesach, along with his extended family. He served as Chazan and one of the lecturers, and said the venue was beautiful and the program was great, but the “service and management certainly had some very big issues.”
“The service was terribly slow, and the cholent did spoil, which they did not serve,” he told COLlive. “The biggest problem is that he didn’t hire a separate caterer, and I was told the chef left, so the timing of meals was unreliable, tables were not assigned, and food did not come on time.
“I did enjoy my Pesach, but I told him that I will not return next year if he does not hire a professional catering company. On the other hand, the program is very budget friendly, so in my opinion, you get what you pay for,” he said.
Ok now I said it.
Why don’t I go to bais din or court ?
If I thought he had traceable money in property or bank accounts I certainly would.
Otherwise why bother – Just let it be but try at least and educate the next wave of potential victims.
If he davened in my Shul I would try hard to throw him out.
If he does it once more I will A”H testify against him in the heavenly court.
Mr Press If you are reading this be very careful
To all the doubters who may be questioning some of the critical comments here. Ask yourself why would so many people go out of their way to criticize a Pesach program if it wasn’t true? I was at the PA program and it was just as bad as people here described it to be. I’ve been to many programs and this was one of the worst, by far.
Press is doing it for years and gets New people who don’t do enough research on him with new names hotels and nice ads and price people fall in this trap and regret it badly First you should do diligence ASK your friends where they went , did they enjoy it , how they paid NEVER pay cash bank check it’s a RED flag only credit card , who gives the hashgacha , what kind of meat BEEF ( not rubber ) all should be put on a contract Don’t be fooled by a name or rabbi so and so… Read more »
will mean Yidden will not have any future Yomim Tovim ruined! And Moshiach should come already so things like this cannot happen any longer.
About time ppl take action and do something serious her and shake them up a bit …..
You aren’t posting information whom to contact
Today is the last day to call to add your number to a list of people to bring Mr. press to DIN TORAH Regarding the Pesach hotel 646-526-9225 tell them you wanted to add your name. let other people know
Is the class action only for 2018?
I still have my contract from 2017.
I’d like to join the class action.
How?
I want to thank everyone for their comments. We already started with a beis din as of Monday night. We have over 200 people involved and we are hoping to shut him down for good. If he does not cooperate with beis din, we have people filing and are in the process of a class action law suit, which I am sure everyone from beis din will join once we have permission from a din torah. There is no need to continue bashing the Presses with their unfortunate mental and emotional disorders. That being said, anyone wanting to be added… Read more »
How much did u get paid for all these lies ???
Did you & your family get few rooms for free ??
I was there with my family and friends it was a horror
The food was like hard rubber beef , soggy vegetables,hard cake in the tea room no fresh fruit
And why do u have over 215 people joining a bais din
Do some more research on Facebook and other platform before you defend…… yourself
I was there together with my family and friends
We didn’t have karpas
No maror
No fresh fish
No tea room with fresh cake press advertisements
Hard rubbery beef
No milk in the tea room
Not enough waiters wasting hours till our meal came
That’s why they had to come to house to pick up the CASH HE knew how he is cheating everybody including suppliers and waitresses, that’s the REAL reason he doesn’t pick up a phone now he is a GANEV !!!
My family have gone to Pesach Programs for over 30 years. I have been to luxurious programs and been to “bare bones programs.” This Pesach we decided to go to the Glen Cove Pesach Program because I needed to be near my work place. The program was ok but definitely not like the horror stories posted above…… Yes, there were complainers, and there was one particular family that couldn’t stop complaining that was with us last year in a luxurious program, and I remember them complaining there too….. The speakers were very well prepared and very entertaining…I wasn’t there Chol… Read more »
Whether you were ok that you didnt get all that was promised changes nothing.
Its geneiva!! If someone sells something but doesnt deliver, its THEFT.
In court this will 99% be proved as premeditated fraud. We have seen no evidence that the organizer attempted to rectify the situation or reimburse clients.
Absent apologies and in the face of continued lies. I encourage all to seek legal action.
At heart is not the loss of $ but the theft of a yom tov.
If anyone wants to have the Pesach of their life (TRULY!!) they should come to Israel to the campus “Manof Al HaYam (in the city Akko).This program is organized by the world renown kiruv movement “Arachim” which began in the recent years organizing programs not only for kiruv purposes but to cater to the needs of the religious population. We spent our Pesach 2018 there and enjoyed a very unique and amazing Pesach experience! If it was the management, the cuisine, the entertainment, the spiritually uplifting lectures by world renowned “Arachim” speakers, the accommodations, the grounds, the location (on the… Read more »
The bill was 6000 and he billed it at $20000 I tried to call him didn’t pick up wife didn’t pick up btw these ganuvim called me a couple times a day for the cash before Yom tov now they don’t pick up the the phone had to spoof him then he put Down the phone spoof him a day later till he said he is going to look into this Please guys hashem yrachem look at ur statement and NEVER pay CASH and NEVER trust get information from friends were to go not from ADS these guys have different… Read more »
This ganov press doesn’t pay his waiters stole their TIPS doesn’t pay his suppliers and stole the money of this poor mashgiah he had to leave chol hamoad he refused to pay him I saw the story reported about the chef it’s TRUE he refused to pay also and called the police because he wanted the money he worked and was promised to pay
Bye the tea room was empty from food and filthy bags people slips on the floor a woman almost broke her back
In the morning by breakfast a few big plate of old vegetables
I wan my family were at the PA program and unlike almost all others (I will sign my name) This is my first time with the Press program. I have no financial interest with his family. Were their inconvienances Yes but all meals were definitiely edible maybe delayed a few hours (the dishwasher broke down and they had to wash dished by hand, which I only found out after Yom Tov)). I take insulin and made it clear to Mr Press that I eat at defined times nd defined foods and we agreeed for a discount that ouwl bring some… Read more »
Chabad practice is that we DO sell the keilim, not just the chometz on/in them, and we do NOT tovel them afterwards, because they were never in the goy’s physical custody. We hold that the obligation of tevilas keliim comes from the *potential* the keli had to become treif, even if it never happened; since these kelim never even had such a potential they don’t become tomei and don’t need tevilah.
I can say that I was in Glen Cove for Pesach. Yes there we”re were many issues. But I have to say the staff was great they tried their best to accommodate and over extended them self’s to deal with the hard situation they were put into. I understand people”s frustration and disappointment , but on the other hand I’m reading here many exaggerations and lies. If people are upset about certain things it’s understood. But to lie and exadurated to get sympathy is a clear violation of Mitzi”s.
Our experience was not as bad as some but the Press’s defense is not accurate. This was a woefully disorganized program and caused a lot of very fine people to have a miserable Pesach. The rooms were nice and the entertainment was fine and in one case wonderfull. Beverages were generously availableThe problem was the food which is the critical component. The waiters were overwhelmed and constantly having to explain problems not of their own making . Families were served platters inadequate for the number of people. And the buffets were under supplied and understaffed creating a very unpleasant dynamic.… Read more »
A waiter was complaining and crying, he had to work 16 hours a day sleep 4 guys in a room 2 guys in a folding bed for $1260
He told them they will get TIPS, but he told all customers the tips are included so no one wanted to pay extra tips after this horrible Passover experience
What a TIEF !!!
I would think that if such a large group of people have been swindled, they would have taken this guy to a din Torah by now. I don’t understand why this has not occurred. It sounds as though there are numerous witnesses to what has happened here so why didn’t they go after the money in Beis Din? If the person won’t respond to a beis din, the beis din often allows a secular court to be involved. Besides paying only on a credit card, people need to ask in advance who the kashrus supervision is under and ascertain it… Read more »
Press had a big fight with his chef at the end of Yom Tov and Didn’t pay his chef the police had to come the kids got frightened and cried he wanted to take him jail we had to beg this guy press not to he is a ganev and a moser besides the owfull time we all had on Passover food garbage Old hard stone beef 2 hours wait for a dried omelet the kitchen was half kosher no equipment to cook they had to kosher from milk to meat every day ask ur rabbi if this is permitted… Read more »
A guy who takes advantage from poor people year after year with different names and accounts who is in to lie and defraud his own people to enrich himself on the backs of poor people who saved their last penny to enjoy a nice Passover as this shister promised
His name MOSHE press and the story has to be REMEMBERED so people don’t end up again losing their saving on such a nasty event
התורה חס על ממונון של ישרא׳ל
Can I humbly suggest that we stop bad-mouthing a fellow Yid and leave those who felt cheated to take their issues to a Din Torah (assuming the organization refuses to accommodate them). There are usually more than two sides to any story.
together with other survivors and take proper legal action. With documents of medical and or hospital reports, pictures and testimonies in a Beis Din or if necessary a secular court of law.
I was in lake harmony with my family The tea room was almost empty with empty plates and bottles No maror for the second night and no karpas What thy called beef was RUBBER for the shoe sole ( don’t know if it was kosher for Passover) The ice cream was melted colored sugar No napkins only toilet paper on the table No kosher askanaz safer Torah No Haggadah No sedurim ( askanaz or safard) Warning !!!Don’t pay cash next time only credit card That’s the reason they went to pick up to our homes the cash HE knew he… Read more »
Press is a liar. Always was and always will be. Any positive letter written above is written by Press family. For some reason he keeps getting people to fool every year. I knew it was a Press program, even though he changes his name every year. He advertises four meals a day. After we were at his disastrous program three years ago we met with him and told him how disappointed we were. He offered us to go see all the canned leftovers he had in his basement. We made suggestions to him as to how to go about bettering… Read more »
Your article about the Pessach program at Glen Cove was right on point.. My family (12 people) were at the Mt. Laurel resort in the Poconos that was also run by Rabbi Press. What a DISASTER !!! Everything mentioned in the Glen Cove program was true, only it was worse at Mt. Laurel. There were NO HAGGADA’s, NO SIDDURIM, NO CANDLES for the women to light, the kitchen, dinning room and tea room were always filthy and un-hygenic, the food was scarce and we NEVER got STEAK, like Rabbi Press claims.. My whole family and many other people got sick,… Read more »
Come to Mr Press platinum pasech you get to see what mold looks like on Matzah!!
How about pictures of this gorgeous set up you claim to have. If you mr. press are so proud im sure you took pictures, please share it with us!!! This whole story sounds very fishy, so many people making up the same lie doesnt make any sense.
really served after chatzos yes or no? did the food come from pa in a van with no refrigeration ? lets hear from the glen cove cheff ?
lets see some real emails from the glen cove management , they know what its supposed to look like ,
lets hear from rabbi goldwasser he is a straight honest rav , people dont say this for nothing
put a letter with real peoples names paying customers that can deny the claims ( forget the chulent , boxes in the yard thats nothing)
To #92 are you a troll, delusional, in denial or a relative of the Press family. I would really love to see a letter from a repeat customer who is not a relative and did pay to attend your program who can agree with all that is stated above. Can you provide proof, screenshots of the email from Glenn Cove asking you to return for more events?
Thank you for addressing this Rabbi and mrs Press. If it weren’t for your program I would have never been able to afford go ing away for Pesach when I desperately needed to recovering from surgery with a newborn and large family a week and change from Pesach. We had an amazing time there. Everything you wrote I could not have written better myself.
i am literally at a loss for words for how the program directors can be spewing such LIES!!! mr. & mrs. press, shame on you.
What a liar, you make it sound like you flew someone especially in from London.Your claim about 24 hours tea room. Yes you did, with hard cake. And no milk The first day of the holiday. We came down for Coffee, you had no milk on the table. And the Tea room looked like a nursing home You claim that one woman was hospitalized due to her over eating “ with Delicious steak “ what a flat out lie. I was sitting right next to that woman, she got burned by hot water and she needed medical attention…. you are… Read more »
To whom this may concern : It has been brought to our attention, as the directors of the pesach hotel program at the Glen Cove Mansion on Long Island,that there are several people who are using social media to spread maliciously false facts and gross exaggerations to discredit and damage our reputation and the reputation of our annual pesach hotel program. While there were some glitches and mishaps which is anticipated as we are an economically priced program that isn’t run by a brand name caterer, that doesn’t give one the right to portray things as a disaster or anything… Read more »
I see not one word on the ad saying who is certifying and supervising the Kashrus of this event. Nor did I see it in the comments.
I would assume that this should be the first question to ask regarding a PESACH program. Unless a truly satisfactory answer (which is BTW a very difficult level to attain) is given to that question, you can’t assume that anything else would be satisfactory.
You sold the chometz in your kitchen.
You did not sell your keilim – if you did you would have to scrub clean and toivel every fork, plate and pot before you could use them.
People often have to kasher after they though they were going away, because something goes wrong. Speak to your normal orthodox rabbi
Put press and his wife into jail where they belong. They even cheat and lie to there own family members ….
Sheesh. For that you could have hired a cleaning crew to scrub your home from chandelier to the bottom of your carpets. Then you could have hired a chef to prepare all your meals, and still given $5 – $10K for maos chittim.
$20 thousand????? WOW!
It looks like this bastard pulled this several years in a row. And wonder of wonders, ONE THOUSAND people got sucked in yet again. With all due respect, How smart can they be?
This guy needs to: 1- return everyone’s money. 2- Sit in jail. 3- get psychiatric help. Because he sounds delusional.
I have been married 54 years and either made Pesach or helped kids on Shlichus. Yes we went away few times. Well deserved i think. My older kids went away. Did our research and had a wonderful time. Made Pesach the last 3 years but maybe taking a break next year. Good for you. Let’s see what you think when you are great grandparents and have no desire to fly to Israel from the West Coast. Don’t miss judgemental New Yorkers. I feel horrible for these families that really suffered and lost hard earned money. Shame!
I agree with you. If someone is trying to do business, it is better to deal politely with complaints rather than call people a bunch of whiners.
My take on Pesach hotels is that some have been known to fail to open up altogether, leaving guests stranded and an article in Kashrus magazine outlined some of the kashrus hazards that occur in hotels but would not happen in people’s homes and that the supervision is not what people think it is. Buyer beware.
He clearly has narcissitic qualities. If it was a handful of people, thats one thing. THis is consistnent, year after year, horror stories and repetitive lies. Zero conscience.
how is he any different than Madoff??
They both stole tons of money from people.
Ask a rav for guidance, Gather the victims and file a lawsuit.
Did someone ask a rav if it is permitted to destroy a persons reputation by allegations that have yet to be substantiated in a court of law or bet Din? What’s the Halacha on this?
Me thinks people got a bargain basement price and complain that it wasn’t 5 star service. Lol.
Attacking everyone and their brother cause they mad.
Here’s an exact email from the manager of the glen cove mansion:
I won’t be there until Tomorrow but hope you come back with other events soon. Pleasure working with you.
Let’s try to stop spreading lies.
Excuse me if I must say your posted comment seems weird.
I was at the glen cove program. This man who ran the program not only caused my wife to cry, but in a recorded conversation he sounded worse than the most despicable politician. Every one of his answers were prepared as if he’s been dealing with the same complaints year after year. B”H I have never seen my wife cry. Until she spent one hour in that disgusting kitchen begging for food for a family Who spent in excess of $20,000 for the expectation of at least not having to worry about three meals a day. I am not going… Read more »
very well run program
Collive is not a facebook group and…there won’t be a next year for your scam
Now tell that to the elderly holocaust survivors that had to fight for food at this program
I don’t really feel the need to respond to the very small percentage of unhappy guests. The fact that people believe lashon hara from a few individuals is baffling. If you talk to any hotel operator they will tell you that at any program you have disgruntled people. Even the most expensive ones. Is it my fault minyan started late?? You expect me to wake up people also as part of the program? Or people upset that the tea room didn’t have every type of cake imaginable at all times being restocked every minute?? Is my fault that you ate… Read more »
#42- I was told I could not Kasher my kitchen, see it was sold with the chametz. #44- I wish you had posted a review of your experience then!!!
We were at FFH. The program was amazing. The Feldmans are amazing and Feigenson was A+++. They put together a great program, focus on the details and are wonderful to deal with. They definitely over deliver.
Thank you for making our pesach so enjoyable
BH everything was beautiful bgashmius and bruchnius.
I feel awful for those who got stuck at the program described in the article.
People should put press him and his wife to jail. He is not trustworthy. He makes up excuses and never see what promises. Lock him and his wife away or sue them big time shake them up.
The best is hire a chef 2 maids…buy good wine and stay home like a melech.
You could not have said it better! Bravo to all you hard working parents who made pesach at home. Its the best way! And to the rest of you..”you SHOULD try this at home.” You will be happy you did!
Well worth the money, the Werner’s are around all the time and will make any issue right (within reason). They are Lubavitchers – very machmir in Kashrus and everything is top notch. Truly 5* program.
Thanks for picking FFH i had a blast i loved it!!!!! I loved the ice cream parlor, ping pong, pickle ball, and pool.The concert on chol hamoed and the food, lamb chops yummmmm!!!!!!
B”H Are the Pesach hotels under the supervision of kashrus agencies? To me, this sounds not kosher, not only with the money but with the food. There should be some sort of rule that for one to have a Pesach hotel, it has to be under the proper supervision of a well-known kashrus agency; and have reliable mashgichim; it is most important to find out if the mashgiach is reliable. Too many problems can happen in a Pesach hotel with kashrus. Maybe it’s time to start a good site of families hosting families for Pesach and quit the whole Pesach… Read more »
You showed yourself on your first line…
“You have little compassion”
Don’t judge others from your couch. Self-righteous to the extreme!!!!!
Frankly I’m happy you all had a miserable time. The Jewish community spends 1.5 BILLION a year to eat like animals at hotels for 8 days while there’s a yeshiva tuition crisis.
I personally didn’t go away, but your jealous long rant of an attack on those who did is sad.
We get it. You made pesach at home. You’d never go to a hotel. This is not the place for your comment. Write an op ed and submit it to COL. Save your judgment an snarkiness.
I disagree with what your saying, Not all people are able to make Pesach. Some wives are not well and the family has to go away so she doesn’t have to. Some have large families and want to spend it all together so the only way is to go to a “Pesach program” Don’t stereotype all people and don’t judge!!!!
Somehow, I have little compassion for all these complainers. Too lazy to make Pesach, and just complain. I worked very, very hard getting ready for Pesach. Fell into my bed exhausted, with every bone and muscle in my body hurting me. It was a huge job to get it all done. However….once Pesach started, I was in the comfort of my own home and was able to go make myself some tea, when I saw fit or cut up some fresh fruit for snacks for my kids when I saw fit. Made fresh salads every day, yummy, crunchy and clean… Read more »
People could not “cut their losses and leave” because many families were together with elderly relatives who had nowhere else to go. The houses were not prepared and nothing done for yom tov!! Also, it was obvious that Press was not refunding any money, and people believed him when he said things were going to get better!
Positive comments on this page are coming from Press’s relatives and cronies. Do not believe them!! The program was horrible!!
Rabbonim especially if this wasn’t run in a proper & kosher way and people obviously didn’t have much of a kosher or freilach Pesach! Sounds even dangerous! Should be investigated, very troubling, sorry situation and not even the first or only time! Better to stay home for Pesach, if you can’t find out what nightmare you could possibly be get ensnared into!
I think some people who judged me had immediate or extended family in CH so their pre Pesach/experience would have been drastically different than mine had we have stayed. Yes I knew I was having a baby for 9 months but equally it wpuld be a high risk pregnancy with surgery a mere week and half before Pesach. Getting paid help from strangers to clean is an option but I would have to set them up and show them what to do. Not a easy task for someone on partial bed rest. Yes my husband helps but he also works… Read more »
She was probably horrified as well. I doubt she could’ve imagined this when she chose to work with Press and promote the PA program. She was duped just like everyone else. She did not post a single thing over Pesach and she ALWAYS posts, so I guess there was nothing good to show..nebach on everyone all around. Inexcusable to do this to families and little children, fighting for food. And any sane person reading his responses can see who we are dealing with. coo coo.
If Shea Rubenstein says it was “good for what he paid” (he paid nothing). Why can’t Flatbush Girl say how she really feels, and how her advertising is now.
The people who comment bashing pesach programs in general, should keep their comments to themselves. Is anyone asking you about that. This article is about someone misrepresenting what they were selling. People can choose to enjoy a pesach getaway. There is much valuable family time at a pesach programs and shiurim throughout. Come off your high horse.
Many children of today joining the Pessach programs cannot comprehend the true experience and value of Pessach.How sad.
This is why you go to FFH events!! People you can rely on and trust! My family enjoyed an amazing yomtov with the Feldman and Feiginson families upstate and we can’t wait to go back for the 4th year iyh!
My husband and I went to the Press’ Program in PA this year. I cannot stress enough how disastrous it was… No schedule, very disorganized, not NEARLY enough food, and the food served was completely inedible. I’m a petite girl, I do not eat that much in general but I was starving!!! I relied on matza and cheese that my mother bought for meals. Food was served cold, leftovers were served day after day, the buffet looked like a war zone… I waited 35 minutes on line in a buffet for a piece of kugel. Salmon was served raw, meat… Read more »
Were any of the rabbis listed on the flier there? I cant imagine any of them would want any part of this program!
The fact that this happened and there was no oversight from any legitimate kosher organization proves that the only way to have a truly kosher pesach program in in your own home.
Was Mendy J there? And if he was, how can anyone complain?
anyone writing anything positive about any of Press programs is a Press family member. There is nothing good to write about any Press program ever!
this story is אמת ויציב ונכון
he gives legit operaterors and this whole industry a bad
name
i know people that saved all year to go pesach and he ruined their yom tov
Why do ithey get customers every year if it’s that bad?
By the way, 2 of my babies were born erev pesach. (Child #5 and #7) I had 9 months to plan it. It was amazing to be inthe comforts of my own home. Can’t imagine shlepping to go away. We made it work. My husband really pitched in and we kept it simple. Didn’t have extended family saving the day. Best option is make you’re own pesach. It’s a gift your kids will really appreciate!
for the price of the cheapest hotel you can make a simple pesach at home with plenty of goyta to vacume and line your cabinets ..and plenty of made products & takeout if you are too shvach to cook no bubba mayses …. there are cases where someone cant be home those are not the majority of the 100,ooopeople
If you went back again, u deserve this abuse. What was he thinking? The lobby was the dining room, yes room was the bar and tables. Pool side Barbecues / no pool no barbecues. When we asked where the fitness instructor was as promised he said he forgot to hire her! The only good thing was the Day Camp!, which operated with no rooms and place for children. First night Seder NO FOOD! 6 peices of chicken for a family of 25. Waiters were going nuts. Too many people for a small hotel off highway. Mr and Mrs press were… Read more »
If there was no food and the accommodations were so bad, why didn’t all the guests cut their losses on the first day of chol hamo’ed and just go home? They would sleep in their own bed and can cook in their own kitchen…
Did they have any of those rabbis or people that they claimed to have come for yom tov?
I was at the program this year -2018. Speaking out was not an easy decision. A few minor issues would not cause such a stir! The food was spoiled for several meals. Some meals came so late that we had already benched, as some of us were too tired to wait. At least one meal didn’t hey served at all, until we went into the kitchen and helped ourselves. We were told by ‘staff’ including the ‘Rav Hamachshir’, to help ourselves in multiple occasions. Over guest was even told to put some potatoes in the fryer if she wanted more!… Read more »
Please continue speaking out and exposing this man. Please make sure no one is ever again fooled into paying money for his horrible programs. And to the few on this thread, calling the many, liars, SHAME ON YOU. That is assuming you are not Press himself and/ or his family members, which no doubt you are.
The program was consistent with many budget programs. Most guests had a wonderful time. We look forward to hosting everyone again next year.
My family went to Press’s program in PA this year- i’ve Never seen anything worse. They advertised an elegant and luxury program with 5* chefs, world renown pastry chef, day camp with various activities, and the price by the way was not cheap. Instead, the guests didn’t even get the basics. Disorganized, mismanaged, unsanitary with no food, no program guide, no schedule for most of the days and no one to complain to since the Press’s were in hiding most of the time. The little food that they had was inedible, was recycled throughout the program and was served late.… Read more »
Many years ago I went to a hotel in Eretz Yisroel for Pesach. It was incredibly cheap — about $1150 a couple — and yet it was good. At that price it was no frills. The food was good and plentiful but not fancy — no barbecues or any of the things I see in videos from the expensive programs. There were only two meals a day, but they were large and nobody went hungry. The “tea room” was tea, coffee, and lady fingers. The shiurim were interesting. Instead of famous stars the entertainers were probably the caterer’s brother-in-law or… Read more »
Having a baby before pesach is that much more reason that you don’t want to feed a nursing mother contaminated food. You knew for 9 months this baby was coming. I wouldn’t exactly call this program affordable. It’s thousands of dollars any way you slice it, which is unaffordable for most people. If someone can afford it, great! But they want basic quality for their money.
Press advertises year over year various different speakers and makes promises to people that are never kept. The food situation was disasterous. When we went 4 years ago, we sat, waiting for dinner for more than 4 hours at our seats. Finally some chicken was thrown out on the table by the waiters. This year he didnt’ take credit cards because so many people cancelled the credit cards on him. Shame on Press.
Shea Rubenstein said they got what they paid for. Ridiculous!! going there did not expect poolside BBQs but they did expect food. From the pictures I saw from a close relative, I wouldnt feed that food to an animal. Her family paid plenty to be there and deserved way better. I am guessing that Mr Rubenstein didnt pay anything, so I guess thats what he meant. My brother in law actually went and bought a BBQ and cooked for his family and some of the staff. For those who still dont believe, go look on facebook at real evidence.
The lesson from all this is: make your Pesach at home. What do you save by going away? Scrubbing and cleaning? Cooking? Pesach is a Yom Tov. Yom Tovs are for being home with the family. Yes, you have to clean. If you learn the Halachos or read the Halacha guides you can figure out what really needs to get cleaned, and what is overdoing it. The feeling of preparing the “spaceship” in your kitchen with the silverfoil, toiveling keilim, cooking nice things and trying new recipes, sitting in your own home for the Seder. That’s how Pesach really needs… Read more »
Just to touch base with what #22 said. ITS ALL A LIE. MISERABLE PROGRAM!!!
I saw the original ad. Frankly anyone defending the program is Mr Press. The program is not advertised as budget friendly.
Mouth watering meals.
24 hour fully stocked tea rooms
etc etc etc
Sue him!
its impossible to have so many bad reviews and then some saying good reviews. sounds like the good reviewers are family or got a freebie
25 how on earth can you accept this even if is affordable go a random hotel and eat chometz
The basic pesach plates were empty we asked for maror we got lettuce tomatoes. The fish in the plates was completely unbelievably raw and most of our family went to sleep before the main dish arrived which was at 1 am we left after the first days we couldn’t stay even one more day
I can only imagine that those posting that it was a good program are related to the man that ran this. I was there and can tell you that all the criticism is warranted. It was completely disorganized and corners were cut everywhere. It’s too late to do anything this year, but hopefully people will be warned for next year!!
There are some comments on here I really believe are coming from Moshe Press himself or his group.. hmm something smells fishy 🤔 oh right it was the food at this program..
If it weren’t for Mr Press and this company I never could have afforded to go away for Pesach. I had a newborn two weeks prior along with a large family and not having the luxury like so many in our velt of immediate or extended relatives locally to help. Why can’t people ne dreadful of an affordable local program where if difficult circumstances arrive the mother wont be in the posistion of cooking and cleaning . I found Mr Press to be an honorable man who doesn’t take advantage with over the roof pricing . He provides a safe… Read more »
I’m am also not into bashing and bashmutzing other people so I would normally keep my mouth shut. But anyone who wrote the program was nice or not that bad is either on press’s payroll or delusional. And as to the Chazan …. I’m guessing he didn’t pay- so he got what he paid for….
I was at the glen cove ny location and have never seen such a scam like this . The woman taken to the hospital had Food poisoning from the meat they served on the first night, to say it was because she ate a lot of it is ridiculous. Should also mention a guest had to take over the kitchen on the 2nd day to cook a meal for all the guests because we had no CHEF!! That’s ridiculous!! Please be aware that this programs name changes every year and that is why you could never find bad comments or… Read more »
We wnt to Villa Roma with FFH. Was well planned from the moment we got there. We would book again now for next year if they let us. Loved the place, and food, even hotel staff was great. Our kids are so sad to be back to real life…actually I think I am more sad.
the emes is we never heard of lubavitchers going to Pesach programs before the last several years. it’s just one more step in another direction.
As per the hotel, had they know how disorganized and unhappy the guests would be they would not have allowed him to come. They promised that they will not allow him to come again either. If you thiink this article is made up why don’t you ask the hotel who had to have their own staff including Chef Andy who never cooked kosher before and wanted to make chicken parmigiana for the guests, what they experienced as and what complaints they had to deal with. The hotel itself was very pretty and accommodating press and Co quite literally stole peoples… Read more »
As a person who has gone to this program on Sukkot let me recount my experience. We paid in cash of course because we were told that’s the only way to get this great deal. My partner who arranged this all, received a phone call from me press at 230 pm Erev sukkot, where we would like to sit in the sukkah. Our picture was everything was all set and final touches were being made…sadly it wasn’t meant to be. Upon arrival there was not a person in sight to guide us. We checked in, and waited for other guests… Read more »
Shame
Defending press makes sense the first time he did this. Something can happen at the most well planned program. But he has been scamming people and lying about what his program offers for year. How can u defend that.
My family and I went to the Pesach in gan eden program in Ventura, CA. had all Lubavitcher hashgacha/minhagim, very warm and heimisch, felt like a big family and very affordable. I’d recommend that program for anyone if they’re looking for a good reliable Pesach program!
We had such a good experience at the program we went too, the hosts did everything possible to ensure the guests satisfaction. Our Pesach was beautiful, and I was able to spend time with my family and not just be in the kitchen. I feel terrible for these people that had their yomtov ruined. Feels like a crime to me.
You make comments based on biased videos from people who need attention. I was there it was really nice if you wanted to have a nice time.
Best Segulah for sholom Bayis is to go to a program and say “Sholom .. Bayis” as you wave good bye
This article is very exaggerated and misleads the reader into thinking that all of this happened at glen cove this year. Perhaps each of these issues listed has happened over the years in different places but this didn’t all happen at glen cove this year. The physical location of glen cove was actually pleasant and clean. I was not there the first days for Seder where apparently some food was spoiled and seders ran late – that is true. The program was basically “yotzei” a persons basic needs. There were meals, but their timing was off (1pm lunch, 2pm lunch… Read more »
My extended family and I were supposed to stay the whole Pesach. What an absolute fiasco!! After two days of rotten food and stomach poisoning we left. It’s a good thing we cleaned out house for Pesach and don’t sell real chometz. We kashered our house according to Halacha on Chol Hamoed, bought pots and pans and made our first Pesach. This article is underplaying the details of what we went through. I mean, have you ever seen moldy matzah??? Like don’t you have matzah for months and it never goes bad?? What do they do recycle their matzah from… Read more »
After seeing some videos posted about this…doesn’t look like this program had even basic kashrus going on, let alone kosher for Pesach. What a hefkervelt!
I was there too for Pesach, yes there was some management issues but definitely wasn’t the disaster that it’s being made out to be. The price was great and going into it I knew I would be getting what I paid for.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
He’s not the cheapest program around.
He promises, pockets the money and hides for the whole Yom Tov.
They advertised people as speakers who were never booked.
Not everyone has the liberty to stay home. Some people juat cant make pesach, can be for many reasons.
Health issues
New baby
Etc
So spending all that money isn’t because you have it, and it’s extra, so you can afford luxury. Sometimes it’s necessity.
And you still want to have a nice pesach, away from home!
I beleive the mr laurel program was good this yr.
Agree with number 1 and 2
I was at Glen Cove and had a great time. I was not disappointed in any way. Thank you Mr Press for a wonderful Yom Tov. As an aside, I spent last year with these same complaining people at flaky jake and they did not stop complaining last year either, i think that they feel its part of what yom tov is about. some people are NEVER happy. They apparently LOVE to complain. I hope they stay home next year so I do not have to run into them somewhere else.
Spoiled chollent. Horrific.
SCS
BS”D I’m signing up for # 1’s place next year, bli neder, G-d willing
The BEST comment EVER! Me TOO – stayed home! BEST place in the world!!
I had a great Pesach and delicious food ON TIME and my wife kids enjoyed it too.
You know why?
….because I stayed home!