We have been hosting "PESACH TIME WITH THE MANDELS" (formerly Pesach Time Tours) for seventeen fabulous years.  This year we are so excited to be going back to the beautiful Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel  in Asbury Park, NJ. We are planning so many new things from entertainment to wonderful lecturers. As always, the food will be non-stop and many new scrumptious dishes and fabulous decor will be incorporated. Every aspect of your Pesach vacation is planned to ensure a complete, pleasurable and fun experience for the whole family. We are committed to making sure from the moment you arrive at THE BERKELEY OCEANFRONT HOTEL, until you leave, nothing will get in the way of your enjoyment.

Rabbi Chaim Block joins us again this year as our Program Director.
Rabbi Block lives in Monsey, NY with his wife Toby and children.

He is a Musmach from the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, receiving semicha from Rav Shmuel Berenbaum, זצ"ל.  
He is a long time Rebbi at RYNJ (Teaneck community) and the General Studies Principal at Yeshiva Toras Emes, elementary division, in Brooklyn.
He is a member of the Jewish Music group Shalsheles and is a Chazzan at the AABJ&D shul in West Orange, NJ.
Rabbi Block has previously been a head counselor (Camp Manavu) and program director (Camp Romimu). He is currently the Director of Vacation Village day camp. He is looking forward to telling all of our guests where to go!

Chef David Ben-Hamu was born and raised in Netivot Israel. He received some of his first training from his grandmother who was a skilled cook and had to provide meals for A very large household.

Although he is formally trained, his experience is what He built his career on.

Chef David is well versed in American classic fare, Israeli style foods (the whole gamut), a wide range of Chinese, some Indian dishes, and Mexican/Spanish style. Chef David will be preparing many varieties of beef, chicken, veal, fish, appetizers and much more..

Although he runs a very tight ship, he does like to introduce some humor into the work environment. It raises the moral of the staff and helps to bring the best out of everyone.

 Chef Chani Gold has spent years honing her craft in the food industry. She operates her own catering company and has experience cooking in restaurants and running institutional kitchens. From an early start working with healing diets, she developed an affinity for plant-based cooking. Limitations in the types of food people could incorporate into their diets necessitated an understanding of flavoring techniques used in a variety of cuisines. This knowledge has proven invaluable in her over 20 year career as a kosher chef, especially given the restrictions inherent in a Passover kitchen. Most important to Chani is balancing the goal of intensifying flavor with a philosophy of using less processed ingredients to enhance the taste and presentation of her food.

With her creativity and the ever increasing array of Pesach foods, Chani is sure to WOW our guests with a whole new variety of choices.

Rabbi Shlomo Hyman has worked in the field of education for 32 years and has been with the Pesach Time Tours family for the past 14 years. In addition to Smicha, He has a masters degree in Jewish Education. Rabbi Hyman has 23 years experience working in summer camps in both supervisory and administrative positions.  
Rabbi Hyman lives in Englewood, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife Freidi and their five children.
Rabbi Hyman runs a fun filled and exciting program. Day campers will have their days filled with numerous activities, make friends and gather memories that will last a lifetime. Among just a few of the highlights are Rabbi Hyman’s spellbinding story time, special guest entertainers, and the “acharon shel pesach” camper performances.
With all of the exciting and varied activities your child will never be bored!

Atara Cohen is the Director of FIT KIDS/FIT TEENS in the 5 Towns. Throughout the year, she is not only in charge of the programming, and staffing there, but also gives multiple dance classes to children of all ages.  At the women’s gym, called FIT, she gives a Hit Hop class, which is a high intensity dance class that incorporates planks, squats, etc.Atara is an artist and dancer who is creative and friendly. She enjoys working with children of all ages, teens and adults. She cannot wait to meet and have fun with all of the guests!

Rabbi Yissochar Ginsberg has been the menahel of Mesivta Tiferes Yerushalyim on the Lower East Side for over 18 yrs. He learned 10 yrs in Chofetz Chaim before coming to MTJ in 1982. He is one of the last people zoche to receive shmicha from R Moshe Tz"l. He was in Chinuch as a melamed for decades before accepting the mantel of leadership at MTJ. He also spent 15 yrs as a Reserve Chaplain (Rov) in the US Army. He has 4 Master degrees on many different fields of study. He is a former EMT & former Community Board Member for over a decade. And is currently the Clergy Liaison to the NYPD as well as the Chaplain at 2 different hospitals in NYC as well as an active member of the Queens Vaad – Chevra Kadisha for over 36 yrs.

Deena Fogel has worked for more than 20 years for Ohel, creating and running the volunteer program since inception. She grew the volunteer program to include Shabbatons and benefit concerts, expanding the volunteer base across NYC and Long Island. The volunteer program saw tremendous growth in supporting other departments at Ohel which included big brother/big sister program, Chanukah toy drives, transportation for child/parent visitations and court appearances. Deena has since focused her passion of bringing smiles and happiness in the food industry. Deena's leadership and warmth has enabled her in the success of running our day care and babysitting program.

Working tirelessly behind the scenes for months before Pesach, Shloimy Zukierman will help all of our guests with their reservations. Shloimy has the experience & pleasant phone skills needed to make sure all of our guests are taken care of with a smile. 
He will assist with answering all of your questions, making sure your rooms are exactly what you expect, and any amenities or special requests you may have are ready and waiting for you when you arrive.

Shloimy will be available throughout Pesach to help in any way he can. Including securing your reservation for the next year!