There’s kosher. And then there’s kosher for Passover. With eight days of strict adherence to a special diet and Sabbath restrictions, observant Jews find themselves in a pickle. Clean the house, change the dishes and constantly feed your extended family? Or be wined, dined, educated and pampered at a luxury hotel?
“Passover is kosher on steroids,†explained Seth Horowitz, general manager of the Luxe Hotel on Sunset. April marked just the second year that the Luxe became an all-inclusive Passover destination, the brainchild of owner Efrem Harkham. Consultant Vivian Lurie and Special Events Director Judith Feldman took on the task of converting the kitchens, ballroom and poolside and lining up entertainment and speakers. An influx of large families with children required clowns, babysitters and camp counselors, and an arcade playground and special children’s dining area.
Feeding up to 300 hotel guests three times a day, plus an additional 65 dinner guests nightly, presented a monumental challenge. The hotel’s two kitchens were separated for the preparation of dairy and meat dishes. Kosher wine and vodka were plentiful. Coca-Cola was disappearing fast. For Passover, it’s made from real sugar instead of corn syrup, which is not kosher.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin presided over the events, visiting from his residence in Seattle. Among the guests was film critic-turned conservative commentator Michael Medved, who broadcast his show live from the hotel on April 25. “I spent my last two years of high school in L.A.,†he said. “Rabbi Lapin and I are old friends, so it felt natural to come down and spend the holidays here.â€
Passover is a time of strict observance. On certain days nothing electric may be ignited, including electronic room locks. “We kept pretty busy making sure that our guests didn’t need to open doors or turn on a light,†said Horowitz. Add to that the already busy life of a hospitality professional, a full-to-capacity hotel, a converted kitchen, and the addition of scores of children, you might expect chaos. But if they were stressed it was impossible to see behind the pleasure they took at being part of a unique and joyous event.
