For 24 years, Jerry and
Shelly have been providing the ultimate in service and kosher cuisine for
their Passover resort guests. The hallmark of their successful programs
is their attention to detail and innovative cuisine that only comes through
decades of personal hands-on experience. Their combined backgrounds cover
the culinary arts (Jerry began his classical training as a master chef in
Europe), marketing (Shelly began her sales career at one of the nation's
top food products companies), kosher foods industry, and hotel management.
In addition to MatzaFun Tours, Jerry and Shelly own and operate a year-round
upscale kosher catering business in the Philadelphia region. They are also
kosher foods purveyors, offering exclusive Glatt products and delicacies
to the industry. Shelly and Jerry are both very active members of the Cherry
Hill Jewish community, serving as volunteers and board members of several
institutions.
Jay Press, Ocean
Place Reservations & Co-Host
Jay has been an on-site host
for Passover Tours for many years. He is truly a master at the art of customer
service. Jay has the great advantage of meeting all his guests and knowing
their special requests and needs before they arrive at Ocean Place. It's
easy since all OP guests make their reservations exclusively with Jay. Jay
is also the owner of International Travel Exchange, a travel agency
based in Philadelphia.
Avery Umlas, Ocean Place Co-Host
"Avery is no stranger to the Passover scene. He spent 15 years as the 'Tummeler' at the Lebowitz Pine View Hotel and twenty years as the Program Director at the Homowack Hotel in Spring Glen, N.Y. Avery's wonderful penchant for keeping people in good humor, stems from his Youth Director Days at the Y.I. of Hillcrest & Special Education career in the New York City School system. Both these positions have honed his skills as a people person and will serve him well as a Co Host for Matza Fun Tours."
Nancy & David Broth, Orlando Renaissance Resort Co-Hosts
David and Nancy Broth have been involved in various Passover Tours for the
past 18 years and on-site hosts for Matza Fun for the last two years. David and Nancy have the great advantage of meeting all the guests knowing their special requests and needs before they arrive at Orlando Renaissance Resort since all OR guests make their reservations exclusively with David and Nancy. David and Nancy bring caring individualized service to every person who is a part of Matza Fun. Whether you are entering the dining room, attending services, sitting by the pool or getting a snack in the tea room, David and Nancy will greet you with a smile and a Chag Sameach. They bring with them a vast knowledge of travel as owners of Caves Travel in Baltimore, Maryland.
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel, Scholar in Residence Ocean Place
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel is the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Jewish
History at Yeshiva University. He teaches at the Bernard Revel Graduate
School of Jewish Studies and at Stern College for Women, where he is also
head of the Jewish Studies program. Dr. Kanarfogel is an internationally
recognized scholar of medieval Jewish intellectual and social history, and
rabbinic literature. He is the author or editor of five books and more
than fifty articles, and he has won a series of prestigious prizes for his
work, including the National Jewish Book Award. Rabbi Kanarfogel was
educated at Yeshiva University, from his undergraduate days through his
doctorate and smicha, and he was also a member of the Kollel at the Rabbi
Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
Rabbi Kanarfogel is a much sought-after speaker and a world-traveler,
lecturing at universities, synagogues and Jewish communities throughout
North America, Europe and Israel. His vast historical and talmudic
knowledge allow him to weave fascinating accounts and episodes of history
and halachah, as he focuses on the productivity and resilience of the
Jewish people in periods of plenty and persecution as well. He is also a
sports fan and an amateur musician, two areas of interest that often find
their way into his lectures in entertaining places. A talented talmid
hacham and communal rav, Rabbi Kanarfogel is also an experienced darshan
and maggid shiur.
Rabbi Dr. Kanarfogel is married to Dr. Devorah Kanarfogel, an optometrist.
Cantor Pincus Cohen, Cantor Ocean Place
Cantor Pinchas Cohen was born in Jerusalem and began his singing career at the age of six in the famous "SHIRAT ISRAEL CHOIR" under the direction of Rav Zalman Rivlin Z"L.
He served in the Israeli army as a chaplain and fought in the 1967 Six Day War.
He served as the Cantor in Atlantic Beach Jewish Center for 17 years.
Now serving his 23nd year at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center in Brooklyn.
Cantor Pincahs Cohen is blessed with a powerful and dramatic tenor and has a very wide range. In addition, he has established for himself a worldwide reputation for his beautiful davening and concerts. He is invited to appear in many concerts and as a guest Chazzan in many congregations in the U.S., Israel and abroad.
Israel Silverman, Chess Master in Residence Ocean Place
"Israel A. Silverman, J.D., MBA, is a U.S. Chess Federation Candidate
Master, with over 30 years of tournament experience, including against
world class grandmasters. He has run an online chess forum and taught
chess to adults and children and provides exciting simultaneous
exhibitions and private lessons at Matzahfun. Be sure to sign up when
you check in!"
Rabbi Nathaniel Steinberg, Scholar in Residence, Orlando Renaissance Resort
Rabbi Nathaniel Steinberg traces his rabbinic lineage back some 25 generations of rabbis who served communities in Poland, Galicia and Germany. After receiving smicha from Yeshivas Chachmay Lublin in Detroit, he served as a pulpit rabbi in his native Pittsburgh, New York and Long Island. He retired from the rabbinate in 1992 after serving the Dix Hills Jewish Center for 22 years. Since retirement Rabbi Steinberg has volunteered in the Israel Defense Forces and served as a cruise ship rabbi. He divides his time between New York and Florida.
Rabbinic Supervision
Rabbi Zushe Blech, Ocean Place
Rabbi Zushe Blech is a Musmach
of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, and has been involved in Kashrus for the past twenty
years. Rabbi Blech is an expert in the biotechnology and dairy industries.
Rabbi Blech previously served as an Administrative Coordinator for the Orthodox
Union. He travels throughout the world lecturing on and establishing Kashrus
standards. He has written many articles on modern Kashrus issues, and is
a regular contributor to Kashrus magazine.
Rabbi Sholom B. Dubov, Orlando Renaissance Resort
Rabbi Sholom Dubov received his
smicha from the Rabbinical College of America. He founded Chabad Lubavitch
of Greater Orlando in 1985 and the first Orthodox synagogue in Central Florida
in 1988. In 1992 rabbi Dubov founded the Florida K - Kosher Council of Central
Florida. This local rabbinical association oversees and provides kosher
certification to over sixty area food manufacturers and processors. He presently
serves as the Executive Director. Rabbi Dubov is a regular speaker on a
wide range of topics.
Entertainers &
Lecturers
Rabbi Leonard Oberstein, Orlando Renaissance Resort Lecturer
Rabbi Leonard Oberstein is perhaps the only rabbi ever born in Montogomery,
Alabama. He was a synagogue rabbi in Baltimore for 25 years. He is currently
the Secretary of Vaad Harabanim of Baltimore and Director of the Teacher's
Institute of Ner Israel Rabbinical College. Warm, tolerant and involved,
Rabbi Oberstein passionately explores current Jewish issues in his discussions.
Eitan Kantor, Orlando Renaissance Entertainer
Eitan Kantor began his musical career in Israel, studying classical piano from the age of six years old until he was seventeen. During high school he picked up a second instrument, the bass guitar, and became a pro on that instrument. He served in the Israeli Army as a bassist in an entertainment unit, traveling from the Golan Heights to Sinai. After the army, he continued a successful career as a studio musician, playing on albums of major artists like Yehoram Gaon and Chava Alberstein, doing TV and radio appearances, and performing in concerts with Israel’s top entertainers.
Coming to the United States, Eitan studied conducting and music production at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to New York, and went on to produce albums and conduct concerts for famous Jewish and Israeli performers such as Mordechai Ben David, Yoel Sharabi, Sandy Shmuely, Ron Eliran, Martin Davidson, Yeedle, and Shloime Dachs, and cantors such as Avi Albrecht, Aaron Bensoussan, Sol Zim, Moshe Schulhof and Jacob Motzen. He also proudly tours the world and the United States as a regular cast member in the “Uncle Moishy & the Mitzvah Men” children show.
Today, besides continuing to perform, Eitan runs two successful businesses, the Aviv Orchestra, an elegant simcha & events band, and Hyperstudio, a full size, professional recording studio, located on Long Island, ten minutes from Kennedy Airport.
Eitan has been coordinating resort entertainment for more than 10 years. He is delighted to join the MatzaFun team, and is looking forward to a meaningful & entertaining Pesach.
Ronnie Baras, Ocean Place Entertainer
Ronnie Baras has been performing professionally since 1982 . Ronnie has performed several times in Las Vegas including headlining at the infamous Venetian Hotel. He is
the first Orthodox Jew to headline at a Las Vegas Hotel.
Ronnie is a MatzaFun favorite as a featured entertainer and lecturer. He is best know for his entertaining hypnosis & comedy routines. Ronnie is a certified hypnotherapist and goes to great lengths to entertain, without embarrassing either his audience or his hypnotism subjects. In addition to hypnotism, Ronnie also performs ‘mentalism’ shows where he demonstrates the ability to ‘read minds’ in an entertaining fashion.
Day Camp, Teen,
Senior Program
Donna Lazaros, Ocean Place Resort
For the past seven years, Donna Lazaros has been director of several successful day camp Passover programs for area hotels. She has also served as director of the day camp program at the Orthodox Union annual convention. Donna has also directed the sports and aerobics programs at Camp Emunah and Camp Bnos.
Her programs are not only enjoyed by her campers but also by her loyal staff who eagerly await each Pesach season.
Yaakov & Tzippy Charlap
Tzippy is the Aquatics Director at Simcha Day Camp and has been working
at the Boro Park "Y" for twenty years. Her hands-on experience
includes children, adults and senior programs. In addition, Yaakov &
Tzippy have years of experience organizing and supervising hotel programming.
With teens of their own, they certainly have first hand experience with
the teen community. Yaakov & Tzippy are both active members of the
growing Kew Gardens Hills, NY community.
Ellen and Joe Gastwirth, Orlando Renaissance Resort
For the past 13 years Ellen Gastwirth has been serving as the Educational
Director of the Hollis Hills Jewish Center Nursery School and Hebrew School.
Her educational background is in early childhood and elementary education
with hands-on experience teaching various grades in Jewish day schools
and Hebrew schools. She was the educational director for a Jewish summer
camp in the mid nineties and has spent much time working with youth both
in an informal camp environments as well as formal school settings. Joe
Gastwirth has been a professional in the field of Jewish education for
over a decade. He has served as both a teacher and principal in various
congregational schools in New York City.
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel is the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Jewish
History at Yeshiva University. He teaches at the Bernard Revel Graduate
School of Jewish Studies and at Stern College for Women, where he is also
head of the Jewish Studies program. Dr. Kanarfogel is an internationally
recognized scholar of medieval Jewish intellectual and social history, and
rabbinic literature. He is the author or editor of five books and more
than fifty articles, and he has won a series of prestigious prizes for his
work, including the National Jewish Book Award. Rabbi Kanarfogel was
educated at Yeshiva University, from his undergraduate days through his
doctorate and smicha, and he was also a member of the Kollel at the Rabbi
Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
Cantor Pinchas Cohen was born in Jerusalem and began his singing career at the age of six in the famous "SHIRAT ISRAEL CHOIR" under the direction of Rav Zalman Rivlin Z"L.
He served in the Israeli army as a chaplain and fought in the 1967 Six Day War.
He served as the Cantor in Atlantic Beach Jewish Center for 17 years.
Now serving his 23nd year at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center in Brooklyn.
Cantor Pincahs Cohen is blessed with a powerful and dramatic tenor and has a very wide range. In addition, he has established for himself a worldwide reputation for his beautiful davening and concerts. He is invited to appear in many concerts and as a guest Chazzan in many congregations in the U.S., Israel and abroad. 
"Israel A. Silverman, J.D., MBA, is a U.S. Chess Federation Candidate
Rabbi Nathaniel Steinberg traces his rabbinic lineage back some 25 generations of rabbis who served communities in Poland, Galicia and Germany. After receiving smicha from Yeshivas Chachmay Lublin in Detroit, he served as a pulpit rabbi in his native Pittsburgh, New York and Long Island. He retired from the rabbinate in 1992 after serving the Dix Hills Jewish Center for 22 years. Since retirement Rabbi Steinberg has volunteered in the Israel Defense Forces and served as a cruise ship rabbi. He divides his time between New York and Florida.
