Passover Program in Long Branch, New Jersey

LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY

Ocean Place Resort & Spa exudes a unique and relaxed atmosphere with a touch of modern luxe sophistication. Overlooking a magnificent stretch of beach in Long Branch, it is truly a hidden gem among NJ beachfront hotels.  Come discover the approachable luxury of New Jersey’s only full-service resort positioned directly on the beach.

Enjoy dazzling Atlantic Ocean views along our 530 feet of uninterrupted beachfront access. Revel in crisp sea breezes from any of the 258 guestrooms and suites, nearly all of which offer a beautiful ocean view from a private balcony.  Located just 50 miles south of New York City, this location makes getting to a beach front resort for Passover within everyone’s reach.

The guestrooms are inspired by the magnificence of the Atlantic. The simple yet modern furnishings create a refined and approachable atmosphere. Each guestroom has a private balcony with a sliding glass door to expand the space and bring natural light indoors. They also include modern amenities and ample work space.

The resort boasts a beautiful 14,000-square-foot luxury spa, indoor pool, an outdoor pool which is located on the mezzanine Level with a perfect view of the ocean while you lounge, and 95,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space. Take a morning jog along the boardwalk as the sun rises.

At all of our Passover hotels, and for many decades, Leisure Time Tours is well known for its world class gourmet Passover cuisine. The all-star team of Prestige Caterers will be coordinating our outstanding food operation. Whether it’s in our dining rooms, sumptuous tea rooms, or barbecues, a large variety of impressive delights await your dining pleasure. We will be under the Glatt Kosher supervision of International Kosher Mehadrin, Rabbi Berel Simpser Rav Hamchshir.

We are also well known for fantastic entertainment. Every year we typically bring on incredible Musicians, Mentalists, Hysterical Comedians, Dazzling theme nights, Music, Hypnotists, Casino nights, Carnivals , Impersonators and much much more!

Our world-renowned day camp is back again! We have always believed that the kids program is one of the most important features of a Pesach program because if the kids are having a great time – then the parents can have a truly relaxing vacation. Our kids fall in love with their counselors and can’t wait to see them each morning! Our day camp only has post college or college age dedicated counselors who have lots of experience.

PRICE & ROOM INFORMATION 2026

2026 WORLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT

Itzik Dadya

Itzik Dadya is a talented singer, composer, and producer who began his professional career at 16. He served in the prestigious IDF choir under Chief Cantor Shai Abramson, performing alongside Ishai Ribo. His debut album, Am Yisrael Chai, and his follow-up La’Shir M’Haneshama, featuring the hit “Rabbi Nachman,” have cemented his reputation in the music world.

A former judge on Israel’s singing competition HaKol Haba, Itzik also contributed to the children’s series Shirim V’Liflaot as a writer, producer, and actor. NR Management has expertly managed Itzik’s career, leading him to work on a new album of original songs set to release later this year.

Avi Maza

Avi Maza, our Master of Ceremonies, grew up in NJ, and is a descendant of a rabbinical and cantorial family that spans ten generations. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University where he was the lead Tenor saxophonist in the university’s Jazz Ensemble and where he also attended the Belz School of Jewish Music where he studied Cantorial liturgy and style under the tutelage of the world-renowned Cantors, Macy Nulman and Bernard Beer. After college, Avi joined the famous Ruach Orchestra, where he performed alongside many well-known Israeli and Hassidic recording artists. Avi currently performs regularly at celebrations and community events as the leader of the Avi Maza Orchestra. He has also served for many years at various congregations as High Holiday Cantor and on Pesach programs as Cantor and entertainer. Avi and his wife Lauren reside in Highland Park, NJ with their 3 children, Seth, Liana, and Jessica.

Sawyer Fredericks

Americana singer-songwriter, Sawyer Fredericks, hailing from a farm in central New York, began playing local farmers markets, open mics, and iconic New York venues at the age of 13. With his deep, beyond-his-years original lyrics and melodies, soulful vocals, and powerful live performances, Sawyer seemed an unlikely match for reality tv, but he won over audiences to win season 8 of NBC’s The Voice.

Fredericks released his major label debut, A Good Storm, with Republic Records, an impressive blend of soulful Folk, blues, and rock, entirely self or co-written. He chose to go independent for Hide Your Ghost (2018). Fully written and produced by Fredericks, HYG sheds the high gloss major label treatment and stays true to his honest stripped-down style.

With song premieres in People Magazine, American Songwriter, DittyTV and an album preview in Billboard, on May 1, 2020 Fredericks released his 4th album, Flowers For You. “With his second independent album, Flowers For You, Fredericks is expanding his sound even more, moving from bluesy folk into more expansive Americana, rock, and tinges of jazz,” remarks Chris Griffy in Concert Hopper. The album was included in No Depression Readers’ 50 Favorite Roots Music Albums of 2020. Two songs from Flowers For You won top awards from the 18th annual Independent Music Awards, “Born” won in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category and “Amen” won the Vox Pop award in the Social Action Song category. Since the release of the album, “Born” has been in rotation on SiriusXM’s Coffee House channel and was covered by Amazon Music’s editorial ‘Fresh Folk and Americana’ playlist.

In January 2021, Sawyer released his rendition of the iconic “What A Wonderful World” with an accompanying animated video.

Sawyer’s latest release, The Golden Tree EP, came out in March 2023. The physical EP includes 5 tracks, 4 are available digitally, and feature his band and Sav Buist and Katie Larson of The Accidentals. The EP release was preceded by a video for the title track that features home footage of Sawyer playing guitar and singing as a child alongside recent scenes captured in NYC. It was directed by Jenny He who Sawyer previously collaborated with on his “Born” video off his 2020 Flowers For You album.

Sawyer and band returned to the road with a two-part tour in March and May of 2023 with Chastity Brown, stopping at the City Wineries in Boston, Nashville, Chicago, and NYC as well as The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH and Ayurprana Listening Room in Asheville, among others. Prior to the tour, Sawyer showcased as a duo with his bass player Gannon Ferrell at Folk Alliance in Kansas City, MO in February. In September, his annual Sawyertoga weekend at Caffe Lena sold-out both nights.

2026 SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE & STAFF

Rabbi Edward Reichman, MD

Edward Reichman is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he also teaches Jewish medical ethics, and holds the Rabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Chair in Jewish Medical Ethics at Yeshiva College. He received his B.A. from Yeshiva University; M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. In addition to his full-time clinical practice in Emergency Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, Rabbi Dr. Reichman lectures internationally on Jewish medical ethics and Jewish medical history. He has edited numerous books and penned many book chapters and journal articles, and his book, The Anatomy of Jewish Law: A Fresh Dissection of the Relationship Between Medicine, Medical History and Rabbinic Literature was recently published jointly by Koren/OU/YU presses (2022).

Rabbi Gedaliah Jaffe

Rabbi Gedaliah Jaffe serves as the Rav of Congregation Ahavas Yisrael in Edison, NJ, and teaches Judaic studies at Yeshivat Frisch in Paramus. He shares his passion for Chassidus, Halacha, Tanach, and Gemara with both adults and high school students, making a lasting impact on his community.

A dynamic educator and gifted orator, Rabbi Jaffe blends scholarship, charisma, and strategic vision to strengthen Jewish life through his teaching and leadership. Renowned for his superior communication skills, he inspires action and forges deep connections with students and congregants alike. His commitment to rigorous Torah study and his dedication to fostering a warm, inclusive community define his approach.

Beyond the beit midrash, Rabbi Jaffe has played a key role in welcoming new members to Ahavas Yisrael and leading a building campaign to ensure the community’s future. An accomplished guitarist, he integrates his love of music with Chassidic philosophy, enriching his teaching and spiritual leadership.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the founder of Self-Mastery Academy. He is also a business, executive, and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values and principles. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought.

After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago.

Rabbi Reichman’s passion is spreading Jewish wisdom worldwide. His videos, articles, and inspiring content have reached millions of people worldwide and his online courses have revolutionized the way self-development is being taught. To learn more, visit his website, ShmuelReichman.com.

Rabbi Avi and Dr. Jordana Maged-Hoffman

Rabbi Avi and Dr. Jordana Maged-Hoffman are dedicated leaders in the West Orange community, blending their passions for Torah, education, and connection.

Rabbi Avi Hoffman serves as the Assistant Rabbi and Youth Director at Congregation Ohr Torah and teaches Middle School Judaic Studies at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy. He studied at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) and is completing his Master’s in Medieval Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, along with certification in Pastoral Counseling from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology. Beyond the classroom and pulpit, Rabbi Hoffman is an accomplished magician who performs original Torah-inspired magic and serves as a founding board member of Magic4Israel.

Dr. Jordana Maged-Hoffman is a clinical psychologist specializing in children, parenting, and complex family dynamics. She received her Psy.D. from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and currently practices at Achieve Behavioral Health, working primarily with youth from the Ultra-Orthodox community. Deeply committed to Torah learning and communal engagement, she has served as a Scholar-in-Residence in multiple cities and leads women’s learning programs, youth initiatives, and community-building events in West Orange.

Together, Rabbi Avi and Dr. Jordana bring warmth, insight, and inspiration to every facet of their communal and professional lives.

Jeffrey Lax

Jeffrey Lax is a professor of law at the City University of New York (CUNY) and has chaired the department of business at Kingsborough for the past 13 years. Professor Lax is a veteran on-air legal analyst having covered nearly every major legal matter in recent years (including Rittenhouse, Chauvin, Depp/Heard, Paltrow, Smollette, Cuomo, and others) for Court TV, Law and Crime Network, Scrips, and other networks.

Professor Lax is the founder and Executive Director of S.A.F.E. Campus, an organization dedicated to protecting and advocating on behalf of Zionist Jews on campus which has built an over 100-lawyer network fighting for campus antisemitism victims, at no cost to them, in the courts. Prof. Lax has been confronting, exposing, and fighting campus antisemitism on the front lines at CUNY for nearly a decade and is one of the most sought after spokespeople on the issue of campus antisemitism in mainstream media outlets including Fox News, Newsmax, CBS, NBC, NY1, and many other networks, podcasts, and popular radio.

Marla Rottenstreich

Marla Rottenstreich is an AFAA-certified Group Fitness Instructor, ACE-certified Personal Trainer, 500HR Yoga teacher, IIN-licensed Health coach, licensed Zumba instructor (3 formats), ACSM Teen/Adolescent Fitness Instructor as well as ACSM Senior Fitness provider, DONA-certified birth doula and prenatal fitness provider, and licensed Beachbody PIYO & Insanity instructor. She currently owns Mekor Fitness LLC, a Central NJ Women’s Fitness & Wellness company.

Dr. Lauren Maza

Dr. Lauren Maza, a resident of Highland Park, NJ, received her medical degree from SUNY, Syracuse. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, where she also served as clinical instructor in medicine at Harvard University Medical School. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a primary care physician at Woodbridge Medical Associates. Prior to medical school, Lauren pursued a PHD in Nutrition and Biochemistry at University of Chicago. Her interests include women’s health, preventive medicine and Yoga and she enjoys lecturing on these topics to help her patients and others develop the best habits to maintain a healthy lifestyle.