Five Jewish Link readers recommend their top five Chol Hamoed activities
Name: Moshe Rosenfeld
From: Bergenfield
Work/School: TABC
Top 5 Activities for Chol Hamoed Pesach:
- Art
Reason: Doing art on Chol Hamoed is an easy way to have a lazy day but still have fun. In the end, you still had an art piece and you didn’t have to use much effort.
- Going Running
Reason: I love running because I have the wind blowing at my face, the adrenaline pushing me to my limits and I become fast every time I run. I also love seeing all the different scenery every time I go running.
- Science Experiments at Home
Reason: I like to do science experiments at home like making elephant toothpaste or making erupting volcanoes because they are fun to make. Another reason is they give you a piece of control like the color and the level of excitement.
- Going to Chol Hamoed Concerts
Reason: I love going to concerts on Chol Hamoed because I used to be in concerts (YBC) and they are so fun to perform in and to watch. I also love the environment of people singing the words to every word.
- Axe Throwing
Reason: Axe throwing is a great activity to get out of the house. It gets your heart pumping and adrenaline rushing. It’s a great way to bond with family and friends!!!
Name: RoAnna Pascher
From: Elizabeth
Work/School: RSM LLP
Top 5 Activities for Chol Hamoed Pesach:
- Hiking in New Jersey State Parks
Reason: My family loves the outdoors and loves to walk, the harder the hike the better. We try to follow trails, but generally get lost and end up doubling back. Part of the fun is finding our way. We love Bear Mountain and Ramapo reservation and look forward to trying others.
- American Dream (Mall)
Reason: This mall has something for everyone. It is an amusement park, shopping mall and kosher food hub (though that may be limited on Pesach). It’s also a place that’s local enough that you always see at least one person you know. All this for $5 parking — wow!!!
- Dave and Busters (Woodbridge)
Reason: This is a fan (and FAM) favorite. Some games have skill (like shooting hoops) and others are just luck (for those of us not athletically inclined). Tickets to get prizes (that you paid for) are an extra plus, as you feel you won something even if the prizes are silly.
- Bowling
Reason: My family usually goes bowling as it’s a good time and always makes for healthy competition. Other than having to wear shoes worn by others (maybe it’s time to invest in bowling shoes), it’s good clean fun.
- Spending Time With Family
Reason: Hate to sound like a Mastercard commercial but it’s priceless.
Name: Sammy Lekowsky
From: Des Moines, Iowa
Work/School: C.A.R.E.S. NYS
Top 5 Activities for Chol Hamoed Pesach:
- Roosevelt Island
Reason: Worth coming here for the transportation fun alone. Enter the island through the air on the tram that goes along the Queensboro Bridge, travel around the island on land in the iconic (free) Roosevelt Island Red Bus, and exit through the water on a New York City ferry. For beautiful nature and views, check out the FDR Four Freedoms State Park and the Lighthouse.
- Pier 97
Reason: Great place to relax on chaise lounges overlooking the water. Also has a cool looking playground and awesome all-ages slide!
- Minor League Baseball Game
Reason: Whether you’re going to watch the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Brooklyn Cyclones, or the Quad Cities River Bandits, these games are a lot more fun than the Yankees and Mets. And you’ll look like a certified ball-knower when the players you’re watching show up in the majors a couple of years down the road!
- Top Golf
Reason: A classic. Whether you’re experienced or a novice you’re sure to have fun on these greens.
- New York Aquarium
Reason: What better time to make it to the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, that’s all the way in Coney Island and only open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., than Chol Hamoed? Unlike the others on this list, I’ll admit I’ve never been here, but if you’re in the New York City area over Chol Hamoed it seems like the “perfect” time.
Name: Anna Lis
From: Skokie, Illinois
Work/School: Manhattan Day School
Top 5 Activities for Chol Hamoed Pesach:
- Go to a Show
Reason: I love live performances; going to a live performance during Chol Hamoed is especially appealing knowing halacha! When Pesach ends the halachos of Sefira interfere with live performances (if you observe the first half of Sefira!)! Get those groovy live tunes in while you can.
- Go to the Zoo or Aquarium
Reason: I genuinely love animals. Going to a zoo or aquarium is a fun way to spend time with my family. Also, it connects to Pesach; I mean wild animals like makka. Plus, it isn’t too pricey.
- Do Something Relaxing Like Going to a Beach or Being by/in a Pool
Reason: Relaxing is fun and what is more appropriate to do during Pesach, the time that we were freed to spend our free time feeling free!
- Do Something Active Like Hiking or Biking
Reason: This is an inexpensive way to do something memorable, healthy and active with loved ones during the chag! Another name for Pesach is Chag Hamatzot; this can help us to want to keep eating matzos since we’ll be hungry after hiking/biking!
- Go On a Picnic
Reason: Another name for Pesach is Zman HaAviv! It is so nice to be outside now that spring has sprung! A great picnic basket complete with matzah and cream cheese under the shade is fun, yummy and a great way to bond with friends and family!
Name: Noam Safier
From: Teaneck
Work/School: Crisis Communications Advisory
Top 5 Activities for Chol Hamoed Pesach:
- Erev Yom Tov Grocery Shopping
Reason: For those seeking thrills on Chol Hamoed, nothing quite compares to the rush of narrowly being hit by a car in the parking lot of a kosher supermarket on Erev Yom Tov. Weaving through people and aisles, stepping on gefilte fish that fell out of somebody’s cart and forgetting your bags in the car are just some of the ways this activity will get your heart thumping. In some ways, this yearly ritual is a modern day aliyat l’regel, where Jews from all walks of life converge on a central location to sacrifice for the holiday.
- Watching TV
Reason: If you are trying to relax after attempting to keep up with the demands of jobs and kids, sometimes the classics are the best way to go. After the children are in bed, pour yourself a glass of Manischewitz, grab those Lollycones and catch up on your favorite shows. As an added bonus, with the right amount of Manischewitz, you will sleep just as well as your kids.
- Bury the Hatchet, Paramus
Reason: Equal parts fun and terrifying, Bury the Hatchet is a great way to release that “I moved into my in-laws house for Pesach” aggression. It is surprisingly easy to pick up and, unlike screaming at your family, will not forfeit you next year’s invitation.
- Paterson Great Falls
Reason: The terms “natural wonder” and “Teaneck” are rarely used in a sentence that doesn’t refer to people who somehow go out to eat after a late Motzei Shabbat, but that is exactly how to describe the Great Falls. It’s a fantastic spot for a picnic or even to cool off in the mist on a hot day, and is a healthier activity than that third slice of pizza.
- Children’s Play Places
Reason: While play places for young children may be an overstimulating sensory nightmare for parents, it’s a great way to let kids roam free on a rainy day and expel some of that “I’ll never go to bed” energy. These places aren’t hard to find; just follow the aromas of pizza and feet.
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