Join Me For Pesach!

any special deal for dd/ddf readers?? seriously

Dan- Can those not part of the program but in the area for Pesach attend the seminars?

Gotta get on here:
http://www.smilowfamilytours.com/lecturers.html

There will be sessions on Yom-Tov and Chol-Hamoed? Or is it the days before and after yom tov? I am assuming the obvious that its erev and post yom tov because its asur to talk divrei chol, as all the points and credit cards are uvdin shel chol being that they are financial discussions.

I am not trying to be all holy, you can talk what you want but not in an official capacity to come talk divrei chulin on yom tov.

Just my 2 pesos

Way to go Dan!!
Enjoy your stay
Any special DD rates for the rest of us?

Will this cost more or less than the regular dansdeals seminar 🙂

there goes the ballgame, people. Dan’s gone mainstream on us :):)

Who can afford it. Can we use points to pay?

Wonder what this would cost for a couple, is it normal or crazy high

I hope they reserved one of the suites for you

in other news, CVS stores in Ft. Lauderdale have run dry of Vanilla Reloads.

Dan,
Nisht in Yom Tov geredt,how many miles for a 3BM to Tiera Zur in Z class?

@ Dan any questions about the program you can PM me. Been there twice for Pesach

Will you take away a deeper appreciation of yetzios miteayim or just a bigger wasteline?

How many points to join???

Hey i worked as a counsler at the bonaventure two years ago pesach. Was pretty fun and good experience. Enjoy dan!

@mogro17:
Haha

lil-foncused-
You’re not allowed to talk divrei chol on chol hamoed? Says who?? Do you have a source for that? I have never heard such a thing in my life. Not everything you’re Cheder Rebbi told you is Halacha Limoshe Misinai. Get off your high horse. If you would have brought up taking notes on the lecture, you would at least have some basis, but this is just ridiculous.

Unless there’s a glitch coming up for this do you really think people that could afford to go to this hotel for Pesach actually care about points? It’s not worth their time to play the points games when they could just pay for business class to wherever they’re going. But good for you Dan that you were able to pull off this deal for yourself 🙂

@yehuda:
You can always ask for one 🙂

@ari:
My understanding is it’s just for program attendees.

@lil-foncused:
I’ve already asked the shailoh.

@Al:
Ask ’em 😀

@Dan’s the Man:
Actually there have been several CEOs of major companies at past seminars. Those are exactly the guys who want to know how to fly free.

You don’t become wealthy by paying full price.

Jan Koum said he nearly called off the $19B Whatsapp acquisition because he had a Lufthansa First award flight to catch and he couldn’t change the dates. He never flew anywhere on company dollars, always used miles for company travel. OK so that’s pushing things a bit but you get the picture 😀

@Dans the man
You’d be surprised. People/jews hate having to spend money to go away. Once they have the miles they feel like it’s free

@davs:
What’s with the stereotyping? Speak for yourself, Please!

@Dan:

I guess you are in the clear if your rov approved. But according to what I learned in the gemoro and poskim Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed are the same exact besides that some melachos are mutar.

This is why we all dress in yom tov clothes on chol hamoed and we wash and drink a cup of wine.

See here for an interesting discussion: http://rabbikaganoff.com/archives/1558
and
http://www.youngisrael.org/content/PDFs/Halacha_Central/Halachically_Speaking/halachicallyspeaking_volume_5_issue_7.pdf

Either way please make sure of your people that no writing takes place. If you read the links above many hold that typing on the computer is also forbidden.

@davs: the hotel’s going to cost so much more than those flights would.

@lil-foncused:
I’ve asked about posting on my site as well as giving a speech.

As far as people taking notes on a computer, they can ask their own LOR.
I’d imagine 99% of frum folks use computers on chol hamoed though.

@Joe:
Making Pesach at home isn’t exactly a cheap endeavor either.

Plenty of folks, even upper middle class, would rather spend some more and make a trip rather than prepare for weeks to clean/kasher their houses and cook.

Can anyone post rates they got. What about for just half the days

@lil-foncused:
Thanks for going God’s police man, Dan also needs to make sure no one at the seminar speaks Lashon Harah, right?

@lil first link doesn’t work, and what are you showing with the second link?
Where does it talk about “divrei chol” (just “talking” not actions).

@davs: That’s not nice Davs to stereotype. Where I come from many many of us go away and aren’t sitting on DansDeals site waiting for a free deal. Although at times its nice to save a few bucks when we can.

@Says who,

Calm down. I think lil-foncused was just referring to yom tov itself. It does not say anywhere that he’s talking about chol hamoed.

@Chaim:
See comment 4.

Their website hasnt added you to the list of lecturers. Ask for Top Billing…

Remember when dans deals was about deals?

Chaim-
I appreciate your attempt at being dan lekaf zechus, but he did say chol hamoed.

never went away in my life for pesach. this place must be first class. they dont even show the rates. how much would you guess a family of 5 or 7 would need to pay for something like this not including the airfare?

@lil-foncused everything you have posted meanwhile is YMMV. Please keep all your hashkafas to yourself

Not my intention to cause a stir. No need to go all “comment left me speechless” mode, this was my first thought I was wondering how is it allowed but Dan said he Rabbi gave him a heter (I am guessing because of lost revenue), I would suggest that all attendees keep in mind the Halochos of Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed. The gemoro says many great things about one who keeps the day of Chol Hamoed holy.

A good portion of the world to come is better then a first class seat on a 12 hour flight.

Someone on your level of frumkeit and learning should ask a rov if you can be accessing websites other than what you need for parnosseh. I am not trying to be all holy, and it is not my intention to cause a stir, but you’re a unusually annoying (censored)

@lil-foncused:

+1
Gentleman he is not saying not to do/attend these seminars at all but rather there may be some days better than others in the Jewish calendar. kol hakvod for raising this. I am sure some rabbanim would agree with him?

anyone knows price?

happened to enjoy a seminar when I am home,
When vacationing, enjoy the sun, the trees, the sky, the outdoor, the spa, the food, the family…

Dont talk credit card to me on my expensive vacation…

@lil-funcused
I agree with you, BUT #1 this as without any question a bchina of ‘chasoren kus’ where we all can learn how to save $. #2 from my point of view this whole dansdeals style is my #1+ hobby… in that case its an ‘oneg yom tov’ to listen to such speaches. Taking notes would deffinitly be better to type then handwrite.

Such a chutzpah that they don’t feature Dan as an entertainer/lecturer.

Not realistic to say that going away is the same cost as staying home. I find that comment a bit obscene. Seriously.

the programs do have pasta and pizza and pancakes. but, there’s no way a real foodie, or even a very amateur foodie would mistake any of this for anything but Pesach food. Dan, not worth the rush to the dining room for that.

while it may be muter, i don’t know why Dan would wan’t to do it.

I once heard that a jewish worker at B&H Photo didn’t want to come to work on chol hamoed but was forced to come or loose his job, but when he got his paycheck he gave back the money for those days, saying that while he was allowed to work so as not to loose his job for the rest of the year, he does not want the money for working on chol hamoed! And since then, B&H is closed for the whole yom tov.
I don’t know if its a true story, but i just checked and they are closed from erev pasech till the 22.

there might be something about the money being cursed or something, (i can’t verify right now) but i know a driver who stooped doing trips on chol hamoed claiming that he usually lost money in one way or another around or after chol hamoed and he thought it was because of that.

just saying.

Sellout

@Old time:
I’m sorry for only looking for deals 16 hours out of the day. Will try harder.

@Anonymous:
I’ve done seminars on many other days.
As I expressed in this post I’m looking forward to breaking up the marathon in a way that’s not normally feasible.
I’ve heard the complaints about it being a lot of info crammed into one night and am hoping to see how this works out.

@Cost?:
Is someone forcing you to attend?

@Not Going Away for Pesach:
Nobody said anything like that, please stop making things up.

I said that
1. Pesach at home isn’t exactly cheap.
2. Some people prefer to spend MORE and take a vacation and add those costs onto Pesach rather than do all of the cleaning and cooking associated with Pesach.

@danfan:
I’ve never had so much as a waffle, pancake, or Pizza on pesach before.
Sorry for being excited about that.

@dave:
Why do you think I make seminars, to make millions?

I do it because I enjoy doing it, I enjoy speaking to real live people rather than my computer screens like every other day where I become jaded by comments from haters.

I love the hobby and and passionate about it. Sorry if that bothers you.

@SellOut:
Thanks, constructive criticism is always appreciated.

And who am I selling out to exactly anyway?

So happy for you dan you do all the leg work for us I know the family really nice people

Every one else @ sellout stop being jealous ! Cause Dan got something you didn’t I don’t hear you complaining when you got a ticket to ey cause if a glitch or la or any other deal dan found for you besides you don’t even know maybe he is paying for it basically STOP being jealous he got something you didn’t

if u don’t like this sight “dans deals” don’t go on

@dan

Go and enjoy. Your lectures will probably be the most popular, useful and interesting. And yes, even those who pay for such a program want to vacation year round on points.

I’m traveling now on business and have scored great upgrades thanks to what I’ve learned here.

Next time someone decides to add their “2 cents” take it at its face value.

@Wow:
Is jealousy what this is all about?
Crazy.

Reminds me of the folks who hated on the LA, Vegas, Bahamas, Hawaii. Fiji, Milan, Israel, et al, glitches.
You know the ones who didn’t get in on time 😉

@Yudig:
I just find it funny that people think that those who can afford to go to a Pesach program means they don’t mind paying $25,000/person for a first class suite when they can get it for free.

And will do 😀

Enjoy your vacation you deserve it and if you dont i am sure your wife does. it sad how many people cant “fargin” you to enjoy the fruits of your hard work which they lots of time benefit from. I am sure you will meet many nice people and have a wonderful time(and then go back to having peasach at home with your family)had to throw that in sorry!

@Dan:
sorry Dan, i was only trying to add to the discussion of working on chol hamoed. mentioning your name was a mistake, sorry again.

@dan

The odds are that such people have businesses that rack up so much expenses, that if they put it on the right cards they’d never pay for travel.

I know someone who was putting 10+ million an Amex per year…always traveling 1st…always on miles. They’d never pay $10,000 for such a flight.

As I am reading thru the comments & I come to the end all I can think of is OH MY GOD. What a bunch of whiny complaining losers you guys are.. Stop the hate.. If you have positive to say we are all looking to forward to read what you write otherwise just keep the negative thoughts to yourself

dan- will they accomodate your chabad minhagim? like seudas mashiach

Dan, I’ve been with you since the ctown days, sometimes more sometimes less, just want to say I respect the fact you are allowing comments that are not necessarily complimentary along with the requisite “I love you dan”s Good for you and keep up your good work

BS”D
Hi Dan,

I just want to let you know that I spent Pesach with this family and it was absolutely, positively, above-and-beyond everything they said it would be!!!!!! The food was the best I’d ever eaten (I was told by one of their staff that they spent 24 hours – in shifts – just cleaning the lettuce!). If they still have it, don’t miss the midnight chocolate buffet!I went together with my mother, o.b.m., who had sailed on many luxury cruises during her lifetime. She told me that the Smilow’s food (and ice and fruit sculptures) were more delicious and spectacular than any cruise line.
I truly enjoyed the Toraic lessons and the wonderful company of people I met there from all walks of life. Every single person was well accommodated according to all of his/her needs (including a non-Jewish Shabbat elevator operator who, at the end of Shabbat – having read lots of material during that week – told me he considered studying Judaism a little deeper since he we so impressed with these people with whom he never really had any serious contact). All I can say is keep up the great work, and enjoy your Pesach!!!

Dan
Have a great vaca. Will be in fl at family. Any way nonBonaventure people can attend? Can we pay? Have missed your other seminars and would like to meet you and hear your thoughts. Also would break up long week with mishpocho :).

Going back to the seminar questions… If we are not part of the pesach program, (we poor floridians 🙂 who get flooded by tourist, but have non $$$$$ to get away!) is there a way we can attend the classes / concerts?

Good for you, Dan. Well deserved spoils for all your hard work on this site. Pesach at a hotel is an extraordinary luxury, and I’m happy that you get to go as a side benefit for your great work here. Enjoy!

Dan I think a lot us are just saying that if you want to break up the usual format Chol hamoed is not the best option. I think Lchatchila every Rav would agree that have people write notes which is not really tzorech hamoed in this case is an legitimate issue. Also there may be others who are not frum yet are writing only because of your lecture so there may be a problem aiding another Yid to do an averah??

May I respectfully suggest another option 1)doing a Dansdeals seminar over a weekend in a hotel and you can lecture Friday, motzei shabbat and Sunday? or joining an existing shabbaton like shabbat Nachamu and lecturing Friday Motze shabbat and Sunday?? Hashem would be so proud

“Join Me”?!? Seriously?
Who but the wealthiest among us can afford a luxury like this? I make a very nice salary and struggle just to pay the basic bills and yeshiva tuition…

@Yudig:
Those are the folks using the wrong credit cards and racking up the wrong miles who would most benefit.

@Anonymous:
That’s why Gd invented the computer and the tablet.
Unless you’ll be staying offline for chol hamoed?

@Join Me?:
I’ve flown to 8 seminars on my own dime.

I’ve kept the admission rates artificially low ($5-$10) so that everyone would be able to attend if they wanted.

I’ve donated 100% of all moneys collected to charity.

I’m sorry that this event isn’t targeted to you. I’ve never gone to a Pesach program either.
IY”H next year Gd will double your salary and you’ll be able to afford it and give your wife and family a nice break for Pesach so that we’ll just remember working like slaves and not actually have to slave for weeks on end 😉

Dan: Enjoy your time. I’d love to join you but can’t swing the cost for 4 this year. If only the admission was the same as to one of your DDF seminars. :O)

Dan,
Go…talk…type…write…help people…use the elevator…whatever…
But most of all relax, rest up and have a Chag Kosher V’Sameach!

After all these comments, you need a little vacation!!!

@Dan: you dont think there will some with pencil and pad? what about their neshama?

anyway why not try what I suggested earlier doing a shabbaton either on your own or joining one and that way you can space out lectures over three days and you and your family can enjoy a vacation and like you said meet people face to face! and everyone is happy?

@Anonymous:
I’m not the world’s policeman and nor are you!
Everyone can ask their own Rov and make their own big boy decisions! Worry about your own issues before others.

I’ve already asked and there’s no issue giving the shuir and there’s no issue taking electronic notes.

If you want to organize a DansDeals shabbaton then go ahead. I don’t have the time to possibly arrange that but would be happy to entertain it would someone wants to do the enormous legwork that such an endeavor would entail.

This fell into my lap, I asked the halachic question, and that is the end of that.

I wil be in the Fort Lauderdale area for Pesach as well and was looking for ideas on chol hamoed trips in th earea. I have done a fair amount of research (Groupon deals, etc) and would be happy to discuss. Should we start a seperate conversationon the forum?

My two cents….Dan, as far as I have seen you have always done everything to follow the proper path in halacha and assist other in saving money and finding deals, you and your family are entitled to enjoy peasch as a yom tov and vacation and those of us that can’t have no right to judge or crtiticize. You do not and never have (to my knowledge) held yourself out as a posek and giving a speech or seminar does not appear to be “lifnei eever” of someone writing.

Thank you for all you do to help others.

let’s have a Dan’s deals seminar then!!!!!!!!!!! after this function. for those not attending.. dan.

dan who is ur rov?

Dan, enjoy Pesach! And thanks for sharing so much valuable knowledge here.

@dave: b&h was NEVER open chol hamoed in their 40 years of operation.

Please disable comments. Some people just don’t know how to keep freedom of speech civil.

Dan he’s the man
Please talk, whats your plan?
I am your real fan
But we need to paskan
If on yom tov we can
talk type and scan
I don’t want to ban
But please understand
We’re a Jewish clan
We don’t follow the Koran
Is this right, wrong or in no man’s land?

@samuel:
my oneg is making money can I do it on Shabbos

@ Sammy

Was that a reference to ‘Stan’?

Love reading this site and the deals Dan posts but hate the stereotypical persona of many commenters, the judgmental holier than thou jew, the nosy one who minds everyone else’s business but his own, paskens everyone elses shaylas, tells dan what to do etc. etc.

The Jewish people would be so much better overall if everyone quietly refocused their intense energies internally exclusively toward perfecting their own behavior and thoughts.

Dan, I literally live 5 minutes from where you will be staying. I have been following your website for a few months now. Is there anyway to open the forum up to people who are not staying at the hotel?