Pesach at Pearlstone

2025 Teachers and Educators

2026 information coming soon

Rabbi Ysoscher Katz

Currently the Chair of the Department of Talmud at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. He received ordination in 1986 from Rabbi Roth, dayan of UTA Satmer. Rabbi Katz studied in Brisk and in Yeshivat Beis Yosef, Navaradok for over ten years. A graduate of the HaSha’ar Program for Jewish Educators, Rabbi Katz has taught at the Ma’ayanot High School for Girls and SAR High School. Rabbi Katz was appointed as Rabbi of the Prospect Heights Shul in Brooklyn, NY and currently holds several positions including Director of the Lindenbaum Center for Halakhic Studies and Educational Director of Judaic Studies at Luria Academy in Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. Sharon Flatto

A professor of Judaic Studies and the Director of the Judaic Studies Graduate Program at Brooklyn College, she received her Ph.D. in Jewish history from Yale University, her B.A. from Barnard College, and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Brown University. Specializing in early modern Jewish history and Kabbalah, Professor Flatto has taught at a broad range of educational institutions, including Yale, Queens College and Brown, and at numerous adult education programs. She has received multiple awards and grants, and is the author of “The Kabbalistic Culture of Eighteenth-Century Prague: Ezekiel Landau (the ‘Noda Biyehudah’) and his Contemporaries” (Littman Press, 2010) and various scholarly articles.

Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman

Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman has forty years of experience in the field of Jewish education. He was a founding family of Moshav Meor Modiim in 1976, where he served several years as the Director of the Center of Jewish Education, which successfully ran programs for over 5,000 participants from over 25 countries. In 1988, Rabbi Trugman and his wife took the position of Regional Directors of NCSY in Denver, Colorado. The Trugmans returned to Israel in 1995 and are now the Directors of Ohr Chadash: New Horizons in Jewish Experience, a dynamic program they created that has run programs for tens of thousands of participants. Their website, you-tube channel and facebook have gotten millions of visits. Rabbi Trugman has visited over 45 cities world-wide, leading Shabbatons, giving classes, performing music and serving as scholars-in-residence.

Rachel Trugman

Rachel Trugman, along with her work for Ohr Chadash, is also a family therapist with a private practice and an artist who has published a coloring book with poetry entitled Tales of the Talmud.

Chazzan Yoni Stokar

Yoni Stokar is a NJ based musician and prayer leader. He is the Chazzan at Congregation Bnai Sholom/Fair Lawn Jewish Center, and the Drummer and Band Leader of Ta Shma Orchestra. Yoni has performed and recorded with bands and performers across the spectrum of Jewish music and has led performances and services around the world. He released his debut album “Atzeres” earlier this year.

Jo Bakal

Jo Bakal of Tezoona Wellness, LLC is a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, educator, and passionate advocate for helping people live vibrant, healthy lives. She integrates therapeutic massage, Qigong, Reiki, and plant-based culinary guidance to support holistic well-being. Based in Tampa, Florida, Jo’s expertise extends to cancer support and mindful movement, creating a compassionate, non-judgmental space where individuals feel empowered to embrace lasting change. She has shared her knowledge through workshops, retreats, writing, TV appearances, and podcasts, including her cookbook, Real Food From My Table to Yours.

Zev (Walter) Schlomann

Zev (Walter) Schlomann is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Heritage Media Group, a boutique film company that creates video biographies depicting the extraordinary lives of ordinary people.  His recent documentaries Ezra: May His Memory Be For A Blessing (2021), and The Hidden Court (2023) received numerous awards at domestic and international film festivals. Zev has lectured on the merits of recording one’s family history at Genealogical Societies, Religious Institutions, Schools, Consortiums, and Conferences. In 2024 he published his first book, Transmitting Wisdom: The Art of the Video Biography.  He is currently producing a documentary about the history of the Star of David. 

Rabbi Matisyahu Tonti

Rabbi Matisyahu Tonti has spent four years living and studying in Israel where he received a certificate in Jewish Philosophy and Pedagogy from the Shalom Hartman Institute, and Smicha from Yeshivat Sulam Ya’akov in Jerusalem. He holds a BA from Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Jewish Education.

Julie Tonti

Julie Tonti is a Potter, Jewish Educator and Yoga Teacher residing outside Washington, DC where she runs her business, Claybrook Yoga and Pots. She enjoys spending time in nature and laughing with her 3 children.

Pricing and Lodging

EARLY BIRD PRICES UNTIL JULY 31, 2025

Adults (18+):

• Lodge 1, 2 or 3, Multiple Occupancy (2+ adults per room, two queen beds and a pull-out couch): $4,040 per person
• Lodge 5, Double Occupancy (2 adults, One queen Bed and a pull-out chair): $3,810 per person
• Lodge 5, Single Occupancy (1 adult per room, one queen bed and a pull-out chair): $5,750 per person
• Lodge 4- Family Style Rooms (4-6 twin beds): $3,280 per adult

Children: Rates assume sharing a room with at least one adult (18+), regardless of lodging style

• Teens- 13-17 years old: $2,365 per person
• Child-5 – 12 years old:  $1,340 per person
• Toddler- 2- 4 years old: $785 per person
• Infants-Under 2 years old:  $130 per person

Options to add an additional night on April 1, 2026 available.

We do not have options to add on for the shabbat following Pesach.

More details about our lodging options can be found here.

Program Highlights

2026 highlights coming soon

Pearlstone ignites Jewish passion and enables people to authentically connect to their Jewish roots. 

Impactful, hands-on experiences bring Jewish tradition to life while fostering connections in body, mind, heart and soul. We look forward with great excitement to creating an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind, and meaningful Pesach experience for you and your family!

Click HERE to see last year’s schedule

Classes and Activities: Grounded in earth-based Torah, a robust schedule of thoughtful Jewish content enables connection to Judaism, community, and the natural world. Programs for adults and kids of all ages include hands-on activities, thought-provoking lectures, nature adventure, arts & crafts, games, and more!

Davening Options: We will offer a traditional mechitza minyan and have siddurim and chumashim. A Torah-inspired floor-to-ceiling mural sets the tone for a visually and acoustically vibrant davening experience. Powerful and uplifting voices guide daily services.

Kid’s Camp

We will be offering a variety of programming for kids ages 2 and up throughout the retreat.

Seders

Pearlstone provides everything needed to set just the right tone for you and your family to have a memorable, traditional experience. We provide everything you will need for your Seder, but feel free to bring special books or kids’ projects to enhance your family’s holiday experience.

Pearlstone is an OU-Kosher supervised facility; we are unable to allow outside kiddush cups and Seder plates.

There are multiple seder options: Our smoothly paced Communal Seders offers an enriching community-building environment and engages guests of all ages. Individuals and small families can opt to have a semi-private Seder in the Dining Room where tables are set apart enough for sufficient privacy and personal enjoyment.