The Heritage Resort

About

Join Mendy Vim's Holidays for Passover 2019 in rural Connecticut for our 11th straight year at our guests' perennial favorite, the Heritage Hotel in Southbury, Connecticut for an ideal Passover getaway.

Nestled alongside Heritage Village in rural Litchfield Hills, Connecticut, adjacent to the Pomperaug River and overlooking the Pomperaug Golf Course, our guests at the Heritage Resort will experience the utmost in comfort and luxury surrounded by lush, natural beauty. The Heritage, located less than two hours from Boston and just one hour and fifteen minutes from the Whitestone Bridge, and a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner for 2015, 2016 and 2017, complete with its own PGA rated Pomperaug Golf Course, golf shop, on-site Spa, salt-water and fresh water swimming pools, superb accommodations and amenities, Riverwalk fitness club, tennis courts, and extensive grounds and walkways alongside the river, is an exceptional place to visit and stay.

For those that are familiar with Mendy Vim's Holidays, you know that our outstanding Passover programs have delighted hundreds of families. At Mendy Vim's Holidays, we offer everything you have ever wanted in a Passover Vacation: A Pesach resort combining the pleasures of ultimate physical comfort with a rich spiritual experience, an incredible feast of Glatt Kosher culinary delicacies, two inspiring and traditional Seders, a marvelous program with our legendary service, a stellar lineup of chazzan, scholars, and entertainment, great trips and excursions, a pristine New England setting within comfortable driving distance of NY, NJ, and Boston, and consummate hospitality in the Mendy Vim tradition.
 

The Heritage Resort and Spa in Southbury, CT

Our 10h year at this have-it-all location, The Heritage Hotel offers luxurious resort accommodations that have earned the accolades of our guests. Spacious rooms and suites are beautifully decorated in timeless New England style with wonderful views of the Pomperaug River, the golf course or overlooking the rock garden. All rooms are equipped with pillow-top mattresses, 42" flat screen HDTV's, individual climate control, two-line telephones with voicemail, complimentary high-speed Internet access, alarm clock/radio featuring MP3 connection, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and in-room safes. Rollaway beds and cribs are available, refrigerators are available upon request.

The Heritage, newly redecorated and multi-million dollar refurnished, also boasts an imposing fieldstone fireplace main lobby, stone accents and wood beams in the common areas, two beautiful ballrooms, a hospitality parlor overlooking the river and golf course, a par 35 9-hole USGA rated golf course, club house, indoor solar atrium heated salt water pool, indoor Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, outdoor nightly lit tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, hiking trails, bicycle center, the new Riverwalk fitness club with weight room, universal and aerobic exercise machines, daily yoga, Pilates and aerobics classes, a tiered amphitheater with professional sound and lighting capabilities, arcade, Shadrock's lounge, computer and business center, and the on-site Heritage Spa with rejuvenating body, skin, and nail treatments.

Recognized by National Geographic Traveler as one of the 50 most scenic driving regions in the U.S., here you'll find miles and miles of breathtaking scenery, picturesque roads, woodlands and farmlands, rushing rivers and spring fed lakes, interesting architecture, quaint villages, and historic covered bridges.

If you're seeking a Passover destination that combines country pleasures with sophisticated amenities, great golf, some of the best antiquing in New England, nearby museums, outlet shopping, and fun-filled family activities, all with super convenient traveling time to or from the New York City area, the Heritage is the perfect setting for your Passover vacation. We offer full and partial stays to suit your family's convenience

About the provider

Every tradition has a Beginning

Ours was founded on outstanding service.
It all began in 1974 at our first Passover Hotel holiday celebration, at Chalet Vim in Woodbourne, New York. Fulfilling the Jewish Kosher family's growing demand for an all-inclusive, superior-quality Passover Hotel experience, Mendy combined his considerable prior hotel management experience with his terrific flair for 'pulling it all together', and 'Mendy Vim's Holidays' was born.

And so our Passover tradition began. Forty five years later, our decades-long tradition of caring and experience is deeply embedded in every Passover program and is evident in everything we do. And the Vim family, children and grandchildren, continue Mendy's tradition of excellence in Passover hospitality.

It's no surprise that many of our guests keep coming back!

A mouth-watering blend of exotic and traditional Passover favorites

Hospitality is our Passion

From Maine to Savannah, or Newport to Colorado, at each inspiring locale we pay close attention to your every detail with attentive immaculate service. Our many guests, from the tri-state area, Boston, Maryland, California, and abroad return to us each Pesach to relive their special memories, and to create new memories once more.

Blessed with the 'personal touch', Mendy (and our team) treat each guest as part of our family, with a warm and intimate atmosphere and meticulous attention to your needs. Do you have a special request? Can't find your activity? Do you need special seating? Our professional staff take pride in enhancing your Pesach Yom Tov experience; We're here to help. Our gracious hospitality hostesses, dining room hostesses, and immaculate wait staff are experienced in providing the utmost in service. And for larger groups that opt for private dining, we offer your own personal and dedicated maitre d, with individualized dining service.

Whether it's your first year with us or your second, fourth, or thirtieth, we look forward to welcoming you to an incomparable holiday experience. Let us give you a chance to settle in, celebrate, relax, and reconnect with your loved ones, for isn't that what traditions are all about?

Rooms & accommodation

Delight in our spacious and contemporary accommodations, where you can let the world slip away. Find your perfect fit among our selection of guest rooms, beautifully decorated in warm color palettes complemented by contemporary furnishings and fabrics. Expansive windows overlook the outdoor saltwater pool, the fairways of Pomperaug Country Club or the hotel’s Stone Garden courtyard. From king or double rooms, to junior and Jacuzzi suites, we have rooms you will love to be in, all designed to provide plenty of space and outfitted with generous amenities that satisfy your every wish. 

IN ROOM AMENITIES

• Complimentary wireless Internet
• Iron/ironing board
• Sealy® pillowtop beds
• Hairdryer
• Room service
• Individual climate control
• 42" Flat-screen HDTV with cable channels
• Video game rentals
• Alarm clock/radio featuring MP3 connection
• Work desk and chair
• Two-line telephones with voicemail
• Free local calls
• Safe
• Windows that open
• Blackout blinds
• Rollaway beds and cribs are available upon request
• Refrigerators are available upon request
• Junior Suites and Suites include a living room with pull-out couch and separate bedroom, a wet bar and a whirlpool tub.

Kashrut & dining

Gourmet Glatt Kosher Cuisine

Sit back and savor each flavorful moment. Traditional, fantastical, or unusual, from the first moments of your arrival at Erev Pesach Eve's lavish hot and cold buffet through the farewell continental breakfast on Isru Chag's morn, you'll be treated to a superb bouquet of lavish dishes and foods, beautifully prepared and impeccably served.

The ambiance is elegant, with impeccable table linens and china, crystal stemware, flawless service and gracious hospitality. From our exquisite Seders, our traditional matzo ball soup, to our unusual pastry creations, our Chefs delight in creating haute cuisine, with a mouth-watering blend of new exotic and traditional favorites, made with the freshest local and regional ingredients.

Impeccable Service. Our service is legendary; our cuisine, exquisite. From beautifully led traditional Seders replete with matzo and wine, to our Yom Tov Morning Kiddushim (a not-to-be-missed-event), throughout one amazing holiday meal after another, you’ll be treated to a festival of incomparable culinary experience. Our Pastry Chef delights in creating an abundant assortment of tasty cakes and stunning pastries that look as good as they taste. Our Tea Room Hospitality Suite is stocked with coffee, cakes and fruit to satisfy every in-between-meals need, and we offer boxed lunches for your Chol Hamoed excursions.

Blessed with the 'personal touch', Mendy (and our team) treat each guest as part of our family, with a warm and intimate atmosphere and meticulous attention to your needs. Do you have a special request? Can't find your activity? Do you need special seating? Our professional staff take pride in enhancing your Pesach Yom Tov experience; We're here to help. Our gracious hospitality hostesses, dining room hostesses, and immaculate wait staff are experienced in providing the utmost in service. And for larger groups that opt for private dining, we offer your own personal and dedicated maitre d, with individualized dining service.

Whether it's your first year with us or your second, fourth, or thirtieth, we look forward to welcoming you to an incomparable holiday experience. Let us give you a chance to settle in, celebrate, relax, and reconnect with your loved ones, for isn't that what traditions are all about?

Religious life & Shabbat

Enjoy the stimulation of our thought provoking shiurim, outstanding series of speeches, and interesting lectures of Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, Naomi Klapper, and other noted speakers and scholars... Rejoice at our exquisite traditional Sedorim, exquisitely prepared and impeccably served... Feel inspired at our stirring Pesach davening services led by Cantor Nachman Shneider... Make your move with pilates, aerobics, zumba, cardio circuit training or fitness and exercise classes ... Continue with your daily learning and Daf Yomi ... 

Our stellar lineup of noteworthy scholars-in-residence, lecturers, authors, cantor and entertainment:

• Show all
• Spotlight
• Scholars-in-Residence/ Speakers
• Chazzan
• Entertainment
• Hospitality plus more..

Chazzan Nachman Shneider

Chazzan Nachman Schneider currently serves as the cantor of Congregation Beth El of Brooklyn. Having assumed his first cantorial position at the age of seventeen, he has also held cantorial posts at prestigious congregations such as Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, and Shomrei Emunah of Brooklyn.

In addition to his regular position, he routinely accepts engagements as a cantor-in-residence in a wide variety of settings including Park East Synagogue, Synagogue for the Arts, and Mendy Vim’s Holidays. He also officiates at weddings, is a featured artist at various organizational functions and fund raisers, and gives nusach lessons as his schedule permits.

Cantor Schneider’s tenor voice is well suited for the cantorial tradition which he follows. His strict adherence to nusach, mastery of cantorial recitative, and diverse repertoire of congregational song combine with his “chazonishe krechtz” to evoke in listeners the memories and emotions of a bygone cantorial era. His familiarity with the style and spirit of the Golden Age of Cantorial Music does not preclude his own improvisation, which is, in fact, the centerpiece of cantorial art.

Cantor Schneider will be leading the Seder and the davening for us in a stirring recital of his own memorable syle, as well as perfoming in a Karlebach style concert.

SCHOLARS IN RESIDENCE

Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt MD
FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA

Rabbi Dr. Glatt is the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Anshei Chesed and Assistant to the Rabbi at the Young Israel of Woodmere. He has been giving a Daf Yomi shiur for almost 25 years, and also gives a weekly gemara be’iyun shiur, daily halacha shiurim, as well as many other classes. Most recently, he began a daily on-line Mishnah Brurah Yomi Shiur through OU Torah.

An international lecturer on medical and halachic issues, Rabbi Dr. Glatt has authored two seforim, Visiting the Sick: A halachic and medical guide - with down to earth advice, and Women in the Talmud. (both available at www.artscroll.com) He received semicha from HaRav Avraham Tzvi Wosner, shlita, at Machon LeTorah Vehora’ah.

Rabbi Dr. Glatt is a board certified infectious diseases physician and is currently the Chairman of Medicine at South Nassau Communities Hospital and a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Previously, he was the head of Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center, and President & CEO of St. Joseph Hospital, both part of Catholic Health Services of Long Island.

He has also served as a full Professor of Clinical Medicine and former Associate Dean at NY Medical College.

Mendy Vim

No picture here, he's camera shy, or more likely so busy taking care of everything, he doesn't take the time to stop for a photograph.

Those that know Mendy are familiar with his winning personality and his personal attention to every guest, many of whom become life long friends.

We all know about his considerable hotel management and Passover Program experience, and have seen first-hand his incredible finesse. An indefatiguable bundle of energy with a calm and smiling demeanor, Mendy is most notable for his 'heart', he truly cares, and we're all reminded of it when he remembers our grandchildren's names or the minutest preferences we've told him in previous years.

No bio of Mendy is complete without mentioning his wonderful wife, Pauline (Peshie) and his equally wonderful children and grandchildren. Warm, friendly, capable, and attentive, they all pitch in with their contributions - and our Passover guests benefit!

Daniel Tanen

Daniel has worked at Mendy Vim’s Holidays alongside his grandfather, Mr. Vim, since he was nine years old. He currently resides with his family in Israel and has served with distinction in the Israeli Air Force.

Along with his wife, Sara, Daniel works for Darkaynu, a post high school gap year program for young adults with special needs. Daniel and Sara spend their summers at OHEL's Camp Kaylie, a camp that integrates children with various disabilities into bunks and activities with their mainstream peers, where Daniel is the Aquatics Director & Israel Staffing Coordinator and Sara is a member of the educational staff.

Daniel, our capable Maitre d', also serves as Mendy's right-hand man, and assists Mendy in running our entire Passover program.

Sara Tanen

Sara Tanen was born in London and made Aliyah at the age of 12.
A graduate of Herzog Teachers College in Gush Etzion and Matan's Bellows Eshkolot Educators Institute in Jerusalem, Sara has been a member of staff at several institutions including MMY, Baer Miriam and Darkaynu where she has taught and assisted in Tanach studies.

Sara spends her summers at Camp Kaylie where she a member of the educational staff. In addition to teaching, Sara has worked as a tour guide in Jerusalem's Old City for the family oriented tour company Israel Scaventures. Sara Tanen will be hosting a series of lectures based on N"ach at our Passover program.

Chazzan Nachman Shneider

Chazzan Nachman Schneider currently serves as the cantor of Congregation Beth El of Brooklyn. Having assumed his first cantorial position at the age of seventeen, he has also held cantorial posts at prestigious congregations such as Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, and Shomrei Emunah of Brooklyn.

In addition to his regular position, he routinely accepts engagements as a cantor-in-residence in a wide variety of settings including Park East Synagogue, Synagogue for the Arts, and Mendy Vim’s Holidays. He also officiates at weddings, is a featured artist at various organizational functions and fund raisers, and gives nusach lessons as his schedule permits.

Cantor Schneider’s tenor voice is well suited for the cantorial tradition which he follows. His strict adherence to nusach, mastery of cantorial recitative, and diverse repertoire of congregational song combine with his “chazonishe krechtz” to evoke in listeners the memories and emotions of a bygone cantorial era. His familiarity with the style and spirit of the Golden Age of Cantorial Music does not preclude his own improvisation, which is, in fact, the centerpiece of cantorial art.

Cantor Schneider will be leading the Seder and the davening for us in a stirring recital of his own memorable syle, as well as perfoming in a Karlebach style concert.

Professor Naomi Klapper

Professor Naomi Klapper has been a college professor since 1986, has served as faculty at Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women, Sy Syms School of Business, and Lander College, and is the Director of Counseling Services at Lander College for Women, serving as their Life Crisis Intervention Counselor. She is a faculty mentor to Lander faculty, and is frequently consulted on psychological aspects of Metropolitan Jewish community affairs.

In addition to teaching, Naomi Klapper is  a licensed clinical therapist and maintains a private practice in Manhattan. Professor Klapper has lectured throughout the tri-state area on a myriad of topics related to Parenting, Relationships, Marriage, and Wellness. She is the recipient of several teaching awards, including the “America’s Top Teachers” award.

Professor Klapper resides in Teaneck, New Jersey with her husband and four children.

Rabbi Dr. Chesky Gewirtz

Rabbi Dr. Chesky Gewirtz is a clinical psychologist and a teacher of Torah. He is currently an outpatient psychologist, providing individual and group psychotherapy, and the director of psychological testing at New York City Health+Hospitals/Queens, where he also supervises and educates doctoral trainees.

Rabi Dr.Gewirtz specializes in treatment of anxiety for children and adults and works in a specialized anxiety clinic. He has held a variety of Jewish communal positions, including serving as a pulpit rabbi in North Woodmere, NY, teaching in yeshiva elementary and high schools, and working as head counselor in a number of sleep-away camps. He has rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) , a Master's in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University(YU)'s Azrieli Graduate School, and a doctorate in clinical and school psychology from YU's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology.

He has published articles in both Torah and psychology and has received awards for his research in the field of psychology and religion. Rabbi Dr. Gewirtz has lectured  in many communities around the U.S. often integrating the disciplines of Torah and psychology together. Rabbi Dr. Gewirtz, his wife Aliza and three children reside in West Hempstead, NY, where he gives a weekly chabura on Parsha and Halacha. Rabbi Dr. Gewirtz will present lectures and workshops at Mendy Vim's Holidays and serve as our teen program coordinator.

Activities & entertainment

Delight the family with game shows, hay rides, and food demonstrations and workshops... Partake in a gala kosher wine tasting event... Capture the spirit of Yom Tov with the joyous sounds of Mark Infield's music, the melodious singing of zemiros, and the exhilarating voice of our Chazzan with his diverse repertoires of cantorial, popular and congregational song. (meet our staff) Featuring a star studded cast of nightly entertainment with comedians and humorists for your amusement, Chol Hamoed Karlbach Concert, noted lecturers, magician, and terrific day trips to great nearby attractions, our incomparable program will provide you with Yom Tov memories to cherish forever. 

Chol Hamoed Trips

Join us on our privately chartered busses for exciting trips and excursions:

More About it

Walkway over the Hudson
Join half a million visitors each year for the Greater Walkway Experience! Ride the waterfront elevator for breathtaking views 212 feet above the Hudson, walk the Empire State Trail over the world's longest pedestrian elevated bridge,Includes 18 miles of scenic trails and a scenic bridge connecting Historic Highland to uptown Poughkeepsie.
https://walkway.org

Stepping Stones Museum for Children
A wet, wild and wonderful way for children to learn about the science of energy in an immersive 'working lab' - explore the Wind Lab, Solar Lab, Water Lab, & Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Uranium Labs, inspiring children’s natural curiosity to imagine and invent. (Lab coats provided to help keep you dry!) Exhibits include colorful LED displays, a mesmerizing 27foot ColorCoaster - a non-stop giant mechanical toy that uses energy, motion, gravity, color and light as it spins, whirs, and fascinates, Build It! where kids explore hands-on architectural design and construction, Tot Town, and Express Yourself! through art, music, and cooperative games for social-emotional learning, a great learning and discovery experience for children age 10 and under. 
http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
One of the earliest and finest surviving Second Empire Style country houses ever built in the U.S., this 62-room mansion was built by banker-railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood, who in 1864 began construction of his estate on the Norwalk River. Designed by European-trained architect Detlef Lienau, it was completed in 1868 at a cost of over $2million in 1868 currency and is considered his most significant surviving work. Today, the Museum is being lovingly restored back to its original grandeur by a non-profit organization and is a cultural gem which highlights lives & styles of the Victorian Era. 
https://www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com

Take me out to the Ball Game
And yes, we do. For little sluggers, big ones, or all who just want to watch the game, join us for a great trip to see the Mets play at Citi field Stadium. Who can ever forget the thrill of Spring home games, huge screens, kids cheering, fans screaming in frenzy, and the palpable excitement in the air...

See the Seals
Board one of Project O's (Oceanology) large research vessels and head out to sea for an unforgettable marine science experience! Studying and nurturing interest in the marine life of the Long Island Sound, Project Oceanology is a year-round, marine science educational organization. (UCONN) Catch fish and plankton, participate in a seal or sea gull population study, pull up a mud grab, or use oceanographic equipment to measure water quality. There are several different stops to view the seals hanging out on Fisher Island, resting & getting some sun, swimming, playing and pushing each other off rocks!
https://www.oceanology.org

FDR Lived Here
Visit Springwood in Hyde Park, NY, the estate that FDR loved & the place he considered home. The first US Presidential Library was started by FDR here, and it was the "Summer White House" where the President hosted prominent national and international figures, including kings and heads of government. Features an historic, federal-style mansion housing FDR's various collections and includes outbuildings & stables. Donated by FDR to the American people, today this fascinating home & museum is a National Historic Site. https://www.nps.gov/hofr

Jiggle a Jellyfish 
Touch the Sharks at the Maritime Aquarium of Norwalk, where guests can (gently) stroke the backs of several species of sharks and a variety of rays! Sure to delight all ages, you can see sea turtles and river otters, view the 110,000-gallon habitat of several types of sharks, enjoy feeding time of the playful Harbor seals, and touch the tops of live moon jellies without being stung! New exhibits include a baby sea turtle nursery, and Just add Water- a live animal exhibit exploring habitats from arid desert to rain forest. Includes six-story screen IMAX theater and IMAX film experiences. 
https://www.maritimeaquarium.org

From Sea to Shining Sea
The USS Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum sits just yards from the main gate of the New London Naval Submarine base in Groton, where visitors can board the Nautilus, the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. Experience firsthand what it was like to be a member of the crew. Think: very tight quarters. Tour the torpedo room, the navigation and mess area, and walk down the very first staircase ever installed in a submarine, (Hint: It's STEEP!) you’re surrounded by equipment and artifacts that tell the story of this historic ship. The museum's Main Hall serves as a timeline of submarine history. From the world's first combat submarine to modern classes of subs, examples of weaponry and technology are on display. Super friendly staff (many of whom have served submarine service) happily answer questions from curious kids or even more curious adults! 
https://www.ussnautilus.org

For children & families

Passover KID Zone

For the most important people in the world...

Kids want to have a great time when they're on vacation, and as parents or grandparents, we all know that when our kids are happy, then we can relax and be happy too!

At Mendy Vim's Holidays, we set the bar in outstanding Passover Children's programs, with tons of activities for kids of all ages. The fun never stops from morning to night at our fabulous Day Camp, game room, and supervised play at the hotel's facilities, with terrific trips.

Check out the action for kids of all ages: whether it's sports, extreme sports, games, daily on-site entertainment, karate sessions, a talent show, fitness classes, crafts, exciting trips or more, our Passover KIDS Club has the most amazing activities on earth..

Who wouldn't be excited? With organized social events, puppet shows, children's drama production, face painting, balloon twisting, magicians, carnival, hay rides, gametime, hunts, clowns and entertainers, and exciting trips, too... Get in on the excitement, our Day Camp runs on every Yom Tov day and every day of Chol Hamoed, with sensational programs specificaly geared to each age level.

Kid-Delicious food with a yummy children's menu

Kids don't always appreciate the duck a'la orange or rib steak on the bone that we adults do. So yes, we're kid friendly.

Our younger guests can take advantage of our Children's Dining Room, where we serve deliciously prepared children's meals and a kid yummy menu of all the things they like to eat: pizza, hot dogs, french fries, ice cream sundaes and the like, with staggered dining times from the adults. The food is so good here, we've even seen some adults 'being kids'.

It's your choice: separate dining in the Children's Dining Room (earlier dinner, for the kid that just can't wait ) or your children joining the rest of the family in our grand ballroom dining room. And on trip days, we offer savory boxed lunches your kids will love to munch.

The little Kinderlach

Our Day Camp is superbly run by our licensed Day Camp director and abundantly staffed by licensed teachers and supervisors, who have been with us for a number of years. We offer Day Camp for children age 3-12.

Meet our Day Camp Director- Ruthie Berkowitz, fondly known as 'Morah Ruthie' by her many admirers and former students, bringing her lively enthusiasm and total professionalism to everything she does.

Delighted to be joining us for her sixth year as Director of the Mendy Vim Heritage Day Camp, Morah Ruthie is formerly a beloved teacher in the early childhood department of Moriah School in Englewood, N.J. for over 18 years.The children light up her life, whether at school or at Mendy Vim's Passover program.

LET'S GO METS! on our chol hamoed trip to watch the game

The Joy of Baseball

We interrupt this family for baseball season. For little sluggers, big ones, or all who just want to watch the game. Join us for a great trip to the ball game on Chol Hamoed, in Citifield, we'll all be Mets for the day.

Play Ball! Who can ever forget the thrill of Spring home games, the big stadium, huge screens, kids cheering, fans screaming in frenzy, and the palpable excitement in the air...

Just another day in paradise.

Location

Address: 522 Heritage Rd, Southbury, CT, USA

Tags

Contact

• Organizer: Mendy Vim
• Location: New Haven County, United States
• Phone: 718.998.4477
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.vimsholidays.com

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