(Left to Right) Cantor Howard Shalowitz, Rabbi Azriel Fellner, Doctor Abraham Gittelson

Rabbi Azriel C. Fellner
Rabbi Azriel Fellner graduated from George Washington University and received graduate degrees in English and American Literature. He was ordained in 1967 at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Rabbi Fellner began his rabbinic career in Alaska as a military chaplain. He was the sole Rabbi for the entire state, and responsible for the spiritual needs of all branches of the military as well as the Jewish civilian population. He was Rabbi of the synagogue in Anchorage and an adjunct professor of English Literature at Alaska Methodist University.

His first civilian pulpit was at the West End Synagogue in Nashville, TN, and he later served as Rabbi at Oceanside Jewish Center on Long Island and Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, NJ.  

In the past twenty years, Rabbi Fellner lectured on homiletics to rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary and began a study of motion pictures and television, especially in regard to Jewish images and themes.  He was the Social Action Chairman of the Rabbinical Assembly and a contributor to the magazine Conservative Judaism. He has given a series of lectures on film at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. In addition, he recently lectured at Warner Brothers' Studios about his unique understanding of the 1927 film release of "The Jazz Singer".

Cantor Howard Shalowitz
Hazzan Howard Shalowitz, a native Chicagoan, began singing at the age of 10 as a soloist in High Holy Day choirs and on recordings, radio, and television. 

After attending the Jewish Theological Seminary of America Cantors Institute, he later received his Juris Doctor degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.  Cantor Shalowitz served as High Holy Day Hazzan at the Sutton Place Synagogue in New York City and now officiates in Edmonton, Alberta.  He is on the Executive Council of the Cantors Assembly and is chairman of its Ambassador Program Committee.

Cantor Shalowitz has authored several published articles about Jewish life in smaller Jewish communities around the World.  He has been featured in publications for his dual vocational accomplishments as a lawyer and a cantor, including the American Bar Association Journal and the American Bar Association Bar Leader magazine.  In addition, he wrote, narrated and produced television programs for Jewish holidays.  In 2000 he won a national Telly Award as co-host of the weekly television show See/Hear, and later hosted a television show, Legally Speaking.

For the past 11 years, he has served as Cantor for TOV Tours and Passover Cruises.

Dr. Abraham J. Gittelson
Dr. Abraham “Abe” Gittelson is a native of New York, and holds degrees from Yeshiva University, City College of New York, Hunter College and the University of Miami where he received his Doctorate in Education.

He is the former Executive Director of the Rose and Jack Orloff Central Agency for Jewish Educationof Broward County, where he now is Senior Consultant for the Agency.
  
During the past nine years, he has focused on teaching and lecturing for adults in such settings as the Life Long Learning programs of several universities as well as Elder Hostels throughout the country. 

Dr. Gittelson has served as ‘Scholar-in-Residence’ for 18 years with Tov Tours and Passover Cruises. He provides a fascinating description of the history and life of the Jewish communities in many of the islands and countries of the Carribean, Central and South America. In addition, he relates the development of these communities to the essential values and traditions of Jewish life.

A popular lecturer and teacher, Dr. Gittelson brings an added dimension to the Passover Caribbean experience, one that enriches the enjoyment and knowledge of the holiday and the cruise.

Karen Bushell
Karen Bushell a native New Yorker, graduated from Ohio University with a teaching degree in elementary education. 

Due to her love of travel, Karen started in the travel business in 1971.  Her entrepreneurial spirit warranted her own business and she purchased Trip Shop Ltd, a retail agency in 1974.  In 1984, she developed Caribbean Concepts, a wholesale company that sold travel packages to retail agencies nationwide to 19 Caribbean islands.

Karen served as Vice President of New York ASTA in the late 80’s and early 90’s. She later went on to serve on the National Board of ASTA.

In 2001, Karen “retired” to Florida.  She found herself with past clients calling on her expertise and knowledge and soon went back into the travel industry.  Today she continues to run a full service agency, along with a group division from her office in Boynton Beach, FL with a staff of 4. Her experience over 38 years offers exceptional expertise in individual, group and special interest travel.

Karen has coordinated the Passover Kosher Cruise with Tov Tours since 2007.