#kosher restaurant jerusalem

[planitisrael]

Kosher Hotels & Restaurants in Jerusalem

Jerusalem is filled with history, culture and amazing food. This guide highlights some of the best Kosher friendly hotels and restaurants in Jerusalem.

[mariacallous]

When you think of Eastern European Jewish cuisine, which words come to mind? Light? Healthy? Plant based? Probably not. Heavy, homey and meat-centric are more like it. 

Fania Lewando died during the Holocaust, but had she been given the full length of her years, Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine may have taken a turn to the vegetarian side and we might all be eating vegetarian kishke and spinach cutlets in place of brisket.

Lewando is not a household name. In fact, she would have been lost to history had it not been for an unlikely turn of events. Thanks to a serendipitous find, her 1937 work, “The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook” (“Vegetarish-Dietisher Kokhbukh”in Yiddish), was saved from oblivion and introduced to the 21st century.

Vilna in the 1930s, where Lewando and her husband Lazar made their home, was a cosmopolitan city with a large Jewish population. Today, it is the capital of Lithuania but it was then part of Poland. Lewando opened a vegetarian eatery called The Vegetarian Dietetic Restaurant on the edge of the city’s Jewish quarter. It was a popular spot among both Jews and non-Jews, as well as luminaries of the Yiddish-speaking world. (Even renowned artist Marc Chagall signed the restaurant’s guest book.)

Lewando was a staunch believer in the health benefits of vegetarianism and devoted her professional life to promoting these beliefs. She wrote: “It has long been established by the highest medical authorities that food made from fruit and vegetables is far healthier and more suitable for the human organism than food made from meat.” Plus, she wrote, vegetarianism satisfies the Jewish precept of not killing living creatures. 

We know little about her life other than she was born Fania Fiszlewicz in the late 1880s to a Jewish family in northern Poland. She married Lazar Lewando, an egg merchant from what is today Belarus and they eventually made their way to Vilna. They did not have children. 

Lewando, to quote Jeffrey Yoskowitz, author of “The Gefilte Manifesto” was “a woman who challenged convention;” a successful entrepreneur, which was a rarity among women of the time. She supervised a kosher vegetarian kitchen on an ocean liner that traveled between Poland and the United States, and gave classes on nutrition to Jewish women in her culinary school. 

“The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook” was sold in Europe and the U.S. in Lewando’s day, but most of the copies were lost or destroyed during the Second World War. In 1995, a couple found a copy of the cookbook at a second-hand book fair in England. They understood the importance of a pre-war, Yiddish-language, vegetarian cookbook written by a woman, so purchased it and sent it to the YIVO Institute’s offices in New York. There, it joined the millions of books, periodicals and photos in YIVO’s archives. 

It was discovered again by two women who visited YIVO and were captivated by the book’s contents and colorful artwork. They had it translated from Yiddish to English so it could be enjoyed by a wider audience.

Like many Ashkenazi cooks, salt was Lewando’s spice, butter her flavor and dill her herb. The book is filled with dishes you’d expect: kugels and blintzes and latkes; borscht and many ways to use cabbage. There’s imitation gefilte fish and kishke made from vegetables, breadcrumbs, eggs and butter. Her cholent (a slow-cooked Sabbath stew) recipes are meat-free, including one made with prune, apple, potatoes and butter that is a cross between a stew and a tzimmes.

There are also some surprises.

Did you know it was possible to access tomatoes, eggplants, asparagus, lemons, cranberries, olive oil, Jerusalem artichokes, blueberries and candied orange peel in pre-war Vilna? There’s a French influence, too, such as recipes for mayonnaise Provencal and iles flottante, a meringue-based dessert, and a salad of marinated cornichons with marinated mushrooms. 

“It’s hard to know who the target audience was for this cookbook,” said Eve Jochnowitz, its English-language translator. “We know from contemporary memoirs that people in Vilna did not have access to these amazing amounts of butter, cream and eggs,” she said. “Lewando was writing from a somewhat privileged and bourgeois position.” While many of these recipes may have been aspirational given the poverty of the Jews at the time, the cookbook demonstrates that it was possible to obtain these ingredients in Vilna, should one have the resources to do so. 

While the cookbook is filled with expensive ingredients, there is also, said Jochnowitz, “a great attention to husbanding one’s resources. She was ahead of her time in the zero-waste movement.” Lewando admonishes her readers to waste nothing. Use the cooking water in which you cooked your vegetables for soup stock. Use the vegetables from the soup stock in other dishes. “Throw nothing out,” she writes in the cookbook’s opening essay. “Everything can be made into food.” Including the liquid from fresh vegetables; Lewando instructed her readers on the art of vitamin drinks and juices, with recipes for Vitamin-Rich Beet Juice and Vitamin-Rich Carrot Juice. “This was very heroic of her,” said Jochnowitz. “There were no juice machines! You make the juice by grating the vegetables and then squeezing the juice out by hand.”

Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, a Jewish scholar and Jewish cookbook collector, describes Lewando as “witty.” “She is showing us,” she said, “that once you eliminate meat and fish, you still have an enormous range of foods you can prepare.” Lewando is about “being creative, imaginative and innovative both with traditional dishes and with what she is introducing that is remote from the traditional repertoire.” She does that in unexpected ways. Her milchig (dairy) matzah balls, for example, have an elegance and lightness to them. She instructs the reader to make a meringue with egg whites, fold in the yolks, then combine with matzah meal, melted butter and hot water. Her sauerkraut salad includes porcini mushrooms. One of her kugels combines cauliflower, apples, sliced almonds and candied orange peel.

There is much that, through contemporary eyes, is missing in “The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook.” The recipes do not give step-by-step instructions; rather you will find general directions. Heating instructions are vague, ranging from a “not-too-hot-oven” to a “warm oven” to a “hot oven.” Lewando assumes the reader’s familiarity with the kitchen that today’s cookbook writer would not. 

Lewando and her husband were listed in the 1941 census of the Vilna Ghetto but not in the census of 1942. It is believed that they both died or were killed while attempting to escape. “She really was a visionary,” said Jochnowitz. “It is an unbearable tragedy that she did not live to see the future that she predicted and helped to bring about.”But in cooking her recipes, said Yoskowitz, as dated and incomplete as some of them may be, the conversation between then and now continues.

[bllsbailey]

Pro-Hamas Agitators Whine Like Babies When Jews They Attacked Turn the Table on Them

As our RedState editor Bob Hoge reported, Palestinian Youth Movement L.A. and Code Pink L.A. organized a Pro-Hamas/"Free Palestine" protest outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles, just because. The Jewish synagogue members and participants fought back, and the protest escalated into violence, with eggs, pepper spray, and fists being thrown. Some people and journalists were thrown to the ground and kicked, while others were bludgeoned. 

Chaotic Scene Outside L.A. Synagogue As Pro-Hamas Assailants Attack Jews, Clash With LAPD

— Kosher🎗🧡 (@KosherCockney) June 24, 2024

The first headline that KTLA chose to publish about the protests was absolutely gobsmacking. "Protestors allegedly block synagogue's entrance in L.A." Seriously? The legacy media outlets barely gave this pogrom the time of day or the outrage that was given to the campus protests. 

It's Time for the DOJ to Prosecute Pro-Hamas Agitators as Domestic Violent Extremists

Social media accounts by journalists who were on the ground, like Cam Higby and Daniel Greenfield, represent the necessary documentation of this atrocity, as well as the determination of the Jewish neighborhood to rightly fight back. Everyone else in the media is now just catching up. Because these Pro-Hamas cretins were clearly the aggressors and the Jewish synagogue members defended themselves, the legacy press has no narrative to milk that advantages their pro-Palestine allegiance. Jewish volunteer security Magen Am was there in force and helped to allay some of the violence.

And the LAPD? According to Journalist Greenfield, after lingering for an hour (like they did at UCLA) and then blocking access so that the synagogue members could not safely get into the building, the LAPD finally pushed back on the pro-Hamas protestors, using pepper spray to subdue some.

Their line was broken, and the pro-Hamas thugs dispersed into the neighborhood, and some fled in their cars. Those who were left behind by their comrades got the beat down they deserved and then suddenly decided that the police were necessary after receiving a taste of what they were trying to dish out.

WATCH:

A demonstration organised against an Israeli real estate fair held at the Adas Torah shul devolved into chaos on Sunday with dozens of individuals punching each other in the street. Footage of the incident shows keffiyeh-clad demonstrators shoving men wearing yarmulkes and one man with blood streaming down his face.  Flags of the messianic wing of Chabad can be seen flying in the background.

Then there was this charming pair who travel with their toddler to protest for Palestine. It's sick. 

In another clip, a woman can be seen leaning out of the sunroof of a car and making making gun hand gestures and lifting her middle fingers at pro-Israel demonstrators. A group of police officers then approach her SUV with their guns raised, before she and a masked man exit the vehicle and surrender. After taking them away, officers then remove a child from the car.

WATCH:

Next to those journalists on the ground, the fullest coverage of what happened on Sunday has come from publications outside of the U.S., like The Jerusalem Post.

Activist and politician Sam Yerbi said that violent anti-Israel activists dispersed into Jewish neighborhoods "hunting Jews and causing more destruction and vandalism."  [Daniel] Greenfield had also said that anti-Israel activists had been roaming Pico-Robertson threatening people. Yerbi published a video on Instagram of a man in a Keffiyeh threatening residents with two bludgeons he retrieved from his car.  In another video he shared, community members intervened in anti-Israel vandalism of a kosher restaurant. Greenfield, Yerbi, and political consultant Noah Pollak, who had also been present, harshly criticized  the LAPD and Bass for their failure to prepare for and address the riot.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass did exactly what cowardly former Mayor Eric Garcetti did in 2020 with the BLM riots. Buckled and asked the LAPD to stand down in the face of clearly provoked violence.

It took Bass many hours after the violence to even bother to issue a statement, in the wee small hours of the morning...  on X.

Today’s violence in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood today was abhorrent, and blocking access to a place of worship is unacceptable. I’ve called on LAPD to provide additional patrols in the Pico-Robertson community as well as outside of houses of worship throughout the city. I’ll be meeting with Chief Choi tomorrow to further discuss the safety of Angelenos. I want to be clear that Los Angeles will not be a harbor for antisemitism and violence. Those responsible for either will be found and held accountable. I will be joining Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles Rabbi Noah Farkas and other law enforcement and faith leaders in a community meeting this week as we talk about steps forward, together. 

Journalist Cam Higby, who was attacked while covering the protests, blasted Governor Gavin Newsom for his faux outrage. Higby pointed out that these same people spearheading this violence had been arrested at the UCLA Pro-Hamas protests weeks back.

— Cam Higby 🇺🇸 (@camhigby) June 24, 2024

Political consultant Noah Pollak called the lack of action on the part of Bass and the LAPD an "absolute disgrace." 

I was there today for an event at the shul. @LAPDHQ let the Hamas supporters take over the sidewalk in front of the shul and block its entrance. In fact, LAPD had formed a cordon around the front of the shul to keep Jews out and Hamas supporters in. I tried to enter with my kids through the front door and was turned away not by Hamas supporters but by the LAPD. Anyone who wanted to attend had to use a secret back entrance. @KarenBassLA and @LAPDHQ are an absolute disgrace -- it's clear the police have been instructed to help the Democratic Party street animals do their thuggery. They were definitely not there to protect the right of Jews to enter their shul.

Bass is reportedly meeting on Monday with Jewish and other faith leaders, as well as city officials, concerning Sunday's events. This post-crisis social is akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. With the heightened awareness that no one is coming to save them, the Jewish people of Los Angeles and elsewhere will increasingly take action into their own hands to protect their lives and their synagogues. If one thinks Sunday's violence was disturbing, you have not seen the half of it.

[southjerseyweb]

A kosher 'kind of Chinese' restaurant in New Jersey lands in NYT - The Jerusalem Post

Fat Choy has reopened in suburban New Jersey, with a Jewish partner and kosher certification.

[laura-apexart]

DAY 26th 8.2.23

It’s been a process to get to see a synagogue 

Unlike the other religious institutions, where I could just walk in, I have to coordinate and send my passport for security reasons and then I am given Vivianna’s number to contact and she gives me a time and the address. I notice the building appears to have the same marble stone on the outside as fragmentos —yellow, cream, not recognizable as a Synagogue until you look up and see a kind of Star of David latticework on the windows of the building inset behind the wall.

We meet at 1:45 and she welcomed me warmly and takes me first inside a smaller temple that’s mostly gray with a skylight of stained glass. We sit down in the wooden chairs to chat-she asks if I’m Jewish and I tell her a bit about myself.

She explains the layout of the space. We are currently sitting in the chairs directly around the Bemah which is in the center of the temple because it is an orthodox Sephardic

Synagogue, and because no one is currently praying we can sit in the center.  Everything is always built, directed eastward toward Jerusalem (where the Torah scripture and scrolls are stored). She points out that since men pray three times a day they get to sit around the Bemah whereas women are not required to pray three times a day so they do not have as much seating and they sit at the back in two rows close to the door which are separated by a low wooden fence. 

There are only around 3,500 practicing jews in Bogota and 4 synagogues (with a few smaller ones in schools). The Jews that do practice and observe are largely orthodox. I ask about anti-semitism. She points out that the Star of David is on the inside of the door -it’s not advertised but people are generally accepting and respectful. Later I will go home and notice that the tiles of the floor at my Airbnb have a pattern with a striking resemblance to the swastika –was this intentional?---which is very upsetting and hard to believe, and makes me feel very naive, and I try to focus on the shapes that the negative space makes. 

She gives me a tour of the rest of the complex-a big interior courtyard with the bones of a Sukkah, the bigger synagogue that is having some work done, in this one the chairs are folding like in a movie theater and there are big crystal chandeliers which prompts me to notice the balcony where the women are separated from the men to sit and look down, participate from a far.  There is a small kosher grocery store with essential provisions, a playground, community center, it is a whole world unto itself. Then she takes me to see the mikvah —where women go before their wedding —it’s a whole process, you have to remove all nail polish and jewelry and clean dirt from fingernails etc. and then each month after their period, some women also go. I ask about menopause.  I ask why it must be fresh, running water, bc scripture says so. 

There is a smaller mitzvah for cleaning dish wear too.  

In the evening I walk to Dame Tu Lengua where I am supposed to go to Kitchen Club and learn about cooking Cuban food/ The cooking class is canceled because the teacher has Covid so I walk up the mountain to go to Diosa bakery where I had incredible cookies at the liberate the coca festival. The neighborhood seems fancier and full of good looking restaurants. I get an assortment of baked goods to share and bring on the hike tomorrow.

[jautolocksmith]

A Food Lover's Paradise: Delighting Your Palate in Monsey and Kaser, NY

Welcome to Monsey, New York, a hidden gem for food enthusiasts seeking a diverse and vibrant culinary scene. Nestled in Rockland County, Monsey offers an array of dining options that cater to every taste and preference. In this blog post, we will explore the culinary delights of Monsey, with a special focus on the neighborhood of Kaser. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey and discover why Monsey is truly a food lover's paradise.

Kaser: A Culinary Haven

Cultural Melting Pot: Kaser is a neighborhood in Monsey known for its cultural diversity, and this diversity is reflected in its culinary offerings. The neighborhood is home to a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and eateries, each offering a unique gastronomic experience. From traditional Jewish cuisine to international flavors, Kaser has something for every palate.

Kosher Delights: Kaser is renowned for its kosher dining options, making it a perfect destination for those seeking kosher cuisine. The neighborhood boasts a variety of kosher restaurants, where you can savor delectable dishes prepared in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. Indulge in mouthwatering kosher delicacies that are sure to delight your taste buds.

International Flavors: Beyond kosher cuisine, Kaser also offers a diverse selection of international flavors. Explore the vibrant world of Mediterranean cuisine with dishes like falafel, hummus, and shawarma. Or, tantalize your taste buds with Asian delicacies, such as sushi, noodles, and stir-fries. The culinary scene in Kaser is a melting pot of flavors from around the world.

Must-Try Restaurants in Kaser

Kaser Fish Market: If you're a seafood lover, Kaser Fish Market is a must-visit. This seafood market and restaurant offers an impressive selection of fresh fish and seafood. From succulent lobster and shrimp to a variety of fish fillets, you can indulge in the finest seafood prepared to perfection.

Café Muscat: For a cozy and inviting atmosphere, Café Muscat is the place to be. This charming café offers a delightful menu with a fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors. Enjoy their signature dishes like shakshuka, grilled kebabs, and a wide selection of mezze platters.

Pita Land: Craving delicious falafel or a mouthwatering shawarma wrap? Look no further than Pita Land. This popular eatery in Kaser specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, serving up flavorful and satisfying dishes that will transport you to the streets of Jerusalem.

Exploring Beyond Kaser

Monsey's Culinary Tapestry: While Kaser is a culinary haven, don't limit yourself to just one neighborhood. Monsey as a whole offers a plethora of dining options to explore. From upscale restaurants to cozy cafes, you'll find an abundance of choices. Don't miss the opportunity to try the delectable kosher bakeries, where you can indulge in freshly baked bread, pastries, and cakes.

Farm-to-Table Delights: Monsey is also home to several farm-to-table establishments, where you can savor the flavors of locally sourced ingredients. These restaurants emphasize fresh, seasonal produce and sustainable dining practices, offering a unique dining experience that connects you with the local food scene.

Conclusion

Monsey, New York, is a culinary paradise waiting to be explored. With its diverse culinary scene, Kaser stands out as a neighborhood that offers a tantalizing array of flavors and culinary experiences. From kosher delights to international cuisines, Kaser has something to satisfy every food lover's palate. So, if you're a culinary enthusiast looking for a food adventure, make your way to Monsey, and let your taste buds rejoice in the delightful flavors that await you in this food lover's paradise.

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Choosing Jerusalem Auto Locksmith means choosing a locksmith service that values your time and convenience. They prioritize timely responses and aim to provide efficient solutions to minimize any disruption to your daily routine. Their friendly and knowledgeable locksmiths are dedicated to ensuring your satisfaction and peace of mind.

If you are in need of a reliable locksmith Rockland County, Jerusalem Auto Locksmith in Monsey, NY is the trusted choice. Contact them today for all your locksmith needs and experience their professional and prompt service firsthand. Rest assured, with Jerusalem Auto Locksmith, your security is in capable hands.

Jerusalem Auto Locksmith 104 Saddle River Rd Monsey, NY 10952 845-413-6123 https://www.Jautolocksmith.com

[chrlsr911]

“Candies and nuts” When we happened to be in Jerusalem, not just the Old City offers these, try to check out the ones there at Machane Yehuda Market. However, I didn’t but either of those in the pic, but Baklavas and Halvas, which are worth trying and as a souvenir for sharing. In that market, not only fresh produce, desserts, and other foods they’re offering, but there are restaurants, some gift shops, Judaica items stores, and many more. Don’t forget to bring your grocery bags, and watch the street performers in front and everywhere in Jerusalem. 😉 @machaneye @visit.jerusalem @visit_israel @touristisrael @stateofisrael Date taken: August 21, 2022 Machane Yehuda Market Jerusalem, Israel #machaneyehuda #machneyuda #shukmachaneyehuda #jaffastreet #jerusalem #jlm #jerusalemisrael #israel #israelfood #il #visitisrael #visitjerusalem #candy #nuts #food #evening #street #explore #market #sweets #kosher #foodporn #foodphotography #photography #instagram #ig #igisrael #מחנהיהודה #ירושלים #ישראל (at Jerusalem, Capital of Israel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVYC6YOoyF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[kevinspaceyarchives]

@anthonyepstein

My son with Kevin Spacey, kosher restaurant in Jerusalem today | October 6, 2019

[laineystein]

40 little things I love about Israel (AKA the Israel the media won’t show you):

1. Beach libraries! Bus stop libraries! Colorful, well stocked, pop up libraries everywhere!

2. In Israel, the swings at a playground are spaced in a circle (instead of a line) so children can look at one another. It encourages interaction and community - very Jewish!

3. There were mice/bird issues in Israeli neighborhoods so the government released cats to combat the issue. When they realized it had gotten out of hand, vets started spay/neutering and vaccinating all of the stray cats so they’re all well taken care of.

4. There are flowers everywhere!

5. Beautiful graffiti! A lot of it uses the natural texture/shapes of structures to make art. So colorful!

6. A lot of neighborhood streets are themed. There’s a neighborhood in Ashdod that is named after strong Israeli women - my favorite!

7. The respect for the military. We give to those currently serving, we have holidays for those who have fallen in service, and our rehabilitation centers for those injured in service are top notch.

8. There is art - sculptures, mosaics, paintings - everywhere! We even turn useful things (benches, trash cans) into art. Or exercise equipment…like outside…at the beach. All art.

9. Makhtesh! (Mountains that were washed over with water causing them to collapse into themselves, causing massive crater-like valleys)

10. Trees! Someone is born? Plant a tree. Someone passes? Plant a tree. Just want to plant a tree? Plant a tree.

11. Promenades! Also referred to as “teyelet” in Hebrew. Pedestrians, bikes, flowers, cafes. Not sure where to go? Find the promenade and start walking. You’ll figure it out.

12. Jews are from all over the world - and they bring their food with them to Israel. Moroccan? Italian? Yemeni? Russian? Syrian? Slavic? Polish? German? French? Brazilian? Spanish? We have it ALL.

13. Similarly - Kosher? Pareve? Vegetarian? Vegan? Gluten-free? Israel’s restaurants typically have options for each and/or are very amenable to making changes when they can.

14. Super diverse geography! Mountains? Deserts? Beaches? Forests? Cold weather? Warm weather? YUP.

15. Public transportation is very efficient. You really don’t need a car. It’s also extremely affordable so there’s really no reason *not* to use it.

16. This one will blow your mind: religious tolerance! Does Israel have a lot of Jews? Sure! It also has Muslims, Christians, Atheists, etc. Israel prides itself on being very knowledgeable/aware/respectful of different religions and beliefs and caters toward each in the government, education, military, etc.

17. Museums! So. Many. Museums. Indoor, outdoor, UNDERWATER. All the museums!

18. Free in vitro-fertilization programs! (Healthcare in general is amazing)

19. There will be rosemary and sage that just grow wildly near the road? And you can pick it and cook with it? And we do? Often.

20. Such varied communities of Orthodox Jews. Hasidic Jews are such a small subset in the Orthodox community. They all have different traditions and appearances. It’s really wonderful.

21. Simchat Torah is a party in the streets. Honestly, all Jewish holidays just hit differently in Israel.

22. Salads. Colorful salads! Savory salads! Sweet salads! For those of you who are weary of Salad culture, Israel will change your mind. We eat salads at nearly every meal.

23. We have the best coffee. That’s it. We just do. (Our coffee and cafes are so good that Starbucks doesn’t survive in Israel. Who needs it?)

24. Lemonana. Or lemonade with mint. Just trust me.

25. The Dead Sea. Come see it/experience it before global warming makes it disappear!

26. Prisoners can vote in elections! We even have polling places in prisons to facilitate this. We actually put polling places in many places to ENCOURAGE voting by all Israelis.

27. The siren on Yom HaShoah. How the entire country of Israel comes to a stop no matter what they’re doing.

28. The views. There’s always a mountain you can stand on to see the ocean, the skyline, the desert.

29. There’s always new and old parts to cities and they somehow blend together really well. Israel is full of so much history and the Israeli people continue to build on that without disrespecting the past.

30. Sheirut Leumi AKA an alternative to compulsory military service that allows young Israelis to serve Israel in different ways ie. working at Independence Hall, explaining Israel’s history to tour groups, and any other visitors.

31. So many options to volunteer! Food pantries, hospitals, nursing homes - giving back to the community is a key tenet in Judaism and is common in Israel. (Our bus stops have monetary donation boxes!!)

32. The shuk aka the massive open-air market in Jerusalem. Google it. It’s magical. (There are a lot of shuks throughout Israel but the most well known and largest is in Jerusalem.)

33. Banks are like works of art? They’re architecturally stunning? It’s like being transported back in time. Even newer banks are built in older styles.

34. So many parks and botanical gardens. And they’re all FREE!!!

35. Halva. I could eat pounds of it.

36. The sunsets. Nothing compares.

37. Universities are fun to visit? All are welcome. They often have tours open to the public and they’re designed with that in mind.

38. Our money has braille on it! And we have a theatre that is dedicated entirely to the deaf and blind communities. How cool is that?

39. Light shows. We like to light up buildings and we hold events showcasing lit fountains and other light adorned structures. I don’t know but it’s a big thing.

40. Kosher everything! Kosher glue on stamps! Kosher food fed to animals at the zoo! Kosher McDonalds!

[eopederson]

La Taverna del Ghetto, ristorante, Roma, 2009.
.

The promotion in front of the restaurant includes artichokes, the base for perhaps the most famous Roman Jewish delicacy Carciofi alla Giudia. Recently the dish was declared non-kosher by a rabbinical board in Jerusalem. A traditional dish, and a delicious one, in the kosher restaurants of Rome, that decision was treated with umbrage by Rome’s Jewish population and with dismay by many other Romans who consider Carciofi alla Giudia a major winter delicacy and a star in the culinary firmament of a city known for its fine cuisine.

[fooddiner]

Rosh HaShana recipes for September 24, 2022

The Rosh HaShana holiday is coming this week, and here's a few articles for the occasion. For example, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has 7 recipes for the holiday, including carrot soup, and challah with olives.

USA Today/Asbury Park Press lists some fruits often eaten during the holiday, including carambola.

The Orlando Sentinel has an article about kugel (which may require payment to view).

Here's also an extra article from the Jerusalem Post reviewing a kosher Vietnamese restaurant in Netanya.

And with that, let me wish everyone a happy Rosh HaShana, and enjoy some good dining this week.

[ameliathefatcat]

Some Galonia Headcanons

This my culture (Judaism) so here I go with some Headcanons and trying not to sound like a Rabbi

1. Galonia is heavily based off of Israel

2. The national flag of Galonia has the Star of David on it

3. Judaism is the main Religion but there is still other religions

4. The ancient people of Galonia were called the Galonialite and existed around the same time as the Maruvians

5. There were twelve Galonialite tribes that later became Galonia

6. The tribes became different regions and each region has It’s own culture that blend together to make the culture of Galonia

7. There is still Galonialite magic in Galonia

8. Students in Galonia learn Krav Maga in school

9. Joining the army is not mandatory but is highly encouraged

10. Galonia has one of the biggest armed forces in the EverRealm but is still a very peaceful kingdom

11. A good amount of the Jewish population keeps kosher

12. Many of the restaurants are kosher, but not all

13. Hebrew is spoken quite often (like how Spanish is spoken in Avalor)

14. Everything in Galonia stops except bare minimum to keep it running during the High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (that is what happens in Israel)

15. Many of the kings and the queens of Galonia were also Rabbis

16. Traditions are very important and vary from region to region.

17. In Galonia’s oldest city is holiest and has many historic places (it is basically Jerusalem)

18. Art and Music is extremely important and is home to the Art Academy

19. Galonia is one of the most educated and accepting kingdoms in the EverRealm

20. Galonia was the first kingdom to have a queen to rule with out a king, Queen Golda

[frenchjewess]

What it’s like being a Jew in France

I’m sure you’ve heard that France (and Europe in general) is becoming more and more anti Semitic.

Yes, that is indeed true.

For starters, there are a set of unspoken rules that Jews tend to follow.

1. Don’t speak Hebrew in public places.

2. Don’t even say the word “Israel” in public places (my family substitutes Israel for Italy)

3. Don’t wear any religious symbols. Men, don’t wear your kippah, just wear a hat. Don’t wear a necklace with a Magen David, even if you hide it, don’t risk it.

4. When entering or exiting a Jewish school, if someone asks what that building is, you say “I’m not sure it’s just a meeting place.”

5. Do not tell anyone you don’t know that you’re Jewish, you never know who could be listening.

Yeah, it broke my heart to write this... because when you live it, it actually doesn’t feel as bad. You get used to this stuff very quickly.

Hi, I am a 17 year old Jewish girl. I’ve lived in France, Switzerland, Israel, and various states across the U.S.

Would you believe me though when I told you that being Jewish in France is much better than being Jewish in the U.S.?

I know, that seems crazy of me to say... after all those rules and the way I have to hide my identity?

Here’s the thing, all this hate towards Jews in France has had a huge positive side effect. The Jews in France are like a tribe.

You’re not religious? You’ll still go to synagogue or Jewish schools if you can afford it.

You don’t eat kosher? You’ll go to the kosher restaurants anyways (Paris has more kosher restaurants then any other city except Jerusalem, over 200) because you know someone who works there or you just would rather dine there.

When it comes to vacation? Well there’s only on destination you really want to go to, and that’s Israel (hence all the French people you see when you go there).

The Jews in France have united under the pressure. We are thriving with hundreds of synagogues and kosher restaurants in Paris.

I’m going to be honest, and not very politically correct.

It’s also about where you hang out.

The rich neighborhoods (which Jews tend to gravitate towards, because even if it’s expensive, at least they know it’s safe) with a lot of tourists are fine.

If you go into the poor suburbs of Paris, you will find a large majority of Arab immigrants who, quite honestly, hate Jews. Who will jump you if they suspect that you’re Jewish.

There’s a story of a man in Paris who took a taxi. He started speaking in Hebrew on the phone to his family. Twenty minutes later, he realizes the driver is not taking him anywhere NEAR where he needs to go, and jumps out of the car.

The driver was planning to go somewhere abandoned and beat him up.

The suburbs surrounding Paris that have an Arab majority aren’t safe. That’s a fact and you need to know that if you want to be safe in Paris.

There is no “peace between two cultures” there, it’s more of a “step into our territory and you won’t leave with your life”.

Every Jew in France knows this to be true and avoids these neighborhoods at all costs.

I lived in a nice neighborhood, I went to a Jewish school. I often ate out at kosher restaurants. I went to Jewish events when I could.

I followed some simple rules. Did not talk about Israel in the metro, didn’t talk in Hebrew either.

About a month ago, i moved back to the states.

It’s weird talking about Israel when I want and wearing my shirts with words in Hebrew on them.

But I miss the sense of belonging to a tribe that you will find with European Jews.

I hope this gives you a better idea of what it is like to be a Jew living in France.

There are dangers, yes.

You have to follow some rules in order to guarante your safety.

But you will also feel a sense of community that surpasses any other country besides Israel.

You will see that every Jew loves Israel with a passion and all believe their future is there.

Jews throughout history have only strengthened when threatened.

To those who try to hurt us, you’re just making us stronger.

[drtanstravels]

We recently stayed in Tel Aviv, Israel for four days so Anna could attend a teaching seminar for the International Retinal Panel. During our stay we would take a tour of Jerusalem, travel along the West Bank while venturing into Palestine, visit the ancient village of Masada, and then float and get all muddy in the Dead Sea. All of the main events happened in the final two days of the trip so this will just be a relatively short post in comparison, covering the initial two days of our journey, both spent in Tel Aviv.

Friday, November 1, 2019 We had left Singapore at 11:30pm the previous night, took an 11.5-hour flight to Turkey, had a 90-minute layover in Istanbul Airport, and then took another two-hour flight to Tel Aviv. When we were in Seoul, South Korea recently we got chatting to some friends of mine who had traveled to Israel in the past and the nightmares they had faced going through immigration once they had reached Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. One of them even told us about how he got cavity-searched, so we were both prepared for the worst. Once we were off the plane and inside the airport I cringed a bit when the first security guard snapped on a pair of disposable gloves, but it turned out to be just for him to search through our hand luggage. After that the line at the passport counter was taking forever, but it turned out that the reason the queue was taking so long to move was because we just had a really talkative guy checking our passports and when he first saw my Australian document, he looked up, gave me a curious look, and asked, “Do you watch Home and Away?” I smiled and mentioned that my sister used to have it on every night back in the day and that was it. We had to ask for entry border crossing cards, a separate slip of paper to be put into our passports instead of a stamp, because having an Israeli passport stamp can cause quite a bit of trouble when traveling overseas. There are currently eight countries that won’t accept passports containing Israeli visas, the most notable one being Saudi Arabia, a country to which we may need to travel one day. There are also quite a few countries whose passport holders are forbidden entrance to Israel without official confirmation from the Israeli government, Malaysia being on that list, so one of Anna’s colleagues was unable to attend. In fact, if Anna hadn’t taken Singaporean citizenship after we got married, this journey would never have happened.

As has been a pattern over recent trips, we arrived in Tel Aviv early in the morning, well before our hotel room was available so we dumped our bags with the concierge and decided to have a look around town. We were staying at the Crowne Plaza, which had an attached shopping mall so that was our first stop, mainly for a much-needed coffee and a couple of pastries, and then we discovered that there was a park and shopping district nearby called Sarona, a place with an interesting history:

Sarona was a German Templer colony established in Ottoman Palestine in 1871. Sarona is now a neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, Israel. It was one of the earliest modern villages established by Europeans in Ottoman Palestine. In July 1941, the British Mandate authorities deported 188 residents of Sarona, who were considered hard-core Nazi sympathisers. By the 2000s, the area had fallen into disrepair and was a haven for drug addicts. However, since 2003, the area has undergone massive renovation, which involved moving and relocating historical buildings before their restoration. The area is now a popular shopping district, as well as housing museums, cultural artefacts centring on its history, and IDF complexes.

Walking around Sarona was really cool with its mix of shops, bars, and cafes, as well as the Sarona Market. When Anna was purchasing a ring in one of the stores she asked for some recommendations in the area and the first one immediately given was Anita, a boutique ice-cream store. We initially thought this was a one-off, but we ended up finding incredible ice-cream shops all over the city. Anyway, we ordered a cup with two flavours, Pavlova & Mix Berries and Salted Pretzel, before we continued walking around, visiting among other shops a handmade dreidel store called Draydel House, a place with some unique takes on the spinning tops, and then it was on to Sarona Market. The market had some great looking food and there were plenty of free samples, but as you will find out over the course of this post and the next, it wasn’t an accurate representation of kosher food. We walked around sampling different cheeses, pickles, and halva, possibly the driest substance on earth. Seriously, dust is more mouth-watering than halva. Another thing that Israel is known for is pomegranate juice, generally used for detoxing, so we ordered a large one each, a decision we would later deeply regret and one that would also put the pair of us off pomegranates for the foreseeable future, despite how nice it tasted. Once we were done with the market and walking around the gardens in Sarona, we were able to check into our room at the Crowne Plaza at around 2:00pm and take a nap for a bit. Our day up until that point (besides the awesome pickle store in the market that wouldn’t let me take photos):

Anna near the entrance of Sarona

The way Sarona is set up is really cool

Looking down a row of stores

A map of Sarona in Hebrew

Anna’s dreidel

The dreidel Anna would probably get for me

Some of the ice-cream flavours available at Anita

A few more

They also had a custom soft-serve yoghurt bar

Anna about to buy ours

Our sweet and salty combination was definitely a good mix

Halva inside the market

One of the food stall rows

There is a huge variety available in this market

Unfortunately, not all Israeli food is as good as this looks

Anna in the garden

Now in our room

After sleeping for a bit we caught a cab to the waterfront, which is split into two parts; Alma Beach, a modern seaside area, and the Old City area of Jaffa. Most modern beach areas are similar, whereas ancient cities are always fascinating so Jaffa was the obvious choice to spend some time exploring first. It would be nigh on impossible to summarise the history of a 3,800-year-old port city in the Middle East, but here’s the general background:

Jaffa, in Hebrew Yafo and also called Japho or Joppa, the southern and oldest part of Tel Aviv–Yafo, is an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon and Saint Peter as well as the mythological story of Andromeda and Perseus, and later for its oranges. The city as such was established at the latest around 1800 BCE.

Modern Jaffa has a heterogeneous population of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Jaffa currently has 46,000 residents, of whom 30,000 are Jews and 16,000 are Arabs. The 2010 film Port of Memory explores these themes. Tabeetha School in Jaffa was founded in 1863. It is owned by the Church of Scotland. The school provides education in English to children from Christian, Jewish and Muslim backgrounds.

Our taxi driver was an elderly man who kept explaining to us along the way that Tel Aviv was a party city, that around 69% of people there were aged between 30-40, and that we’d be among the older people out that night. I wasn’t expecting that, but another thing we weren’t expecting was the fact that the sun sets in Tel Aviv before 5:00pm, it’s almost as if the city is in the entirely wrong timezone and is something that would throw our body clocks off for the duration of this trip. When it had been dark there for a few hours, you’d be led to think it was getting kind of late when in reality it was only about eight o’clock in the evening. So, despite the fact that we arrived at Jaffa at 4:30pm, the sun was already setting, but this just made the place that much more beautiful. We spent the evening wandering through the narrow streets and laneways of Jaffa, taking in all of the ancient buildings, towers, and structures, plus the major landmarks in the area such as Jaffa Lighthouse, Clock Square, and the coastal canons, all while the sun set over the ocean.

After all of that walking we were beginning to get hungry and the waterside restaurants at Alma Beach were supposed to be pretty decent so we chose one called Manta Ray for dinner where we sat outdoors with some drinks and feasted on some selections from their great meze platter, as well as a grilled fish. We were to meet the organisers and other attendees of Anna’s course at 9:30pm after everyone had arrived in town, but it was barely 7:30pm by the time we finished dinner so we found a nearby shisha bar for a few more drinks and a pipe. After a while we both began to bloat up, neither of us could stop farting, and I was burping constantly, feeling the need to vomit. It was too soon after dinner to be from the fish or the meze dishes we chose, I had already checked that the water was safe to drink so that wasn’t it, coffee, pastries, and ice-cream don’t have this effect on me, and nothing else we had tried had been a large enough sample to make us sick. Except for the pomegranate juice, that is. We had drunk about a litre (33.8 fl. oz.) each several hours ago and it now seemed like we were paying for it, however, we couldn’t be 100% certain. Whatever it was, we both wanted to go back to the hotel and let it all out, resulting in me violently throwing up for a few minutes once inside, but then we felt reasonably fine as soon as we were both empty.

We met up with Anna’s course-mates in the lobby of our hotel and we walked down to a pub in another nearby part of town where everyone chatted over some beers, while those who hadn’t eaten had dinner. It was a really fun night and Anna decided to ask one of the local organisers, Tamir, if it could’ve been the pomegranate juice that bloated us. He said it’s good for you, most people just take a small glass and share it. When she told him that we’d had a litre each he was gobsmacked. “That’s not detox, that’s just tox!” was the response. Here are a whole bunch of photos from around Jaffa that evening, plus a couple of our dinner and the shisha bar before we bloated up like a couple of non-embalmed corpses:

Hashan Square

Anna and and I on the peninsula

Part of Jaffa from a distance

Looking over the ocean

People washing their hands

One of the coastal canons, imported by the Ottoman government in the 18th century to protect Jaffa from Bedouin raids

Overlooking a mosque

You can even find cool bars in towns dating back to the bronze age

Walking down a wide thoroughfare

The sun setting over the ocean

A museum surrounded by shops

Walking down an avenue

Anna posing in an alley

One of many interesting sculptures in Jaffa

The view of Clock Square from a very narrow stairway

We were both wondering if this was the Jewish equivalent of leaving your tie on the door handle so your roommate knows you have a girl inside

Etzel House

Dinner is served

We chose a few dishes from this platter

Baked blue bream with Jerusalem artichokes

Smoking a shisha while we both rapidly expand

Saturday, November 2, 2019 Anna was going to her course so I was free to do my own thing for the bulk of the day, but there was one small problem — Saturday is the sabbath, also known as Shabbat in Judaism, and this would severely limit what I was able to do due to many actions being classed as melakhah and thus being prohibited on this day of rest or historically punishable by death! Here’s a better description of melakhah:

Jewish law (halakha) prohibits doing any form of melakhah (מְלָאכָה, plural melakhoth) on Shabbat, unless an urgent human or medical need is life-threatening. Though melakhah is commonly translated as “work” in English, a better definition is “deliberate activity” or “skill and craftmanship”. There are 39 categories of prohibited activities (melakhoth) listed in Mishnah Tractate Shabbat 7:2.

Some acts forbidden on Shabbat include:

Threshing/Extraction Definition: Removal of an undesirable outer from a desirable inner.

Dissection Definition: Reducing an earth-borne thing’s size for a productive purpose.

Kneading/Amalgamation Definition: Combining particles into a semi-solid or solid mass via liquid.

Cooking/Baking Definition for solids: Changing the properties of something via heat. Definition for liquids: Bringing a liquid’s temperature to the heat threshold. This threshold is known as yad soledet (lit. “A hand reflexively recoils [due to such heat]”). According to Igrot Moshe this temperature is 43 °C (110 °F).

Extinguishing a Fire Definition: Extinguishing a fire/flame, or diminishing its intensity.

Ignition: Definition: Igniting, fuelling or spreading a fire/flame.

Transferring Between Domains Definition: Transferring something from one domain type to another domain type, or transferring within a public thoroughfare.

Now, some of you reading this are probably thinking, “Why would you care, you’re not Jewish.” This is true, however, despite me seeing fewer Orthodox Jews in Israel than I did on any given day in New York City, prohibition of melakhah on Shabbat is enforced by law, although not to an extreme. Although no shops would be open, these restrictions would severely limit my food purchasing options. Because it had been powered down for Shabbat, I pushed my way through the revolving door to exit the hotel and hit the street. I was quite hungry due to the fact that I had vomited everything I had eaten the previous evening so I figured I might get lucky finding somewhere open to eat at Sarona. I saw a cafe with people all around it so that’s where I went and I ordered the egg white omelette on the menu, which came with some bread and a side salad. I guess the hotplate must’ve been kept burning from the previous day and eggs aren’t really a solid or liquid so changing their properties via heat would be fine. Salad was also okay because the form of the lettuce doesn’t change, only the size, and it was cut quite large so it wasn’t done to make it into a more usable, productive state. The bread had obviously been made the previous day and when it came to dissection of the food in order to eat, that was all on me, not the cafe. Juice wasn’t an option due to threshing/extraction, but it was when I ordered a latte that things got weird. The waiter told me that he could only offer me a “very weak coffee” which was the result of the water and milk only being heated to about 40°C in keeping with the law, a temperature that also isn’t really hot enough for the coffee to properly infuse the water, thus making it not very strong. It actually turned out to be infinitely easier to get a beer anywhere in town that morning than coffee. My order at the cafe was able to be brought from the kitchen to my table, and also to diners who were seated outside, without transferring between domains due to the installation of an eruv, described as:

An urban area enclosed by a wire boundary which symbolically extends the private domain of Jewish households into public areas, permitting activities within it that are normally forbidden in public on the Sabbath.

Although the Jewish community must strictly adhere to laws of prohibition on Shabbat, going to the effort of building eruvs and heating liquids to a slightly cooler temperature than normal seem like ways of pranking an almighty deity who is easily fooled by the loopholes in the rules he wrote. Then I remembered this scene from the documentary Religulous:

After eating I decided to have a look around the beach area, making my way there via the main shopping district en route, but obviously everything was closed except for bars, restaurants, and cafes and wouldn’t be opening again until late in the evening or within the next few days. I was also having trouble getting cash out of an ATM again and this time I wasn’t sure whether the machines weren’t accepting my card or were just unable to function in general. I arrived at the beach and it was quite nice with a bunch more seaside bars and restaurants, as well as plenty of entertainment, some of which was unintentionally funny. There was Israeli folk dancing that happens at Gordon Beach every Saturday, as well as a big outdoor gym area where meatheads could work out like in Venice Beach, California, all just grunting, flexing, and slapping butts. Instead, I walked out along the pier to a lighthouse, just taking in the sights. It was a nice walk, but I could feel myself getting sunburnt so I went back to a shaded area along the shore to sit down with a bunch of senior citizens for a bit and that’s where I got the biggest laugh of the day. There were three guys working out there, one was absolutely ripped and doing chin-ups and some other impressive feats on horizontal bars directly in front of us, another was doing push ups, all the while giving the third guy tips on capoeira moves. If you are unaware of what capoeira is, it’s a Brazilian martial art that combines acrobatics, dancing, and complex moves involving hand plants, kicks, and flips (that link is a video that will give you a decent idea). The only problem was that the guy trying to do it wasn’t particularly good at capoeira so I found myself sitting there with a bunch of confused older people who were innocently trying to figure out why a muscly dude was doing cartwheels in the sand in front of several other muscly guys. It was a hot day, a dry heat compared to the insane humidity of Singapore, but I had no cash for a drink so I had a sip out of the drinking fountain where people also washed the sand off their feet, and walked for forty minutes back to the hotel, passing a cheese shop that you could smell before you could see, despite it being closed, along the way. Once back I killed two birds with one stone, grabbing a bottle of sparkling water from the minibar and making an instant coffee in the room, which turned into mud when I added water, but it still gave me the caffeine fix I had been lacking. I also managed to get cash out of an ATM next our hotel and Anna was still going to be a while so I planted myself in a bar back in Sarona for a few hours until she was done.

My kosher Shabbat breakfast with very weak coffee

Walking into town

At the beach

Looking down the boardwalk and across the road

Some huts near the ocean

Now walking down the promenade

Was Banksy in town?

More art, this time honouring the older community

Israeli folk-dancing

Beanbags on the beach

One of many cafes along the promenade

Coming over a little cloudy

That’s better

Waves crashing along the pier

A lighthouse at the end

I’m still trying to figure out if this building had caught fire or was just art-deco

The cheese shop on the way home. I wish it was open

The bottom of my instant mud coffee

Anna was soon back from her teaching and we had a dinner that night with everyone else involved in the course. This meant taking a minibus with the International Retinal Panel crew back to a restaurant at the beach, Anna’s first venture into that area of Tel Aviv, so we had a look around the boardwalk and took a few photos first. It was nice to hang out with everyone while we were feeling 100%, they were really cool people and an interesting mix of nationalities, some local, others coming from Columbia, Italy, India, France, Argentina, China, and a multitude of other other countries. The restaurant we went to looked good, but the entire group, myself included, consisted of about 30 people, taking up two massive tables, and the platters we received, two per table, were to be shared. The problem with this system was that Anna, myself, and a few others were tucked away in a corner on the back table and our food and drinks kept failing to appear. Everyone else received a meze platter except us, we waited about 20 minutes and then had to ask for it, as well as remind the staff that we had also ordered drinks. When it finally arrived, the other areas of both tables were receiving a grilled fish that looked delicious, but when we finished our platter the fish never arrived, nor did the second drink I ordered. We asked about the fish and when it finally came ours was just what seemed like fish offcuts including several heads, all of which was deep-fried to the point that it was so crunchy it was pretty much inedible. We didn’t bother eating much of it, that second beer never came, and everyone that was there for the course had homework to do so we got back in the bus, the interior blue light making my Rick and Morty “Pickle Rick” shirt appear as if it were covered in turds, and we went back to the hotel, them to do group work and me to have a couple of drinks at the hotel bar until it closed.

Anna’s first stroll along this area of the beach

The boardwalk at night

All of the people involved in Anna’s course

A merry-go-round

Some of the food has arrived, but it also looks like others are asking for stuff that hasn’t

If our fish were pork, it would’ve been the parts that go into a sausage roll

Definitely looks like faeces

Tel Aviv is such a cool city and nothing like we expected, yet a completely hidden gem when it comes to traveling, but this was just the beginning! Stay tuned for the next instalment when we do all the cool stuff you would expect one to do while in Israel that in no way would fit into this post, like visiting Jerusalem and floating in the Dead Sea.

The first two days of our four-night trip to Israel We recently stayed in Tel Aviv, Israel for four days so Anna could attend a teaching seminar for the International Retinal Panel.

[eretzyisrael]

6.     The Jerusalem YMCA has a kosher certificate. 7.     The Israeli television series On the Spectrum won the top prize at the Series Mania Festival in Lille, France. 8.     The Israel TV series Shtisel, about a religious family in the Geula neighborhood in Jerusalem, has become a cult favorite on Netflix. 9.     In 1882, Baron Edmond (Benjamin) de Rothschild sent French experts to survey the land, and sent his own viticulturists to plant vineyards. Today new wineries are being opened by French immigrants. 10.     An IDF soldier who found the afikomen at his army base’s Passover Seder was rewarded with a day’s leave/freedom. 11.     The IDF distributed 10 tons of dried fruit to its soldiers on Tu B’shvat. 12.    In a $7 billion exit, Flavors and Fragrances of New York bought Frutarom, founded in 1933 in Haifa, providing flavor and scents to food. One of its specialties is “savory.” 13.     Tel Aviv start-up Tastewise tracks the latest culinary trends by monitoring social media chatter, recipe requests and feedback from restaurants. Says CEO Alon Chen: Watch Yemenite zhug become the new sriracha. 14.     Golan Heights Distillery makes Brewer’s whiskey in “Spicy with humus flavor.”