Too many American Jews miss out on exciting – and even life changing – travel experiences because they worry about keeping kosher while traveling. The challenges of kosher travel can be complex but Gil Travel are experts at creating customized kosher travel itineraries that open the world to Jewish travelers.
This article provides an overview of modern solutions for kosher travel, including trips to remote and exotic destinations. It also features useful Jewish travel tips based on decades of experience organizing luxury tours to the world’s top kosher travel destinations.
Limited Kosher Food Availability
The most obvious challenge of kosher travel is finding a reliable supply of kosher-certified food. If you’re exploring the mountains of Georgia or the amazing Jewish history of Samarkand and Bukhara, you definitely won’t find a gourmet kosher deli or kosher supermarket in the average neighborhood. Fortunately there are practical solutions, and the best news is that it isn’t just possible to keep kosher when you head off the beaten track, it’s possible to keep kosher in style and eat well while you travel.
There are three basic approaches to keeping kosher while traveling. The first is to book trips to kosher travel destinations like Israel and not to worry about kashrut for the duration of your visit. The second approach is to find a kosher supermarket and load up on the basics. The “kosher ration pack” approach to travel can be OK on a short-term basis, but rapidly loses its appeal – especially if you are travelling with kids. The best solution by far is to plan a tour with a professional Jewish travel company and draw on their resources to create an itinerary that doesn’t compromise on the gourmet experience.
An organized Jewish tour can build day trips and excursions to include meals in accredited kosher restaurants, or can take meals or picnic baskets prepared by trained chefs in a luxury kosher hotel or restaurant. The local Chabad House can be a big help with this, as can the latest kosher travel apps that list kosher food outlets. If you’re traveling as part of a large organized group, or you really want a full luxury experience for a small group, it may be possible to hire a kosher chef specifically for your tour.
Language Barriers and Labeling Issues
When you’re at home in the US, keeping kosher is usually pretty straightforward, particularly if you’re buying food from trusted delis or markets, or you dine at reputable kosher restaurants. Labelling and certification is in English and the local authorities and mashgiach are reliable. If you’re on vacation, or joining a Jewish heritage tour abroad, it can become a little more challenging. Checking the labeling on food packaging or a certificate of Kashrut can be difficult if you don’t speak the language. If you’re not familiar with the local alphabet (Cyrillic, Japanese or Hebrew etc.) it can be impossible.
Becoming quickly adept with a translation app on your phone, or storing a list of key words and phrases can make life a lot easier. If you’re a technophobe, a notebook or a laminated cheat card can help you to identify kosher-friendly items. Food issues aside, it’s a great idea to have a list of helpful words and phrases in the local language to hand. If you’re staying in a luxury hotel, they may take care of basic shopping for you as a courtesy service anyway.
Shabbat Logistics While Traveling
Unless your entire trip lasts no longer than Sunday – Thursday, you’ll need to make a plan for Shabbat. Depending on your level of Shabbat observance, this may mean restricting travel (either entirely or to certain distances) and not using tech. A luxury kosher-friendly hotel will be able to ensure that you have Shabbat compliant amenities, including dining.
Another important Shabbat requirement is access to a suitable synagogue. This can actually be a wonderful opportunity to meet members of the local Jewish community and perhaps make new friends. Gil Travel can draw on its contacts in local communities around the world to arrange for you to attend shul, or even join a family for a Shabbat meal, and can often recommend luxury accommodation within easy walking distance of a synagogue, or at least a prayer room.
Cultural Sensitivity and Local Awareness
Some of the most important Jewish travel tips relate to maintaining cultural sensitivity and awareness of local attitudes and issues. The big kosher travel destinations are accustomed to Jewish travelers and American tourists and are generally friendly and welcoming. People in other destinations are less familiar with Judaism and there may be potential for misunderstandings. If you want to explore the rich Jewish heritage in Morocco, Saudi Arabia or the Gulf States, it’s prudent to display some basic sensitivity.
Although most destinations are perfectly safe, it’s important to pay attention to your professional guides and respect local traditions. Small pragmatic compromises like covering a kippah with a baseball cap or sunhat, or wearing a Magen David necklace inside your shirt are just basic common sense. Apart from dressing modestly where local customs mandate it, just being friendly and courteous will go a long way. It’s better to avoid politics, but if people are genuinely curious about Jews and Judaism, take the time to engage with them and answer any questions.
Traveling During Jewish Holidays
Travelling during the Jewish holidays can be a truly special experience, particularly if you are visiting Israel or taking part in a Jewish heritage tour to a location with a strong spiritual or historical connection to Judaism. Praying at the Western Wall before the start of Yom Kippur, or visiting the tombs of famous sages and Rabbis during a high holiday, can be a unique spiritual experience. A popular Eastern European destination is the tomb of the Vilna Gaon in Lithuania.
Celebrating a Passover seder in a country like Japan or Cuba can take the kosher gastronomical experience to an entirely new level. It can also be fascinating to see how other Jewish cultures celebrate the High Holidays and interpret ancient Jewish traditions. A traditional Moroccan mimouna dinner (or full on party) to mark the end of Passover can be a real eye opener for American Jews who grew up observing staid Ashkenazi traditions.
If you’re planning to travel during the holidays, your travel advisors can give you up to date info about flight availability and will ensure that you have everything you need to observe holiday rituals.
Staying Kosher in Remote or Exotic Destinations
Travel – including kosher travel – can be one of life’s big adventures, and is also an amazing way to do some family bonding. You can create special memories for kids and grandkids by organizing family vacations to exotic and remote locations (many of which can also have surprising Jewish histories). A luxury safari tour of Tanzania’s nature reserves, or a hiking trip to Mount Kilimanjaro or the Great Rift Valley used to be a real problem for people who need to keep kosher. These days, it’s a lot easier.
Advances in freeze dried and shelf-stable kosher meals (which are both filling and appetizing) and lightweight portable cooking gear make keeping kosher while traveling entirely viable. Global Chabad networks can provide outstanding local knowledge and practical assistance to Jewish travellers and can also confirm that kosher-friendly establishments such as luxury safari lodges or exclusive kosher river cruises really are kosher compliant.
Airports, Flights and Kosher Accommodations
Airports are stressful for most passengers, especially if you’re travelling with young children. Finding kosher food and prayer rooms in international airports can easily add to your stress levels. It’s important to remain fully hydrated and to eat enough when you travel – even on short-haul flights – and some prior planning and research can make a big difference to your journey.
If you’re flying EL AL, all food and drink is kosher. If you’re embarking on long-haul flights with other airlines, it’s important to double check that you’ve ordered kosher meals. If necessary, get email confirmation from the airline that your dietary needs will be attended to. It’s also worth taking some kosher snacks (subject to airline regulations) in case of any glitches. If you’re traveling with kids, kosher treats can help to keep them cheerful and well behaved.
Gil Travel can recommend a choice of luxury accommodations, ranging from kosher hotels to self-catering villas or apartments that support kosher living. This can include proximity to kosher delis and supermarkets, or certified kosher delivery services. All accommodation can be vetted in advance through the local Chabad or through reliable kosher apps and review sites.
Popular Jewish Travel Destinations with Strong Kosher Compliance
Apart from the Jewish state of Israel, any city with a major Jewish community is usually a good travel destination for American Jews who feel most at ease in places with a strong “kosher infrastructure”. Buenos Aires, Mexico City and some of Brazil’s biggest cities are popular destinations for kosher travel. They have large and vibrant Jewish communities with plenty of kosher restaurants and markets, synagogues and luxury hotels. Paris, with its large Jewish community and le Marais quarter is a magnet for kosher gourmets who want to experience some of the world’s finest kosher food and drink.
If you want to plan a luxury kosher-friendly trip to a popular Jewish travel destination, or an adventurous vacation to a remote or more exotic location, Gil Travel will help you to create the perfect itinerary – with no compromise on kashrut and Shabbat observance. Talk to us today and we’ll start building a customized tour!
