✈ Santiago, Chile

Contributed by: Matt Erlandsen | Author resides in Santiago, Chile

Kosher Info:
When it comes to think about kashrut in this corner of the world, you won’t believe that Chile actually has a wide array of places to dine out. The cuisine varies with options from sushi houses to Mexican food to shwarma and pizza.

Falafel Asly was the first kosher restaurant to open in Santiago, and in Chile. Carmit Tzabari, its owner, supervises and keeps the store placed in front of the Estadio Israelita (Av. Las Condes #8400) that looks like a typical small fast food restaurant in the Middle East. The flavours that it offers, a fusion of Arab-Israeli food, are the same as those found in the streets of Jerusalem. The specialty is the famous Falafel Asly (CLP$1,750, about USD$4), that’s pita bread stuffed with chickpea fritters, hummus, cabbage, carrot, cucumber and tomato salad dressed pure Israeli taste dressings.

It opens Sunday through Thursday 11am to 10pm. Friday 11am to 4pm and. Saturday closed in honor of Shabbos. Kashrut is under the supervision of Rabbi Itzjak Shaked of Chofetz Chaim Synagogue (Av. Quinchamali #14159, Las Condes).

Another fleishig restaurant to visit in Las Condes area is Mi Refugio Food Store (Camino a Farellones #14345 local 2, Las Condes). Only a couple of blocks away from Aish HaTorah (San José de la Sierra #070, Lo Barnechea) and Chofetz Chaim Synagogues and right in the bottom of Los Andes mountain, public will be able to try several different dishes including French fries, hamburgers and soy sausages all served in a very Chilean style. Its pareve ice-creams and deserts are famous among the orthodox community and a absolute must. Ernesto Vareshtein (Argentinian and also the owner of another 2 brand new kosher restaurants in Santiago) keeps the store updated in terms of hechsher, showing the framed certificate behind the till.

Kashrut is under the supervision of Rabbi Avraham Horowitz, of Aish HaTorah and Principal of Maimonides School.

Further information can be found here (only in Spanish).

Travel Info:

Santiago is a safe, clean and modern European city in South America. Local people love to feel proud of that. With a wide mix of Spaniard, Italian, Croatian, Yugoslavian, German, British, and French roots, the Jewish heritage is not very present in the daily routine. Besides a huge menorah lit by Chabad in front of the Hyatt Hotel every Channukah, there’s not other Jewish milestone in the city.

If you are on your way to Easter Island or the Patagonia, you’ll probably like to make a stop over in Santiago and enjoy a 48 hours tour.

Santiago has a safe and a almost-brand-new transport system that interconnects the subway and all the buses running across the city. If you wish to ride the public transport, you’ll need to get a Bip! prepaid card at any ticket booth in the Metro Stations.

To start visiting this city you’ll probably want to do so by Palacio de La Moneda (La Moneda metro station, Red Line 1). The courtyard of the Presidential house of Chile is very easy to enter and there are awesome sculptures by Chilean artists worth seeing. Tours of the inside of the building need to be planned in advance. Be sure to toss a coin into the fountain and make a wish.

After that, the tourist can walk eastbound across Alameda Avenue and reach the Santa Lucía hill, where the city was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in XVI century. This hill takes 15-20 minutes to climb and provides another sweet view of the city. There are various murals, statues, lookouts and ponds hidden all over the Cerro, and multiple ways to get to the peak.

La Chascona, one of the 3 homes of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the place is decorated with an incredible collection of anything you can imagine from all over the world and is also host to his Nobel Prize. There are rooms designed to create the feeling that you are on a ship, and there are some great views of the city.

One of the more bohemian streets in Santiago is Lastarria street in downtown (centro) area, go for a stroll at night and pick from one of the many restaurants or cafés to eat at. During the day/evening, there are a few street vendors that cater to the more sophisticated crowd, like the guy who sells original prints of historic Chilean newspaper editions (including the first report of the 1973 military coup). You can also head towards Museo Bellas Artes from here and there are even more mid-upper range restaurants, cafés and bars to chose from.

The ultimate nightlife sector of Santiago is also very centrally located in Bellavista. Tons of bars (for drinking), and discotecas (for dancing and drinking). There is also plenty to do here during the day, but be on your guard at night as there are many drunks and people looking to take advantage of outsiders.

You cannot miss Sanhattan/El Golf: Get off the metro at stops Tobalaba or El Golf to see the modern second financial center of Santiago.There is some great architecture here and awesome sculptures all around, including a series of painted horses down the main drag, walk thourgh Apoquindo or Isidora Goyenechea avenues eastbound.

The Sculpture Park, along the banks of the not so beautiful Mapocho River running through Santiago lies a tranquil park with about 30 sculptures made by Chilean artists. This is a gem of the city that I have never seen talked about in English guides to Santiago. Make sure to check out the concerts in the park in summer months (January-March). Get there from metro Pedro de Valdivia station, walk north on Pedro de Valdivia street to the other side of the river and it’ll be on your right hand side. Ask anyone for “Parque de Esculturas” if you feel lost.

Daniel Segal is among the few (maybe the only one) organizing kosher tours in Chile. For further information, feel free to write to segaldaniel[at]gmail[dot]com.

Jewish Info:

When you think in Chile, you probably think about the last corner of the world. In some aspects, that’s right. The small Jewish orthodox community over there isn’t bigger than maybe 200 families spread over five frum shuls (there are a lot more conservative and reformist temples) and only one daily school -and its conservative counterpart.

Tags: jewish chile, jewish santiago, jewish travel, kosher chile, kosher santiago, kosher travel

JetBlue & EL AL Announce U.S. – Israel Interline Partnership

Hey guys, I just saw the following announcement online, and I was super thrilled! So, whatever your thoughts on JetBlue or EL AL, you can’t deny that this is extremely convenient, especially for those Americans who find that in order to get to Israel they had to fly to New York anyways. Now, it’s all in one built in cost, one ticket, one purchase, and you don’t have to transfer your baggage. I highlighted some key points below in italics.

Please comment below and let us know what your take is on this? Will you benefit from this agreement?
~Dani

JetBlue Airways, which has a great flight map throughout the American Northeast & West Coast, and Israel’s national airline, EL AL, announced today that they intend to sign an interline agreement, providing new and convenient connecting options for both EL AL and JetBlue customers wishing to travel between the U.S. and Israel. Beginning in September, customers will be able to purchase a single ticket for travel on flights of both carriers in one simple transaction, and enjoy seamless connecting service to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport from most JetBlue cities via New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

New York’s JFK Airport is EL AL’s leading gateway into the United States, with as many as three daily flights to/from Tel Aviv, and is also JetBlue’s main hub with service to 50+ cities across the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. JetBlue is the #1 domestic airline at JFK, carrying more travelers to this key global hub than any other airline.

Customers traveling on the two carriers will enjoy the convenience of purchasing and traveling on a single e-ticket. In addition, on the day of travel, customers will benefit from simplified one-stop, through check-in and easy connections at JFK Airport. Customers will receive boarding cards for both carriers’ flights upon check-in with either JetBlue or EL AL and their baggage will be checked to their final destination.

From: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jetblue-airways-and-el-al-israel-airlines-announce-interline-agreement-to-connect-customers-between-us-and-israel-99014739.html

Tags: boston, buffalo, burlington, chicago, denver, el al, Israel, jet blue, jewish travel to israel, los angeles, miami, New York, orlando, Puerto Rico, rochester, salt lake city, Seattle, syracuse, tel aviv, travel to israel, washington dc

✈ Paris, France

Contributed by: Rachael Abrams | Last Date of Travel: June 2010

Kosher Info: With a large Jewish community, Paris provides a wide variety of Kosher restaurants. It is nice to stay in one of the most incredible cities in the world, knowing there’s a good kosher boulangerie nearby. The beauty of Paris lies beyond the architecture and the Louvre—you can find it in just about any restaurant.

My favorite in the Le Marais district, is L’As Du Fallafel. This hole-in-the-wall falafel spot, has some of the best falafel. With perfect pita, the Israeli salad and hummus provides you with a comforting meal. Eat on the streets for a real Parisian experience. The wait can be up to an hour, but the delicious schwarma and falafel is worth it. If you’re in the mood for something sweet there are many Kosher bakeries close by.

Recommended Restaurants:

• L’As Du Fallafel- 34, rue des Rosiers 75004 (tel: 01.48.87.63.60)
• Kavod- 26, rue Jean Mermoz 75008 (tel: 01.42.25.65.26)
• Gaspard- 84, rue Lauriston 75016 (tel:01.45.05.31.89)
• Cook- 27, avenue Niel 75017 (tel: 01.42.67.36.54)
• Le Relais Sucré- 69, rue Manin 75019 (tel: 01 42 41 20 98)
• Urban sushi- 44, rue Jouffroy d’Abbans 75017 (tel: 01.43.80.08.00)
• La stella- 158, avenue Daumesnil 75012 (tel: 01.43.47.18.68)
• Au Grand Méchant Louvre- 24, quai du Louvre 75001 (tel: 01.42.33.25.53)
• Le 17- 28, rue Poncelet 75017 Paris (tel: 01.42.67.21.05)
• Le Petit Télégraphe- 3, rue des Forges 75002 (tel: 01.42.36.40.83)
• Darjeeling- 1, rue des Colonels Renard 75017 (tel: 01.45.72.09.32)
• Le Chateaubriand- 125, rue de Tocqueville 75017 (tel: 01.47.63.96.90)
• O You- 164, avenue Daumesnil 75012 (tel: 01.43.07.68.97)
• Osmose- 31, avenue de Versailles 75016 (tel: 01.45.20.74.12)
• Tutti Quanti- 18, esplanade des Abymes 94000 (tel: 01.43.99.41.03)
• Ventura Avenue- 98, avenue des Ternes 75017 (tel: 01.74.30.62.02)
• Burgar Bar 231- 231, boulevard Voltaire 75011 (tel: 01.43.73.02.02)
• Le Lotus de Nissane- 39, rue Amelot 75011 (tel: 01.43.55.80.42)
• TLV- 92, rue Saint-Maur 75011 (tel: 01.74.30.93.24)
• Allo Sarina- 38, rue Curial 75019 (tel: 01.40.35.08.98)

Tourist Info: There’s no better way to describe Paris than using the word “magical.” This city is full of charm, life and everything lovely. The Louvre is definitely a must-see as well as relaxing in the tuileries (the gardens behind the museum).

One of my favorite museums, which I continue to dream about is Musée de l’Orangerie. In this small gallery, there is a large collection of Monet’s work. If you like modern art, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve visited the Centre Pompidou. Its tantamount structure was enough for me, but if you like contemporary and unusually dark art, this is the place for you.

In the Le Marais district you can find many Jewish gift shops. There’s a Jewish museum, full of beautiful artifacts from synagogues before WWII. There is also a Holocaust museum and memorial close by. Today, Paris is full of life and the Jewish community is vibrant. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable as a Jew in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With all of the mezuzas on the doorposts, young men in kipot, and Kosher establishments you will feel right at home…as long as you can speak the language (bring a pocket dictionary).

• Louvre Museum (1 Place André Malraux)- Allot a good amount of time for the Louvre. This enormous museum is full of incredible art from just about every era around the world. The architecture is absolutely breathtaking.
• Musée de l’Orangerie (Jardin des Tuileries)- A significant amount of Monet’s water lilies are displayed elegantly at this fine museum. If you didn’t have the chance to visit the gardens during your visit to the Louvre, stop by the Tuileries after.
• Centre Pompidou (Place Georges Pompidou)- The building is quite a spectacle, with escalators taking you to each floor and providing magnificent views of Paris along the way. If you don’t care for modern art, I recommend a quick visit just to see the outside.
• Musée d’art et d’histoire du Judaisme (71 Rue du Temple)- Visit this Jewish museum for a rich history of the Jewish art in France. Use the audio headset for a nice tour and on the way out, relax in the beautiful courtyard.
• Mémorial de la Shoah (17, rue Geoffroy-l’Asnier)- Museum and memorial dedicated to the European Jews who died in the Holocaust. Definitely worth going to.

Jewish Info: I spent shabbat with a friend, and enjoyed a traditional Tunisian Sephardic Shabbat meal. With a strong Jewish population, there are many synagogues in Paris (many Sephardic synagogues in particular). A Chabad house is located on the renowned Champs Elysées. During my travels I saw many mezuzas, kipot and Jewish stars—even on the metro. Listing of Chabads in the Paris area.

Bon Voyage!

Tags: jewish france, jewish paris, kosher france, kosher paris, le marais district, louvre, museum, paris chabad

9 Days Menus

As we know, eating meat is considered festive and therefore forbidden (without a siyum) during the 9 days. Thus, many meat restaurants have created special pareve (non meat or dairy) menus to stay open during the 9 Days. To learn more about why we don’t eat meat (or drink wine) during the Nine Days, click here. (Thank you to Great Kosher Restaurants for compiling this list)

Be aware that most of the links below will open PDF files.

(UPDATE: See the comments section below for more restaurants, please comment if you have restaurants to add)

NEW YORK

MANHATTAN

• Eden Wok- Nine Days Menu
• Eighteen Restaurant- Nine Days Menu
• Le Marais- Nine Days Menu
• Mike’s Bistro- Nine Days Menu
• Mr. Broadway- Nine Days Menu
• Talia’s Steakhouse- Nine Days Menu
• Wolf & Lamb- Nine Days Menu
• Chop Chop- Nine Days Menu

BROOKLYN

• Back to Nature- Nine Days Menu
• Carlos & Gabby’s will be closed during the 9 Days and will reopen on Wed., July 21st at 1pm
• China Glatt- Nine Days Special (Buy one sushi, get one free – Note they will be closed Sun, Mon & Tues of next week)
• Dougie’s BBQ- Open with pareve dishes
• Estihana- Open with a pareve menu
• Glatt A La Carte- Nine Days Menu
• M Restaurant- Nine Days Menu
• Orchedia- lunch buffet for $20 is available during the 9 Days

LONG ISLAND

• Chosen Island- Nine Days Menu

NEW ROCHELLE

• Eden Wok- Nine Days Menu

NEW JERSEY

• Fish of the C’s (Teaneck) – Nine Days Menu
• Fumio Sushi & Steakhouse (Livingston)- Nine Days Menu
• Smokey Joe’s BBQ (Teaneck)- will be open Sunday July 18th with a special 9 days menu. Smokey Joe’s will be closed Mon, July 12 through Thursday July 15.
• The Pasta Factory (Teaneck)(soon to be Nobo Wine & Grill)- Nine Days Menu
• The Reserve (Lakewood)- Nine Days Menu

PHILADELPHIA, PA

• Max & David’s will be open with plenty of fish and vegetarian options

MIAMI BEACH, FL

• Rare Steakhouse will be open for the Nine Days, featuring their full line of sushi as well as several daily fish specials

SKOKIE, IL

• Slice of Life has a Full Dairy, Fish and Vegetarian Menu available, with all Three Dining Rooms will Open for Seating to Accommodate Any Size Group

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

• The Kitchen Table- Nine Days Lunch Menu | Dinner Menu

MONTREAL, QC

• El Morocco & Morty’s Steakhouse will be open during the Nine Days and feature an extensive Fish and Mock Seafood menu.
• Ernie & Ellie- Nine Days Menu

Tags: 9 days, 9 days ny, fast days, jewish nine 9 days, kosher 9 days menu, kosher travel, miami, Montreal, New York, nine days, nine days menu, nj, philly, tisha bav

✈ Cannes, France

Contributed by: Michelle Szpilzinger | Last Visited: June 2010

Kosher Info: This is a Google Map I made of kosher places. There are two kosher restaurants in Cannes.

Le Tovel is a very nice meat restaurant run by Chabad that has indoor and outdoor seating and is just a few blocks inland from the beach. My friend ordered lamb and I ordered a steak. Both were excellent. We did not see them, but other friends who have been there say the restaurant has menus in Hebrew. (We only saw the French ones.)

Kitchen is just down the street from Le Tovel. It serves French cuisine and has what looked like a very good (but somewhat more limited) menu.

The kosher grocery listed was closed when we went there (at about 2pm) and I have no idea what their hours are. We took a peak inside and saw the usual kosher packaged products and snacks but couldn’t tell if they had refrigerated products. We were not able to check to see if the butcher store exists or what they have.

There is a Haagen Dazs on La Croisette across from the festival hall with packaged bars that have an OU.

Tourist Info: Cannes’s claim to fame is the yearly Cannes Film Festival which runs in May. If you go during festival time, you might want to book a year in advance and expect huge crowds. In early June it’s a lovely, pleasant place to visit and you can walk the red carpet (or blue carpet when we were there) of the Palais des Festivals and pretend to be a movie star yourself. Just outside the festival hall is a Hollywood Walk of Fame style row of handprints from many international movie stars.

Those interested in history will want to climb up to Le Suquet, Cannes’s historic core, but most just come to shop and browse at the fancy designer stores and hotels along Boulevard de La Croisette, Cannes’s beachfront promenade. You can also take a ferry to Ile St. Marguerite, a pleasant island nearby with nice views, parks, and the fort and building that once held the famous “Man in the Iron Mask.”

Jewish Info: We were not in Cannes for Shabbat, but you can probably contact Chabad for meals and resources. We did see a fairly large Synagogue near the train station, but it was closed when we were there.

Tags: cannes film festival, chabad cannes, chabad france, french chabad, french kosher, jewish cannes, jewish cannes film festival, jewish france, kosher cannes, kosher cannes film festival, kosher france

✈ Mbale, Uganda

Contributed by: Nicole Zetler | Last Date of Travel: April 2010

Kosher Info: The Jewish ‘centre’ of Uganda is found just outside the town of Mbale (about 4 hour drive from the capital city , Kampala). The Abayudaya community practice Kashrut, and have a kosher ‘supermarket’ in their vicinity. All meat is slaughtered according to the Kashrut laws and is supervised by the local Rabbi. There is also a guest house that can be visited for overnight stays. The community keep Shabbat and it is common for visitors to spend Shabbat with the community – going to the shul and having traditional Shabbat meals with the community members. The community also celebrate all the Jewish festivals and if the necessary kosher food items are not available, it will be sourced from relevant locations (e.g. for Pesach, matzah was imported from the USA).

Travel Info: Once dubbed the “Pearl of Africa” by Winston Churchill at the turn of the 20^th century, Uganda is not only rich in resources, but also a tropical and scenic place that offers travelers a beautiful adventure. Popular tourist activities include going on Gorilla safaris, standing across the Equator line, visiting the source of the Nile River in the town of Jinja; and Bujagali falls. Kampala is the capital and the main business hub.

Most of the country is dedicated to some form of agriculture which makes the country very green and lush. Ugandans are generally very hospitable, gentle and kind people. They like to socialize and there are many pubs and clubs open to all hours of the night.

Although most of my travel in Uganda has been for business purposes,  it is a great destination for tourism. While visiting the Mbale area for work I contacted one of the Abayudaya community members who showed me around the Jewish area. His name is Samson Shadrak and can be contacted on sbshadrak@yahoo.co.uk. His tour company is called Shalom Tours Uganda available on http://www.shalomtoursuganda.com

Being in East Africa, it is also very closely situated to other tourist hubs like Kenya (about 1 hour via air travel) and Tanzania.

Jewish Info: The Abayudaya (Luganda term for “People of Judah”) are a community near the town of Mbale, Uganda who practice Judaism. Although these Ugandan Jews are not historically related to other ethnic Jews, they are recognized by most sects of Conservative and Reform Jews. The Abayudaya are more than 1000 members strong and are devout in their Jewish practice – keeping Shabbat and kashrut; following all the Jewish festivals and traditions; reading and writing Hebrew; and having regular Shiurim etc.

The Abayudaya owes its origin to military leader Semei Kakungulu (the current High School is named after him). Upon studying the Bible, Kakungulu came to believe that the laws described in the Old Testament were true and started following Jewish practices. In particular, in 1919 Kakungulu circumcised his sons and himself and declared that his community was Jewish. In 1920, a foreign Jew known as “Yosef” (he had European roots) arrived and taught the Abayudaya community about Judaism for approximately 6 months; and also brought the Jewish calendar and its festivals into the community, as well as the Kashrut laws.

During the rule of Idi Amin, the community isolated themselves for self protection as Amin had outlawed Jewish rituals and destroyed synagogues. In 2002, approximately 400 community members were formally converted to the conservative branch of Judaism. Today, most of the community lives around the Moses Synagogue on Nabugoye Hill outside Mbale town with Rabbi Gershom Sizomu as the spiritual leader and head of the community Yeshiva (he was ordained as a Conservative Rabbi in 2008 after graduating from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California).

Apart from the Moses Synagogue, community institutions include:

• The Hadassah Primary School
• The Semei Kakungulu High School
• Guesthouse
• Yeshiva
• Shalom supermarket

Tags: abayudaya, bujagali falls, east africa jewish, jewish africa, jewish mbale, jewish travel, jewish uganda, jewish ugandans, jews in mbale, kosher mbale, kosher travel, kosher uganda, nabugoye hill, people of judah, rabbi gershom zisomu, semei kakungulu, ugandan jews

✈ Florence, Italy

Contributed by: Elina Rokhkind | Last Date of Travel: October 2009

Kosher Info:

There are three sources of kosher food in Florence, all of them located in close proximity to the synagogue.

The first is the dairy vegetarian Ristorante Ruth. Since it’s the only sit-down place, you get to meet here all kosher tourists visiting Florence at the time. The menu is not too extensive and rather eclectic, as is the restaurant’s décor. The food itself is decent, but not overly sophisticated; the house wine is pretty good. You can order here fish, pasta and vegetable dishes, as well as soups, pizza, and deserts. The restaurant’s owner, Simcha, is a very friendly and interesting man, who personally serves and gets to know his customers.

Then, there is a small store – Kosher Market, which sells packaged goods and wine, as well as a selection of imported frozen products, so they can prepare pizza or schwarma for you on the spot. They can also serve tea and instant coffee, and there are a few tables to sit while grabbing a bite. The frozen food is not great and overpriced, compared to the US. On the bright side, they sell some local cheeses and deli meats, which are delicious, and a good value too. Order a sandwich to take with you for the day of touring, and pair it with some delectable fresh Italian produce; then come back in the evening for a sit-down meal in the restaurant – this is a good plan in the kosher-limited Florence.

The third place – Chabbad of Florence – was always locked when we passed by, so you probably need to make the arrangements in advance.

Tourist Info:

We fell for the charm of Florence in an instant. This amazingly beautiful city surrounded by picturesque Tuscany hills exudes harmony and has a healthy dose of everything. Being the cradle of Renaissance, Florence is loaded with historical sites and grand art, yet the tourist crowds are manageable. For a modern cosmopolitan city with vibrant economic and cultural life, Florence is moderately-paced as Florentines prefer enjoying Dolce Vita to hectic lifestyles. The historical center is quite compact, which allows exploring it entirely on foot.

The heart of Florence is the Piazza del Duomo, where the famous Gothic Cathedral (known as Duomo) with its beautiful multi-colored facade is located. The Cathedral’s enormous red dome, renowned for being the first free-standing dome of its size since antiquity, is seen from everywhere around the city. Next to the Duomo is the Campanile (bell tower), which you can climb (all 414 steps of it) for the breathtaking views of the city and surrounding countryside. The architectural trio of the Piazza is completed with the Baptistery – the oldest Florentine building from the 11th century.

The powerful Medici family that ruled Florence during the Renaissance times was instrumental in beautifying the city, and lots of magnificent art pieces used to stand under the open sky. Nowadays, however, most of them are sheltered inside the numerous museums, and their place in the streets is taken by skillfully made copies. One couple we met during our travels was convinced they saw David’s Michelangelo a while ago in front of the Palazzo Vecchio (the old Town Hall). This was indeed the historical place of the famous symbol of Renaissance, but since 19th century David’s home is under the specially designed dome in the Accademia art gallery.

As it was said, the art is abundant and museums and palaces are plentiful in Florence – schedule carefully what you wish to visit. During our trip we managed to see the above mentioned Accademia (where aside from David you can find several more sculptures of Michelangelo), Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (early Medici residence, most famous for its frescoed private chapel), the immense and luxurious Palazzo Pitti (later Medici residence, complete with beautiful gardens and more art), and the free Palazzo Davanzati (a restored medieval house where you can glimpse into the life well before food-processors and modern bathrooms, and be surprised how ingenious people had been). And of course the Uffizzi – one of the most prominent Europe’s galleries – is an art-lover’s absolute must! Indeed, this surprisingly manageable museum housing the best Renaissance art in addition to classical sculptures, have the highest concentration of masterpieces per square foot we’ve ever encountered. In order not to stand in line for hours, it is highly recommended to use their advance reservation system.

Aside from enjoying its art and architecture, Florence is just a picture-perfect place to stroll. Admire the big castle-like Palazzo Vecchio, and imagine the tumultuous past unfolding on the Piazza della Signoria in front of it. Take a buggy ride on the cobblestones of the city center, or ride a carousel in the dusk on Piazza della Repubblica accompanied by the lively tunes of street musicians. Drop by the San Lorenzo market with its rows of bargain-priced leather goods, and get amazed by the abundance and variety of produce, and design of food shops at the nearby Mercato Centrale. Cross the romantic Ponte Vecchio– the oldest Florentine bridge spared by the Nazi during their retreat, and take a walk down the Oltrarno neighborhood’s winding streets among ancient buildings and artisan shops. Take a mini-hike to Piazzale Michelangelo for some amazing city views from the top of the hill. Finally, peep inside the big-name boutiques in this fashion-conscious city, and have a look at other interesting shopping options like a 600-year-old perfumery.

Although, we did not have time for it, we read the trips to the nearby Tuscan hill towns, such as San Gimignano, are really lovely. Other day trip options from Florence are to the interesting cities of Pisa, Siena or Lucca.

Jewish Info:

The imposing Great Synagogue of Florence with its green dome distinctive on the Florentine skyline of red-tiled roofs, was built in Moorish style in the end of 19th century. The grand and beautiful building is, unfortunately, mostly empty as minyan gathers for morning services only 3 times a week. The synagogue houses a small museum, and organizes guided tours of its inside, providing some background on the Jewish history in Florence.

Unless you hire a private guide knowledgeable about the Florentine Jewish history and sites significant to it, there is nothing explicitly Jewish to see in Florence. The Ghetto, formerly located on the place of the present Piazza della Repubblica, was completely destroyed in 19th century. Giovanna Bossi specializes in Jewish Florence tours, but we ended up not using her services, which I partially regret. Please refer to Jewish Italy website for relevant contact info.

Tags: chabad, florence, Florentine, jewish florence, jewish ghetto, jewish italy, kosher florence, kosher italy, michelandelo, renaissance, tuscany

Kosher Hotel Opens in Ukrainian Town

I spotted this article shared on the JewishJournal site. Thought it was worth sharing. If you find out about similar “Kosher Travel” news, please let us know.

A hotel with a kosher restaurant has opened in a southwestern Ukrainian town.

The Under the Temple hotel in Ivano-Frankovsk, near the town synagogue, is the first kosher hotel in the western part of the country, where many former Jewish regions are located.

The hotel’s 11 rooms are decorated with artifacts of Jewish culture and everyday life.

Food production at the Tsimmes restaurant is under the supervision of the region’s Chief Rabbi Moshe Kolesnik.

Before World War II, Ivano-Frankovsk was home to seven Chasidic leaders. Many of the tourists who come to the area from all over the world are descendants of the Jews who lived in the area, called Ruthenia, before the war.

Tags: Ivano-Frankovsk, jewish ukraine, Kosher, kosher hotel, kosher travel, Ukraine