Noor, a restaurant located in the Druze village of Julis in the Galil region of Northern Israel, located between Akko and Karmiel, has transitioned into the village’s first kosher establishment, and one of very few kosher Druze eateries to grace Israel.
This kosher transformation was originally aimed at providing free pre-packaged meals to IDF soldiers and evacuees during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Asma, the owner of Noor, led the change, intending to cater to regular patrons and new visitors alike.
The restaurant, open for just a year, underwent the kosher conversion to become the first kosher facility in the northern village of Julis. With the assistance of Deputy Minister Uri Maklev from United Torah Judaism, the establishment successfully acquired kosher certification. The shift allowed Noor to offer a daily menu featuring kosher meat dishes and authentic Druze cuisine.
The conversion process faced some challenges, but Asma sought aid from Deputy Minister Maklev’s office, which engaged with the Chief Rabbinate to ensure a smooth transition; ensuring Rabbanut kosher certification.
Upon completion of the transformation, Deputy Minister Maklev visited Noor, and Asma expressed gratitude for the prompt assistance, mentioning the intention to replace the entire menu to cater to kosher-observant soldiers and guests.
Just yesterday, there was a large group preparing food for IDF soldiers stationed up north.
Now, Noor welcomes guests 5 days a week (it is closed Sat & Sun), presenting a diverse menu consisting of authentic Druze culinary offerings that include kebabs, stuffed zucchini, salads, stuffed grape leaves, hummus plates, dessert pastries, teas, and more.
Noor is open Monday to Thursday. 9:00am-9:00pm; Friday 9:00am – 2:00pm; Closed Sat & Sun
(For now, on Mondays, the kitchen is open for the purpose of preparing food for the soldiers)
Located conveniently close to the Julis village center, Noor does not have a traditional address. To find it using Waze or Google Maps, make sure to input “32.9440357,35.1841688” as your coordinates OR copy and paste the Hebrew name of the restaurant: מסעדה נור. The restaurant is about a 17-minute drive from the Akko (Acre) train station.
Rabbanut Kashrut
Julis resident, Mansoor Khanjar, highlighted the village’s welcoming nature, inviting both regular and special guests to dine at Noor and expressing a warm welcome to visitors in Julis.
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