Visiting a national park is a highlight for millions of tourists every Summer. Yet for Jewish tourists, these visits historically pose problems with a lack of kosher options and Shabbat hospitality available.
Chabad announced on X (formerly known as Twitter), that this Summer, it is set to meet the needs of thousands of Jewish tourists with over a dozen centers across some of the most visited national parks in the USA. The list below is information on the parks Chabad has locations it services at and what resources are available.
Acadia National Park
Rabbi Chaim and Esther Wilansky and Chabad of Bangor welcome tourists on route to the national park in Maine. The rabbi often visitors the park with kosher food on hand and puts tefillin on visitors. He also hosts regular minyanim during the summer.
Glacier National Park
Chabad of the Flathead Valley welcomes visitors for Shabbat meals, services and information about kosher food options near the Chabad House. Rabbi Shneur and Chana Wolf also visit the park, meeting up with Jewish tourists and offering resources to create connection.
Grand Canyon National Park
Rabbi Dovie and Chaya Shapiro host thousands of visitors each year at the Chabad of Flagstaff. Their website, The Kosher Canyon, offers hospitality suites and RVs, in addition to kosher food and minyanim in their synagogue.
Meal options include the Chai Altitude Burger, a Chicago Dog, Chicken Quarters and a variety of other options, all including complementary sides. They also have Shabbos meals to-go.
Starting August 16, Chabad of Flagstaff is offering a daily restaurant, Shabbat experiences and daily minyanim as part of their Bein Hazmanim initiative until Sept. 1. Learn more about that experience here.
Grand Teton National Park
Located 12 miles from Jackson, Wyoming, Chabad offers services with a breathtaking view of the Tetons, Shabbat hospitality and kosher takeout. Each Shabbat, the Chabad hosts anywhere from 20 to over 100 guests visiting Wyoming’s national parks and other attractions.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Chabad of Knoxville is located 35-50 miles from the entrances to Tennessee’s Great Smokey Mountains National Park, offering resources for kosher food, mikvahs and Shabbat meals.
At the North Carolina entrance, visitors can find Rabbi Shaya and Chana Susskind’s Chabad of Western North Carolina, which offers Shabbat meals to go and other resources for those coming to the area.
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree is home to three Chabad centers within the Coachella Valley. The Chabad of Rancho Mirage offers a weekly barbecue on Tuesday nights 10 months of the year between Sukkot and Shavuot. It’s so popular that many visitors plan their trips around attending the barbecue on Tuesday night.
Rabbi Yonason and Sussie Denenbeim at Chabad of Palm Springs offer kosher takeout from January to April, in addition to Shabbat meals and minyanim. Kosher takeout is also offered by Chabad of La Quinta. Like Chabad of Palm Springs, they offer Shabbat services and meals.
Olympic National Park
Chabad of Olympia accommodates kosher food requests, Shabbat and minyanim on an as-requested basis. It’s hosted by Rabbi Yosef and Rivka Schroks.
Yellowstone National Park
Chabad of Montana welcomes a large number of visitors for Shabbat free of charge in Bozeman, MT, less than a 2 hour drive from the north entrance to Yellowstone. It offers a cozy, home-style atmosphere meant to build connections.
Rabbi Zalman and Raizy Mendelsohn at Chabad of Wyoming also serve monthly community services and kiddushes.
Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks
Chabad of the Central Valley is a stopping point for visitors at multiple Californian national parks, including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. They offer on-suite guest rooms, kosher catering, and a kosher takeout menu.
Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks
Chabad of Southern Utah serves visitors to the park by kashering kitchens at Airbnbs, hosting Shabbat meals and holding minyanim. They also have a kosher takeout option, which can be picked up or delivered to St. George, Zion, and Bryce Canton National Parks for additional fees.
Menu items include sesame chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, salmon and hot dogs, plus lunch options of either a tuna or pizza bagel. They also offer bulk catering and raw frozen chicken for those interested in cooking on their own.
All photos courtesy of Chabad’s X account.
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