Frum & Coming to Israel? What I Wish I'd Known in Advance

Imagine walking into your Airbnb and realizing that, while everything looked perfect online, not only is there no kosher kitchen (there was left over treif in the refrigerator), but there's no mezuzah on the door - something that you rarely find in Israel. That's exactly what happened to Yitz last summer.

I don’t say this to scare anyone. It's just that, when we travel, it’s so important to know what we’re comfortable with; what our personal standards are; and what we are looking for during our trip to Israel.

Most hotels in Israel do have rabbinic supervision, but not all. One popular hotel in Tel Aviv serves a kosher (without certification) breakfast, but houses a seafood restaurant. That may be fine for you - and it's in a great location too - but if you are uncomfortable with such an arrangement, you need to know in advance.

On the other hand, some hotels are "frum" hotels, where the food is mehadrin; the atmosphere is "heimish" and quite possibly, there are no TVs in the rooms. Some of you may give a sigh of relief, whereas others may be horrified with such a "stifling" set-up.

Another point worth thinking about: there's several hotels (mainly in Jerusalem) that for their own reasons, have regular Rabbinate kosher certification, yet they attract a lot of orthodox guests, from across the spectrum. Much of the food is made with mehadrin/glatt ingredients, but yet - the hotel is not frum, and the pool is open on Shabbat. Are you okay with this? Are the meals on a kashrut level you are comfortable with? Perhaps yes; perhaps no, but it's definitely a question.

And then there’s the bigger picture: are you comfortable with a mixed pool, or sitting in a dining room on Shabbat where some people are on their phones and others just left the shul?

Perhaps more importantly for some: can I keep my room until after Shabbat without incurring extra cost?

And even if you go for an AirBnB, it’s easy to overlook small details: can you rely on the dishes? is there a hot plate for Shabbat? Is there a Shabbat urn for your cup of coffee?

The funny thing is that none of these things bother everybody. Some families won't care whether there's a mezuzah on the door for one night. Others won't stay anywhere without one. Some are perfectly happy in a hotel with a mixed crowd. Others are looking for a completely Shabbat-observant atmosphere. The key isn't what's right or wrong. It's knowing what matters to you before you book.

These are the kinds of things I help my clients think about: not to judge, but so they can feel calm and fully themselves, wherever their travels take them.

If you’re ready to plan your own meaningful Israel journey, I’d love to hear from you—you can reach out via my contact form

More Thoughts on Meaningful Travel in Israel

• When Should You Book Your Trip to Israel?

• Should You Pay More to Make Sure You Actually Get to Israel?

• Coming to Israel for the Chagim? Don’t Leave Chol Hamoed to Chance

• How One Mom's Israel Foodie Dream Turned into Burgers, Pizza... and a Happy Family

• "We Only Eat Badatz!" Or Do We?

• The Best Israel Memories Don't Always Come with the Biggest Price Tag

• Coming to Israel? Here's What you Can't Plan For

• They Arrived in Israel . . . And Had Nowhere to Stay

• Visiting Israel? It's the Little Things That Can Catch You Out

• Frum & Coming to Israel? What I Wish I Had Known in Advance

• Is Now the Right Time to Come to Israel?

• A Missile Alert; A Change of Plans and a Beach Day

• When a Booking Is More Than Just a Booking

• ChatGPT? Why Your Dream Tour Needs a Human Touch

• The Biggest Mistake Families Make Planning an Israel Itinerary

• Choosing The Right Hotel

• The Day a Tour Guide Proved Me Right

• We Don't Need a Guide; We'll Manage Alone

• Why You Should Book Your Israel Hotels Through an Experienced Agent

• Hotel or Apartment? The Israel Vacation Dilemma Many Families Face