Keeping It Kosher on a Christian Tour to Israel

If you’re like most Christians traveling to Israel for the first time, the concept of kosher food has probably piqued your curiosity. Many don’t fully understand the term and wonder what impact it might have on their meals.

The question of kosher is one we can answer with plenty of confidence. We lead more than a dozen Christian tours to Israel each year, and our passengers always enjoy excellent cuisine that they find delicious.

First, a bit of explanation. In Jewish culture, “kosher” describes food considered acceptable or “clean” according to Kashrut—dietary laws derived from the Torah with added rabbinical restrictions. Essentially, these laws prohibit pork, shellfish and mixing meat with dairy. (Bacon double-cheeseburgers are definitely not on the menu!) The term pareve means “neutral,” and applies to kosher foods that contain neither meat nor dairy, like fruits and vegetables. Eggs and fish are also classified as pareve, so may be eaten with either meat or dairy.

Kashrut rules out eating meat and milk products at the same meal. Even cookware that has touched meat cannot be used to prepare or serve dairy products. For this reason, restaurants will serve only meat meals or only dairy meals; or they alternate between the two depending on the day of the week. Other eating establishments maintain separate kitchens for serving meat and dairy dishes.

Travelers on an Inspiration journey primarily enjoy buffet-style dining in the first-class (kosher) hotels we frequent. Discovering the refreshing cuisine of modern-day Israel always turns out to be a highlight of the tour. The mealtime options are deliciously appetizing and virtually limitless. You’ll often hear ecstatic diners marvel over how a cake could taste so delectable without being made with butter.

Here’s a brief look at what to expect:

Breakfasts typically feature a plethora of dairy, so expect an array of yogurt and cheeses. Since eggs and fish may be paired with dairy items, you’ll find these options as well; along with pastries, porridge, breads and spreads, light salads and fresh fruit.

Lunches (eaten out while touring) require a choice between meat (perhaps a pita-wrapped lamb shawarma) or dairy (eggplant salad with cheese). A most popular choice is falafel, a vegetarian dish so tasty and fun to eat, it’s now popular in other parts of the world. Top this with tahini or hummus for an authentic Mediterranean experience.

Dinners are meat-based, with a main course of grilled beef, stuffed chicken, seasoned lamb or baked fish. You might find a nice, regional moussaka, which is similar to lasagna, along with an endless variety of seasonal veggies and pasta dishes. Then, there is the mountain of non-dairy desserts to sample over a cup of coffee… (be sure to try Israeli honey cake!)

The more prominent cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa have seen significant growth in culinary culture, as Israel gains a worldwide reputation for its gourmet dining scene. Many of these contemporary Israeli restaurants don’t follow kosher regulations. That means if you do get a craving for sausage links with your omelette, or just have to have a pepperoni pizza in the Holy Land, you just may be able to find one!

Food is central to any culture, and experiencing exciting new varieties of it is a memorable part of travel. Have you been to Israel and found favorite new foods? We would love to hear your thoughts, stories or recipes. And, of course, we welcome you to join us on an exceptional Christian travel experience to Israel.