Tel Aviv – the trendiest city in Israel, recently voted “World’s Best Gay City”, a city of decadence and good restaurants is undergoing a change these days, a “Kosher” revolution.

What does Kosher mean in Tel Aviv?

Kosher in general – is a set of Jewish dietary laws that prohibit some foods and allow most. For example, shellfish are not kosher, while fish with scales are kosher. Pork is not kosher while chicken and beef are, and it is also forbidden to cook chicken or beef with milk in the same pot or eat them at the same time.

There are a number of organizations that issue Kosher certificates around the world and ensure that food is made with only Kosher ingredients.

When issuing Kosher certificates in Israel, there is one more parameter that is considered and that relates to the work that is done on a Saturday. Since the workforce in Israel is largely Jewish, a kosher supervisor must ensure that the factory or restaurant examined does not “do business” on the Sabbath.

Therefore, Tel Aviv restaurants that want to issue a kosher certificate must give up one day of the week and remain closed on Saturday. Since Saturday is a very strong day for restaurants, the busiest day of the week, this is a very difficult decision for restaurant owners.

However, more and more new places in Tel Aviv are deciding to keep kosher, which begs the question.

Why are more Tel Aviv restaurants going kosher?

There are a number of reasons that boil down to one conclusion: it pays off for restaurant owners. Here is a short list of all the important reasons I have come across in recent years while working with some of the best kosher restaurants in Tel Aviv:

1. the usual audience

There have always been religious people in Israel who only eat kosher food, but in recent years there has been a change in the socioeconomic situation of many religious people, and today there is a large and growing part of the religious population who can and wants to eat out.

2. Resting on Saturdays is good

Catering is a grueling line of business, especially in Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps. Most restaurants are open 16 hours a day and the work never ends.

A restaurant owner who wants his place to run well has to be there, and no one can work that long, even if they have a partner.

That’s why many restaurant owners find the enforced Saturday break a great relief, one that if you can afford it, changes your lifestyle for the better.

3. jewish tourism

For security reasons and more, in recent years there are more Jewish tourists in Israel, who prefer kosher food. Those tourists may or may not eat only kosher food where they live, but they definitely prefer kosher food when they visit Israel.

The reason for this is that their visit to Israel is usually for a spiritual reason or a religious event, and they try to make the entire visit more “kosher” or Jewish.

4. a matter of courtesy

Israelis like to eat out with friends, and when trying to find a place to eat for a group of friends, a kosher place makes the task much easier. No one wants to have just a few of their friends to eat.

As a restaurant lover, who has many friends from all parts of society, I think the last reason is the most important.

Enjoy your visit and eat well!