Planning your Jewish vacation should be fun. However, planning and organizing an enjoyable Jewish trip can be more complicated especially if you want to stick to your kosher diet. Aside from the fact that you have to keep up with the restrictions, you also need to keep track of your holidays and traditions. But that was before. Nowadays there are a lot of cool kosher vacation trips you can take and destinations that are waiting to be discovered. Here are some of the amazing summer ideas you can try for your next Jewish Ocean Cruise Ocean cruises aren’t a new thing, but recently Jewish cruises and Jewish heritage tours are becoming more and more popular options to take. What can you expect on an ocean cruise? There might still be non-Jews who are simply curious about the culture. But ordering a kosher meal will no longer be a problem since there are restaurants that will offer Glatt kosher cuisine. Some mega-ships features Jewish music festivals, lectures and social events that will be enjoyable for Jewish and Gentiles alike. For the Jewish Heritage Tour, expect an emotional roller coaster ride as the expert tour guide tells riveting tales behind the sites and monuments you are visiting. A Jewish themed cruise is best for those who want to go on an ocean cruise but don’t want to deal with the problems of a secular ship. Kosher River Cruise A luxury kosher river cruise will surely appease your cravings for a relaxing but enlightening time while traveling by rivers. Since the cruise is much smaller, it can sometimes better highlight tourist destinations that are relevant to Jewish history. Most of your stops include wine tours, temples, museums, heritage site tours with live commentary and more. As with kosher ocean ships, the food is strictly supervised to make sure that all food follows the Jewish Dietary Laws, plus you can also try local kosher delicacies, since they are easier to source when the ship is actually traveling inside the region. A river cruise can get you to remote destinations that you won’t normally get to visit on an ocean cruise. Expect a lot of land tours to villages and a total immersion of the culture and traditions of the place. City Tours If you are not into cruising, you can also visit big cities that known to have big Jewish population like New York City or Los Angeles. Such cities are proud of their kosher restaurants and they also have their own heritage sites as well. You can visit museums and synagogues and go exploring the city at the same time. Enjoy! An enjoyable Jewish trip doesn’t have to be expensive. Booking the right trip at the right time can save you a lot of money. So whether it’s a land tour or water cruise, as long as you plan well and go all out with your vacation, you will surely have a great time.
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Gone are the days when family vacations only revolve around beaching and camping. Nowadays, parents are more inclined to make their tours more exciting by adding activities where their kids can learn. Even touring agencies are getting creative as well, providing multiple options the family can try like cooking, volunteering for non-profit organizations near or abroad and learning history as well. Europe is known for its heritage and one of kind historical sites, but did you know that there is another way to enjoy a European tour? If you love history and want to do something unique for your next family holiday, then you should try this full Jewish vacation. Why is this fun? Well, for starters, these cruises primarily serves Jewish folks which means you get to experience authentic Jewish culture and tradition – including food and religious activities. Experience Jewish Culture Through Your Taste Buds Jewish food is very unique because of the combination of their religion and culture. When talking about religion, they have this Kosher law – a guideline for the dos and don’ts of their food. Jewish traditions' unique way of eating made Jewish food more interesting as well. For example, during Passover holidays, the Jews are not allowed to eat seafood with fins or scales and meats like pork and lamb. Moreover, they have this ceremonial meal composed of symbolic foods called Seder. Another interesting tradition they have is called Shabbat where observant Jews are not allowed to prepare their meals but they are supposed to eat their food hot. Because of this, Jewish religious belief and traditions stimulated the creativity and uniqueness of their cuisine. But of course, if you are not so keen on trying a full-kosher buffet, you can always pre-order your food. But then again, there is a long history of preserving the culture of Jewish foods. This is why the chefs of Kosher Cruises carefully plan their menu in a way that you can experience their history through your taste buds. Experience Jewish Culture by Witnessing Their Practices If you would prefer an All-Kosher Cruise in Europe, then expect more on your vacation. You will not only get to visit historical sites but you will also find wonderful programs on board especially if you are traveling during major Jewish Holidays like Hanukkah or Passover. Popular programs include cooking and games for your kids. For adults, you can relax in a luxurious way while enjoying Jewish concerts. If you are luckier, you can listen also to scholars who will give you more knowledge about the Jews. Having a holiday with your family is great but would it be special if you experience it in a very unique and educational way? Many Jewish travellers have gone through the hardships of going to a country that doesn’t cater to their needs that well. Kosher cruises and tours make life easier for them. These days, river cruising has become a more popular way of traveling throughout countries. Jewish cruise lines like Kosher River Cruises and Kosherica have been gaining more traction over the past years, and with them, we are given more options on how we want to spend our Jewish vacation. But what is there to expect while you’re on a kosher river cruise ship? A Variety of Amenities Contrary to what many people might think, riverboats aren’t comprised of just fancy dining areas, cabins, and view decks. It’s true that there probably won’t be any swimming pools and giant movie theatres like in big ocean cruise ships, but they make up for it through other ways. Oftentimes, luxury river cruises feature gyms, spas, and sometimes even hair salons. The crew will spoil you with their impeccable customer service. There will also be on board entertainment as always, as well as Wi Fi, among other things. Heritage and Religious-related Activities Since this is a Jewish cruise, you can also expect lectures and religious services. There’ll be a synagogue on the ship and a daily minyanim. You may be accompanied by special guests on board, like university lecturers and historians depending on where you’re cruising. Some kosher cruises in Europe have talks about WWII and the Holocaust—a painful subject but one that has made a large mark on Jewish history. They even invite Jewish military veterans on board to come speak about their own experiences. Kosher Buffets Everyone knows the best cruises—whether ocean or river--serve an abundance of delicious food. One could say that it’s sometimes one of their main attractions. Kosher river cruises are no exception. They also serve amazing and mouth-watering buffets and have a bar where you can drink. The thing is, all the food is strictly kosher, so passengers can be sure that the chefs adhere to the laws of kashrut and there will be a rabbi who makes sure they are doing the right things. This is a far cry from other non-kosher cruises, wherein you have to tell them in advance that you need kosher food. And even then, you can’t be sure if what they prepared is actually kosher. This is what truly differentiates a Jewish-themed cruise from a kosher cruise. A themed cruise doesn’t necessarily cater to one demographic. Yes, you may be learning about the history of the Jews in the place you are passing through, but there are no rabbinical services, Shabbat, and the food won’t be kosher. But an actual kosher cruise caters to Jews and all the corresponding needs. So if you’re looking for an easy but more luxurious way of spending a Jewish vacation, why not join a kosher cruise? |
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