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We all would love to help you with resturant recomendations - when asking please specify which US hechsherim you eat - so we can give suggestions you would eat in!

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Hatzolah AND Ambulance 101 or 1221
Fire 102


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Misc. Reviews
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Activities

Jerusalem Area

Begin Museum- outside the Old City
Caliber 3- Shooting Range in Gush Etzion
Ramparts Walk- on top of the Old City walls
Tzomet Institute - Alon Shvut
Kotel Tunnel Tours/Old City Jewish and/or Muslim Quarter Tours (PM satturn if you want a private tour)
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Churva/Ramban
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Shiloach/Gichon


2048 - Tlv - Incredible fun experience! Active Activities in each room. cool team game, electrifying, challenging and especially fun!
Time Elevator in Jerusalem- Don't waste your time.
City of David (Ir David)-Amazing-you must take a tour to fully understand the site.
Segway tour-interesting way to waste a few hrs-NOT an absolute must do
Biking - Beatiful trails in the valleys outside of the city. PM Drago if interested.
http://tmsifting.org/en/visitor-and-volunteer-information/
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https://www.galita.co.il/en
Yad Vashem
Martef Hashoah - Kever Dovid
Migdal Dovid- Museum of Jerusalem
Bibical Zoo/Aquarium/Ein Yael
Tax Museum
Gush Katif Museum
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Israel Museum
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Beit Harav Kook
Underground prisoners
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Belz Shul
Har Hatzofim
Har Hazeisim
Har Hamenuchos
Ammunition Hill
CHaggall Windows @ Haddasa
Chutzot HaYotzer/Park Teddy
Great Syn/Jewish Art Museum
National Library
Supreme Court
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Blind or Deaf Museum in Cholon- Blind, amazing. Deaf, good. Prior reservation needed.
Hagana Museum in Tel Aviv--15NIS per adult; students free; a bit disjointed and kind of fake acting in the videos, but mostly very interesting and educational.
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Escape the Machsan escape room (Rechov Nachal Sorek)
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Bereshit Apple processing center
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Good summary of many hikes:
http://hikingintheholyland.com/

FB group with many ideas of activities
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kidsdaysoutisrael

Separate Beaches - AS OF 2022!
The suitability of the area around the separate beach area varies.

Separate Areas for Men and Women:
Tveria - Kinar Hotel
Tveria - Chof Menachem
Tveria - near Chamei Tveria
Yam Hamelach - International Beach
Yam Hamelach - Chamei Zohar

Men: Mon, Wed, Fri - Women: Sun, Tues, Thurs
Akko X2
Ashdod
Ashkelon
Bat Yam
Chaifa X2
Hertzilya (only in the summer?? BZ only??)
Netanya - Kiryat Sanz
Rishon Letzion
Tel Aviv - Sheraton

Men: Tues, Fri - Women: Mon, Weds
Nahariya

Switches bet Mornings (7a-1p) and Afternoons (1p-7p)
Chadera '
Men Morning: Sun, tues, thurs  - afternoon: Mon, wed, fri
Women Morning: Mon, Weds, Fri - Afternoon: Sun, Tues, Thurs
« Last edited by Euclid on October 03, 2023, 11:46:22 AM »

Author Topic: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread  (Read 2284228 times)

Offline aygart

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10260 on: May 07, 2018, 10:21:25 AM »
They lost their hechsher due to a violation. I wouldn't eat there until they had another reputable hechsher. What's the big deal?
Same goes for Delice in LA. Nothing complicated about that at all.
Maybe. You happen to know the background. What about someone like me who doesn't?
Pretty ballsy to do it in writing. US kashrus agencies have pulled their hashgocha over smaller items than that.
Israelis are more likely to push the limits. Is that the answer to your question in general?
They've told me not recommended before when I've asked. Easy peasy.
And sometimes is is not that clear. You can find hechsherim in Israel where you can get a clear "no good" answer as well to say the least.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10261 on: May 07, 2018, 10:22:59 AM »
Maybe. You happen to know the background. What about someone like me who doesn't?
You would ask what hechsher they are under and find out that they are not under any?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline aygart

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10262 on: May 07, 2018, 10:25:39 AM »
You would ask what hechsher they are under and find out that they are not under any?
or find out thay are under some nice sounding hechsher which you don't realize that it is the owner. I wouldn't eat there not knowing exactly who the hechsher is but that is still confusion.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline e-Lawyer

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10263 on: May 07, 2018, 12:39:40 PM »
I think what Dan and many of us are asking/bemoaning is a general lack of standards and known parity across what would otherwise be similiar hachgochas.

For example. In the US, there are 20-30 hechserim that are GRAS (generally recognized as safe), even though there may be nuances. But you know that you are getting a glatt kosher and if specified cholov yisroel and relatively trustworthy hechsher.

In israel, while there is mehadrin (meaningless), the new mehuderet, regilah, and badatz, there is no parity. one mehadrin may be no good, but that's not the problem, the problem is NO KNOWS WHY its no good!. So is it not cy, not glatt, is chalak beit yosef in israel better than glatt or worse, is auerbach good because they split top their chickens? Empire and KAJ dont, as far as I know, do they take teruma in larger batches, is that really a problem? Etc.

wow, have at it... lolol
How do you get a group of lawyers to smile for a picture?

A: Just say "Fees!"

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10264 on: May 07, 2018, 01:51:50 PM »
Don't think they got back to us. We didn't go.
Found the Rav Hamachshir and he emailed me:

כן כל השוקולד הוא חלב ישראל וכל המוצרים מהדרין

הרב ישי סמואל

Now what? Sigh...
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline sky121

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10265 on: May 07, 2018, 02:58:15 PM »
Found the Rav Hamachshir and he emailed me:

כן כל השוקולד הוא חלב ישראל וכל המוצרים מהדרין

הרב ישי סמואל

Now what? Sigh...
I'll say it again ... When you get to heaven after  120...and they ask you if you ate kosher, you'll have no problem saying you're not sure but you def paid for kosher.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10266 on: May 07, 2018, 03:17:37 PM »
I'll say it again ... When you get to heaven after  120...and they ask you if you ate kosher, you'll have no problem saying you're not sure but you def paid for kosher.
:D
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline aygart

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10267 on: May 07, 2018, 03:53:19 PM »
Found the Rav Hamachshir and he emailed me:

כן כל השוקולד הוא חלב ישראל וכל המוצרים מהדרין

הרב ישי סמואל

Now what? Sigh...
Do you trust their supervision?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10268 on: May 07, 2018, 03:59:58 PM »
Do you trust their supervision?
How in the world am I supposed to know anything about הרב ישי סמואל?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline aygart

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10269 on: May 07, 2018, 04:02:25 PM »
How in the world am I supposed to know anything about הרב ישי סמואל?
So then do the same thing as you would do with a Rav Hamachshir in the US who you can't find anything out about them. I'm not sure why you are making this more confusing than in the US.
Feelings don't care about your facts

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10270 on: May 07, 2018, 04:07:07 PM »
Found the Rav Hamachshir and he emailed me:

כן כל השוקולד הוא חלב ישראל וכל המוצרים מהדרין

הרב ישי סמואל

Now what? Sigh...


Am I the only one that finds it odd that an Israeli manufactured product, which is primarily (exclusively?) sold in Israel would use two foreign based Hechsherim?

Westheim is obviously a step down from top level Kashrus, as evidenced by the Tara switchover (apparently a lot more lenient regarding requirements for certifying milk as CY, possibly other issues).

As someone pointed out upthread "מהדרין" is totally meaningless, as it means different things to different people.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10271 on: May 07, 2018, 04:10:20 PM »
So then do the same thing as you would do with a Rav Hamachshir in the US who you can't find anything out about them. I'm not sure why you are making this more confusing than in the US.
In the US I'd call my friend in the OU or ask the CRC. I don't have anything like that for Israel to rely on.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10272 on: May 07, 2018, 04:17:22 PM »
In the US I'd call my friend in the OU or ask the CRC. I don't have anything like that for Israel to rely on.
What would you do here if the CRC or OU says they don't know the guy? Until you have someone you trust who does know him then that is where you stand with him.

Westheim is obviously a step down from top level Kashrus, as evidenced by the Tara switchover (apparently a lot more lenient regarding requirements for certifying milk as CY, possibly other issues).

I had thought that it was mentioned that they were under Westheim. But then why is it complicated. Either you will go by his standards or not. CRC can tell you about Westheim.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10273 on: May 07, 2018, 04:20:42 PM »
What would you do here if the CRC or OU says they don't know the guy? Until you have someone you trust who does know him then that is where you stand with him.
And that is why Israel is more complicated. There is no general CRC or Star-K type line to call into. Therefore Americans find it complicated.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline as2

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10274 on: May 07, 2018, 04:25:14 PM »


What would you do here if the CRC or OU says they don't know the guy? Until you have someone you trust who does know him then that is where you stand with him.



And that is why Israel is more complicated. There is no general CRC or Star-K type line to call into. Therefore Americans find it complicated.
To add to this, there are a lot more establishments that fall into this unknown category. Imagine if 7 of every 10 places you asked the CRC, or whoever you trust, about, you got an unknown? Most places in the US will be deemed kosher or not, by one of a few organizations that most of us trust. That cannot be said about Israel.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10275 on: May 07, 2018, 04:33:10 PM »
And that is why Israel is more complicated. There is no general CRC or Star-K type line to call into. Therefore Americans find it complicated.
Again there is no R Fishbane there, but there are people who are familiar with kashrus in Israel in general who would answer your questions. They may or may not know of this individual hechsher (i would say the odds are against it).
Feelings don't care about your facts

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10276 on: May 07, 2018, 04:38:04 PM »
Again there is no R Fishbane there, but there are people who are familiar with kashrus in Israel in general who would answer your questions. They may or may not know of this individual hechsher (i would say the odds are against it).
That's exactly the point. There are so many hechsherim, and so few people (if any) who can give you a real answer about each. You walk down a street in Israel, there are tons of different places with different hechsherim.
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10277 on: May 07, 2018, 04:43:56 PM »
In the US I'd call my friend in the OU or ask the CRC. I don't have anything like that for Israel to rely on.
That can be easily solved by providing you with a contact number (or Telegram group) to ask, but fair warning: IINM he works for Rav Landa of BB, so expect almost anything to be unacceptable.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10278 on: May 07, 2018, 04:50:28 PM »


That's exactly the point. There are so many hechsherim, and so few people (if any) who can give you a real answer about each. You walk down a street in Israel, there are tons of different places with different hechsherim.

Huh? Plenty of rabbanim will give you answers. And in Jerusalem there are under 20 hechserim you will encounter, and 99% are within the same 5-6.

Offline Dan

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Re: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread
« Reply #10279 on: May 07, 2018, 04:59:34 PM »
That can be easily solved by providing you with a contact number (or Telegram group) to ask, but fair warning: IINM he works for Rav Landa of BB, so expect almost anything to be unacceptable.
That's not worthwhile for me then. Same as I wouldn't ask someone who only eats CHK about eating OK.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.