As well, we carry with us basic necessities that come in handy when we have to fend for ourselves.
So here are some lists and hints that might make your kosher journey a bit easier.
Please note that what we are presenting is not an endorsement of any kosher establishment, list, or procedure. We are not halachic authorities. Please do not rely on anything that we may print below; please check everything with your rabbi to ensure that it meets your halachic standards.
Note: because some of the kosher product lists are in foreign languages, it is advised to review the list before travelling and use Google Translate to assist you in identifying which food category you are looking at.
A Couple of Excellent Shiurim
A Couple of Excellent Shiurim
The Rav of our Shul in Toronto, Rav Yirmiya Milevsky, presented a series on Halacha and Travel. The first shiur is entitled "Kosher on the Road", and is presented here in two segments. They can be found on Youtube at the following locations:
Travel Kosher 1 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxldd2vwfi0
Travel Kosher 2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3CKRNKMPiM
The second shiur is entitled Shabbos on the Road (video to be uploaded soon).
Kosher Restaurant Lists
1) The Shamash restaurant site is a very comprehensive list of kosher restaurants around the world. The listing of each establishment sometimes includes reviews by consumers which is extremely helpful for the tourist:
http://shamash.org/kosher/
http://shamash.org/kosher/
2) On this site under Travel, there is a listing by community of the kosher establishments in each city:
http://www.kashrut.com/travel/
Local Kashrut product lists
North America
Given that there are numerous hechsherim in North America and that most products have the hechsher printed on the label, we are only providing links to a number of the major supervising agencies. Again, consult your rabbi to determine whether that agency meets your kashrut standards.
OU - http://www.ou.org/
OK - http://www.ok.org/
Star K - http://www.star-k.org
Kof - K - http://www.kof-k.org/
CRC - http://www.crcweb.org/
COR - http://www.cor.ca/
MK - http://www.mk.ca/
BCK - http://bckosher.org/
We are also providing a link to the AKO (The Association of Kashrus Organizations) which is an umbrella organization of the major kashrus supervisory agencies in North America:
http://www.akokosher.org/
The COR of Toronto recently published a convenient card that highlights many of the more recognizable kashrus supervisory agencies in the world. While this is not a complete list, it is a convenient reference card to have available while shopping. To see this in larger print, visit http://cor.ca/view/85/cor_kosher_symbol_card.html
The COR of Toronto recently published a convenient card that highlights many of the more recognizable kashrus supervisory agencies in the world. While this is not a complete list, it is a convenient reference card to have available while shopping. To see this in larger print, visit http://cor.ca/view/85/cor_kosher_symbol_card.html
Israel
Israel is, at the same time, the most complicated and the least complicated country to visit for Kashrut. There are numerous hechsherim and within each of those hechsherim, there are levels of mehadrin and non - mehadrin. All around the world, when in doubt, buy fruit and vegetables.
In Israel you have the issue of whether terumah and ma'aser has been taken from these products. Once in 7 years, you have the issue of shemittah and the various different opinions on this very important halacha. Different branches of the same chain of restaurants can be under different hashgachot.
On the other hand, most of the major supermarkets have a rule that all products must carry some rabbinical supervision, and so you will never starve. As well, the expansion of kosher restaurants in Israel means that there are kosher eating establishments all over the country and you will seldom have to brown bag it.
Israel is, at the same time, the most complicated and the least complicated country to visit for Kashrut. There are numerous hechsherim and within each of those hechsherim, there are levels of mehadrin and non - mehadrin. All around the world, when in doubt, buy fruit and vegetables.
In Israel you have the issue of whether terumah and ma'aser has been taken from these products. Once in 7 years, you have the issue of shemittah and the various different opinions on this very important halacha. Different branches of the same chain of restaurants can be under different hashgachot.
On the other hand, most of the major supermarkets have a rule that all products must carry some rabbinical supervision, and so you will never starve. As well, the expansion of kosher restaurants in Israel means that there are kosher eating establishments all over the country and you will seldom have to brown bag it.
Kosher Lists of countries we have visited
Australia - http://www.ka.org.au/index.php/component/option,com_kosherdb/Itemid,61/
Germany - http://www.yeckes.com/index.php?page=302
Germany - http://www.ordonline.de/koscherliste/?cat=7&sortby=1
Austria -
http://www.ikg-wien.at/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HaMadrich_2012.pdf
http://www.ikg-wien.at/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HaMadrich_2012.pdf
Croatia - http://www.kosherdelight.com/Croatia_Kosher_List_2013_Dec_16_2012.pdf
France - http://www.consistoire.org/documents/4024/Produits_select2010.pdf
Greece - http://www.chabad.gr/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/66080/jewish/Kosher-products-list.htm
Italy - http://www.italykosher.com/
Italy - http://www.italykosherunion.it/Kosher%20food%20list-en.html
Italy - http://moked.it/torinoebraica/kasher/lista-dei-prodotti-kasher/
New Zealand - http://www.kosherkiwidirectory.co.nz/fulldirectory.pdf
New Zealand - http://www.kosherkiwidirectory.co.nz/fulldirectory.pdf
Norway - http://www.dmt.oslo.no/filestore/Kosher/KosherlistenJuni2011.pdf
Spain - Madrid - http://www.cjmadrid.org/images/stories/pdfs/casherenmadrid.pdf
Spain - Barcelona - http://www.jabadbarcelona.org/media/pdf/652/rhMc6527589.pdf
Switzerland - http://www.irgz.ch/downloads/koscherliste_aktuell.pdf
United Kingdom - This annual guide is needed when shopping in England as very few items have any sort of kosher symbol on the label. The guide costs about 10 Pounds and is available by mail order through the website - http://www.kosher.org.uk/
United Kingdom - This annual guide is free and is available online. It highlights nosh available in the United Kingdom. - http://www.kosher.org.uk/noshguide.html
Kosher Fish Guide
http://www.kosherquest.org/kq_fish.php
This is an excellent guide to kosher laws regarding fish. It has lists of kosher and non kosher fish and more importantly, has the names of common kosher fish in multiple languages. You can buy fish almost anywhere and with a fry pan; a disposable BBQ; or a microwave oven and some saran wrap; have a great fish dinner anywhere in the world.
Jewish Community Info
- Lists of Orthodox shuls - http://www.ou.org/synagogue_support/synagogues
- List of Sefaradic shuls - http://www.americansephardifederation.org/syn_world.html
- Lists of minyanim around the world - http://www.godaven.com/
Chabad
This section should logically be included in the Jewish Community Info section. However because of the invaluable contribution of Chabad to Kosher and jewish travel around the world, they deserve their own section and kudos for their mesiras nefesh and ever present welcoming smiles to Jews everywhere.
When beginning to plan our trips, one of the first places we visit is the Chabad website. It provides us with up to date local information and contacts regarding kosher food, candle lighting times and accommodation that is in walking distance to where we want to be on Shabbat. There is nothing worse than booking a tour or driving to a destination on a Friday and finding out that Shabbat begins earlier than you thought.
On our recent visit to the Far East, Chabad was almost everywhere. We had access to Chabad kosher restaurants in almost every area that we visited which meant that we did not have to lug kilos of food with us wherever we went.
They are often the only source of anything Jewish in an entire country, and provide much needed Shabbat hospitality. Thanks, Chabad, for making Jewish and Kosher travel so much more convenient.
http://www.chabad.org/centers/default_cdo/jewish/Centers.htm
This section should logically be included in the Jewish Community Info section. However because of the invaluable contribution of Chabad to Kosher and jewish travel around the world, they deserve their own section and kudos for their mesiras nefesh and ever present welcoming smiles to Jews everywhere.
When beginning to plan our trips, one of the first places we visit is the Chabad website. It provides us with up to date local information and contacts regarding kosher food, candle lighting times and accommodation that is in walking distance to where we want to be on Shabbat. There is nothing worse than booking a tour or driving to a destination on a Friday and finding out that Shabbat begins earlier than you thought.
On our recent visit to the Far East, Chabad was almost everywhere. We had access to Chabad kosher restaurants in almost every area that we visited which meant that we did not have to lug kilos of food with us wherever we went.
They are often the only source of anything Jewish in an entire country, and provide much needed Shabbat hospitality. Thanks, Chabad, for making Jewish and Kosher travel so much more convenient.
http://www.chabad.org/centers/default_cdo/jewish/Centers.htm
The Jewish Calendar
We use www.hebcal.com extensively when planning a trip. It is the ultimate location for Jewish calendar information. You can customize your calendar with the weekly parsha, dates of Rosh Chodesh, fast days etc. If you plan trips as early as we do, you need to know that the day that you have chosen for a long hike is not a fast day. As well, you can customize your calendar for the chagim here or in Israel.
http://www.hebcal.com/
Products that do not require supervision
Here are a few sites that discuss products that do not require supervision. Again, we are not the halachic authorities; so please check your standards with your rabbi.
http://www.kosherquest.org/book.php?id=Products_that_Do_Not_Require_Certification.htm
http://crazyjewishconvert.blogspot.ca/2011/06/things-that-dont-need-hechsher.html
http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-no-need.htm
http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-no-need.htm
Halachic Guides
The Star K has an excellent site and includes numerous halachic articles including a number of travel related articles.
http://www.star-k.org/cons-kash-articles.htm#travel
The topics that they cover include: The International Dateline; hotel issues; cruising; getting stuck on a Friday afternoon, etc.
The Traveler's Halachic Guide to Hotels is particularly good, addressing issues that arise in a modern hotel:
http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-TheTravelersHalachicGuidetoHotels.htm
The Star K has an excellent site and includes numerous halachic articles including a number of travel related articles.
http://www.star-k.org/cons-kash-articles.htm#travel
The topics that they cover include: The International Dateline; hotel issues; cruising; getting stuck on a Friday afternoon, etc.
The Traveler's Halachic Guide to Hotels is particularly good, addressing issues that arise in a modern hotel:
http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-TheTravelersHalachicGuidetoHotels.htm
Our Basic Travel Necessities
- One can purchase disposable dishes and cutlery anywhere; so we only carry enough to get us started for the first day or two.
- If we are going to be in a self catering situation, we will take with a small fry pan, some small cooking utensils, a few mixing bowls for salads and the like, a small electric fry pan or a George Foreman Grill
Essential cooking utensils:
- can opener
- dairy, Meat and Parve sharp knife
- vegetable peeler
- cutting boards (buy thin cutting boards at IKEA in different colors)
The main thing to look for here is that the items that you bring with you are shelf stable; i.e.; require no refrigeration.
- canned fish
- peanut butter and jam
- rice crackers, pita, crackers or tortilla wraps
- canned hummous or babganoush or matboucha
- instant soup mixes - (requires boiled water)
- ready made vacuum packed meals (La Briute - self cooking package or Amazing Meals by Meal Mart - requires microwave or boiling water)
- Ta'aman veretarian Soy Products (from Israel in a pouch - requires microwave)
- salami or vacuum packed cold cuts (which do require refrigeration)
- instant oatmeal (requires boiled water)
- nuts and raisins/cranberries (healthy snack)
- canned chickpeas
Please note that the principle of drinking government supervised milk without hashgacha, does not apply in all countries. One should consult their rabbi before travelling to ensure that they can drink the local milk. If not, the alternatives are soy, almond or rice milk or long life UHT (shelf stable) milk from countries where such milk meets the halachic requirement.
- havdalah set
- matches or lighter
- shabbat candles
- battery operated tea lights (IKEA) for hotels or cruise liners that do not permit candles
- duct tape for preventing staff from turning off lights
- duct tape for taping the lock in an electronic keylock situation
- Shabbat clock timer so that you can leave a lamp on beside the bed
- plug adapters
- fabric wash
- suntan lotion
- insect repellant
- afterbite
- earplugs
- sleep mask
- motion sickness pills for a cruise
- ATM card/credit card
- passport
- driver's license
- tickets & hotel/car rental confirmation numbers
- Medical Insurance Cards
- list of medications & medical prescriptions or phone number of your pharmacist
- eyeglass prescriptions or an extra pair
- collapsible tote
- umbrella & raincoat
- empty Ziploc bags various sizes
- money belt (the under clothes kind for security)
- sewing kit
- chargers for all electronic gadgets
- camera and extra digital cards/batteries
- noise cancelling headphones
- tallis and tefillin
- 2 copies of itinerary; one with you and one in your suitcase
It is advisable to scan your passports, credit cards and driver's license and place them in a secure location on your computer; in case you misplace or lose any of these while travelling, you will be able to conveniently find the copy and order a replacement.
