Tel Aviv restaurants giving up millions on the path to kashrut

More and more restaurants in Tel Aviv are choosing to become kosher and close on Shabbat, even at the cost of lost revenue. According to the Religious Council, nearly 1,200 kosher businesses now operate in the city, about 100 more than last year.

More and more restaurants in Tel Aviv are choosing to become kosher and close on Shabbat, even at the cost of lost revenue. According to data from the Tel Aviv–Jaffa Religious Council, nearly 1,200 businesses now operate under rabbinical supervision in the city, about 100 more than last year. Notable examples include "Itzik HaGadol" restaurant in Jaffa, which gave up Shabbat operations that accounted for about 35% of its turnover, and "Avazim" restaurant at the Tel Aviv port, which closed on Shabbat after decades of operation. Religious Council Chairman Eldad Mizrahi explains that the rise stems from growing demand for kashrut, a strengthening connection to tradition since October 7, and a desire for a weekly day of rest. The "Lucky Chicken" chain has made three of its five branches kosher; the owner of the Nahalat Yitzhak branch, Haran Rogovski, said the switch brought in new customers, including kosher-observant families and high-tech workers. The Religious Council reports about 250 kashrut supervisors and dozens more businesses seeking kosher certification, and a new app for locating kosher businesses will soon be launched.