From here to there, from there to here, Jewish things are everywhere…
For ages, I’d been dying to have an adventure. To go off somewhere on my own, and just explore. Well, I’ve finally bitten the bullet – pretty soon I’ll be heading off to San Francisco for a few days, and boy, am I excited! The Golden Gate Bridge, the sea lions at Pier 39… just call me the Jewish traveler extraordinaire!
But this upcoming trip has got me thinking. Travel always presents many thrills and challenges, but traveling as a Jew often presents its own special joys and difficulties: If you keep kosher, where (and what) do you eat? If you’re Shabbat-observant, what sort of things are open for you to do on your travels? And even if these issues aren’t a problem for you, there are still the added joys of Jewish travel that you wouldn’t want to miss out on (going to Venice? Don’t you dare leave without checking out the old Jewish Ghetto in the Cannaregio sestiere!).
So what is a Jewish traveler to do? Well, I’ve complied a short list of great travel books, specifically designed to help you navigate the challenges and special surprises of Jewish travel:
- No Jewish traveler should ever leave home without the Jewish Travel Guide. This baby lists the local synagogues, kosher restaurants, mikvahs, community organizations, Jewish museums, and Jewish tourist sites for every country and every US state.
- Looking for a unique Jewish perspective on your destination of choice? Try The Jewish Traveler: Hadassah Magazine’s Guide to the World’s Jewish Communities and Sights, which lists a brief Jewish history, “synopsis of the current community scene including colorful local personalities”, and listings of Jewish sightseeing attractions, accomodations, and restaurants for 48 of the world’s cities.
- Heading off to Eastern Europe? Be sure to take your copy of National Geographic Jewish Heritage Travel: A Guide to Eastern Europe.
- Headed for warmer climates? Don’t forget to bring A Travel Guide to the Jewish Carribean and South America!
- And, of course, a list of Jewish travel books wouldn’t be complete without a guide to Israel. There are tons of options out there, but my personal favorite is the classic Frommer’s Israel.
Happy trails!
Naomi
