Syrian luxury hotel offers kosher food ~ Elder Of Ziyon

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Syrian luxury hotel offers kosher food

From the Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor:

In December, Jewish Federation’s Community Relations Director Rabbi Asher Lopatin led an academic and cultural mission to Syria, with the goal of solidifying and deepening relations with the University of Damascus and the Damascus National Museum and American universities. ...

After a warm VIP welcome at the airport, the group visited the well- kept Al-Franje synagogue and were honored to light Chanukah candles there to celebrate the eighth day of Chanukah. They continued to the Jewish cemetery to help with bringing the marker of Rabbi Chayim Vital’s wife – currently strewn upside down in a faraway place in the cemetery – to the chapel housing Rabbi Chayim Vital’s stone. Another Chanukah Menorah was lit at the new five-star Semiramis Hotel, where the owner treated the group to a fully kosher meal – including new dishes and silverware purchased just for kosher customers and meat brought in from America. The chefs proudly and graciously showed the group the fully kosher kitchen and preparation space.

RT Arabic reports about why the luxury hotel owner decided to make kosher food available:

Munther Nuzha, the owner of the Semiramis Hotel, explained that the idea began about two or three months ago, when the hotel hosted an American Jewish delegation that was touring Syria. He met them at the hotel for dinner, and among them was an American rabbi, but he was unable to eat any of the food provided.

He added that the rabbi explained to him that he couldn't eat because the food wasn't kosher, prompting him to ask what could be offered. The response was that only cut fruit was available. He noted his surprise, wondering how a religious Jew could attend a dinner invitation without suitable food being provided. The rabbi replied that the solution was to find a restaurant that served kosher food.

He added that the idea seemed good to him, and he expressed his support to the rabbi, believing that the availability of kosher food would encourage Jews to visit Syria and feel welcome. After the rabbi returned to the United States, he contacted him later and informed him of the desire of a delegation of American Jewish academics to eat kosher food at the hotel.

The hotel owner confirmed that he had no objection, stressing that the hotel staff also welcomed the idea. He said that Syria today welcomes all visitors, especially Jews, to show that there is no personal animosity towards them, recalling that Syria historically had a large number of Syrian Jews, and that it is a country where different sects have coexisted without problems.

The times they are a-changing.