Can You Guess What It Takes To Prepare a Luxury Hotel for Passover?

At the award-winning luxury hotel, Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, Passover preparation is an exercise of military-scale proportions. Voted the top-hotel in the Middle East by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine, the Waldorf Astoria has become a leading destination for discerning travelers to Israel’s capital. 

Given the strict parameters involved in operating within kosher for Passover guidelines, nearly the entire hotel staff takes part in these preparations. Much of the planning begins months in advance of the holiday with an estimated 800 hours put into simply preparing the kitchen and dining facilities to welcome the five hundred plus guests who arrive for the week of Passover.

MORE: Stepping Into History at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

The process of “kashering” the complex for Passover involves ensuring that all food preparation and serving areas, rooms and suites, ballroom, conference rooms, lobby and all public areas (essentially every nook and cranny of the hotel) are thoroughly cleaned and examined for even the slightest remnant of leavened products (chametz). Supervising this process is Rabbi Eliyashiv Nafcha and his team of 15 kashrut supervisors, or mashgichim, who work at all hours of the day and night and are specifically trained in the intricate laws involved in preparing a facility of this size. The kitchen staff is complemented by a team of 30 stewards who assist in cleaning and bringing in new equipment and dishes just for the Passover period.

“Making the hotel kosher for Passover is a month long process that involves a high level of coordination to ensure that we are providing the highest standard of kashrut for our guests,” says Avner On, the Waldorf Astoria’s General Manager. “But we know that thorough attention to detail, which involves every member of our team, is what creates the true luxury experience and allows our guests to appreciate that they are being afforded the best service imaginable.” 

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So while Passover prep is meticulous, organized, precise… Passover enjoyment can be SPONTANEOUS and LUXURIOUS!!!

Every nook and cranny of the hotel has been scrubbed clean of chametz! All guests can feel comfortable and confident in Waldorf’s trademark attention to detail– both the highest standards of hospitality and kashrut are top priority. 

Adherence to the strictest levels of kashrut are supervised by Rabbi Eliyashiv Nafcha and his team of 15 mashgichim, who spend 20 hours a day in the kitchen and dining rooms. 

Culinary operations for the holiday will be supervised by Executive Chef Itzik Barak. Barak has established an international name in the culinary world after being selected as one of only five chefs to compete in the Taste of Waldorf competition.

MORE: A Taste of Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem

Chef Itzik has prepared a menu fit for kings for this year’s seder. Guests can choose among at least nine choices, including slow cooked veal cheek in wine and beef jus, baked sea bass fillet, grilled lamb chops and marbled beef shoulder stuffed with pistachios and herbs.

The way the Passover schedule falls out this year is so convenient! You can stay the whole week, or choose to celebrate just the seder at the Waldorf. You can check in for chol hamoed (we have the whole week!) or enjoy a relaxing last day of yom tov experience.

If you’re local and last minute want to elevate your Passover plans, the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem is ready and waiting for you with a culinary experience fit for royalty and the best service imaginable.

MORE: Exclusive Q&A With Famed Chef Itzik Mizrachi Barak

The hotel’s signature fine dining meat and dairy restaurants, The Palace and King’s Court respectively, will be open to the public on Chol Hamoed, the intermediary days of the Passover holiday.  Each featuring a truly royal menu.

To top it all off the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem has a wonderful holiday kids club featuring a game room, gymboree and an exclusive kids luxury “check-in” experience, replete with a “passport” activity book and coloring books for their stay, an Astor the Bellboy pillow (that my kids still hug as they fall asleep) and a kids height buffet with special foods that even the adults will want to sample.

“Every year, Jews around the world pray to celebrate Passover ‘next year in Jerusalem’,” said On. “We are honored to host those who chose to make that a reality and wish our Jewish brothers and sisters all around the world a wonderful holiday.”