Spanish law prevented Jews from developing a Jewish community in Spain until 1968, but since that time the Jewish community of Spain has grown and flourished. The community has begun organizing its communal life and establishing synagogues, organizations and cultural institutions. Travelers who wish to keep kosher while visiting Madrid can now visit one of the city's kosher restaurants.
Rabbi Moshe Bendahan of the Madrid Rabbinical Authority provides the hechsher, or certification of kashruth (kosher standing) for La Escudilla, a meat restaurant that serves traditionally Sepharadic (Jewish North African) foods. The restaurant has an extensive menu of salads and includes a soup-of-the-day and a selection of meat dishes. Visitors can eat at the restaurant or or order take-a-way, including Sabbath meals. The restaurant opens from 1:30p.m. to 4:30p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and again from 8:00p.m. to 11:30p.m. On Fridays and the day before a Jewish holiday, the restaurant opens from 1:30p.m. to 4:30p.m. La Escudilla also reopens on Saturday nights, after the Sabbath ends.
La Escudilla
Calle de la Santísima Trinidad 16
Madrid, Spain
0034 91445 7380
laescudilla.com
The Naomi Grill serves a traditional North African Sepharadic menu of grilled meats, stews and couscous. Naomi's Grill provides take-a-way service and also offers Sabbath meals at the restaurant (Orthodox Jews do not cook on the Sabbath and they do not use money on the Sabbath, so a kosher restaurant that serves food on the Sabbath must pre-cook the food and make arrangements for people to reserve their meals and pay before the onset of the Sabbath on Friday night) . The Hechsher comes from Rabbi Moshe Bendahan of the Madrid Rabbinical Authority. Naomi's Grill serves kosher wines and traditional baklava for dessert. Naomi's opens Sundays to mid-day Fridays. from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. and again in the evening from 8:30p.m. to 11p.m. Naomi Grill closes Friday evenings and Saturdays for the Jewish Sabbath.
Naomi Grill
Calle Pensamiento 25
2802 Madrid, Spain
0034-9157-16923
The Chabad Lubavitch denomination establishes "Chabad Houses" to provide Jewish services to residents and visitors in hundreds of locations throughout the world. Oftentimes, these services include a free or low-cost restaurant that the organizers open so that Jews who live or visit an area can eat kosher food. In particular, organizers of Chabad Houses encourage Jews to attend the Chabad House Sabbath/holiday services and Sabbath/holiday meals so people can celebrate the Jewish festivals and Sabbath with a Jewish community. The Chabad house of Madrid offers kosher meals as part of itsr Sabbath/holiday hospitality. The Madrid Chabad organizers offer these meals throughout the year, on every Sabbath and every Jewish holiday. Individuals who wish to join the Madrid Chabad House for Shabbat or holiday services and meals should contact the Chabad House to ascertain the hours when they will have services and meals. These times vary according to the time of year because of the varying times of sunset, when the Sabbath or holiday begins.
Chabad of Madrid
Apartado De Correos Apt. 10.117
Madrid, 28080 Spain
0034-91-445-9629
chabad.org
