JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A Jewish American family visiting Syria found themselves eating only fruit for dinner. The food at the hotel was not kosher, and the hotel owner quickly realized there was a problem. Against the backdrop of Jewish tourists returning to Syria under the country’s new regime, he decided, according to a report in The New York Times, to offer a kosher menu for Jewish guests.

The Royal Semiramis, a five-star hotel in Damascus, reopened only in April 2025. Recently, following the introduction of its kosher menu, it has become a central hub for Jews arriving in the city. According to reports, it is the only place in Syria that serves kosher food. Although Syria’s Jewish community now consists of only a handful of individuals, the number of Jews visiting Damascus has been rising since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime — along with the demand for kosher meals.

Bachor Simantov, one of the last remaining members of Damascus’s Jewish community, said that the hotel opened a kosher section in its kitchen. “The plates, the utensils — everything is new and kosher. Jews bring meat from America and eat kosher, but with God’s help, in April, after Passover, a ritual slaughterer will come and slaughter meat for the restaurant in Damascus.”

Simantov said he frequently visits the restaurant. He explained that the kosher section is intended to encourage Jews to come to Syria. “We are encouraging Syrians to return to the country for investment, to open businesses, to pray at the synagogue. If someone wants to return to their old home, there is no problem with that — the government has no problem.”

Rabbi Asher Lepatin, an Orthodox rabbi from Detroit who dined at the kosher restaurant in Damascus , told Israel’s Kan outlet Arab Affairs correspondent Roi Kais:

“The hotel truly did everything to provide kosher food. They wanted us to eat real food, not just fruit. The owner bought new cutlery and genuinely organized kosher meals. We brought the meat from the United States. There is no kosher certification, but it was kosher. The menu mainly included pitas, meat, and salads.”

Rabbi Lopatin in Damascus

American travel influencer Nick Maddock, who has more than 190,000 followers on Instagram, wrote on January 11: “One of the things that surprised me most and that I now appreciate about Syria is how diverse it is. It’s truly a mosaic of cultures, religions and ethnic groups. And Damascus is the center of it all. Although not many remain, Syrian Jews are an integral part of that mosaic — which is why I greatly appreciated that this restaurant has a fully available kosher kitchen.”

Maddock posted the written caption alongside a video from the restaurant, together with Joseph (Joe) Jajati, a Syrian-American Jewish businessman who frequently visits Syria.

In the video, Maddock films the kitchen and explains that there are completely separate utensils for kosher food, as well as different preparation methods. A sign in English can be seen reading, “For kosher food only, do not touch.” Maddock emphasizes that it is likely the cleanest kitchen he saw in all of Damascus.