The Secret Life of Bnei Brak – A Bakery and Cholent Tour on Thursday Evenings

The most vibrant city in central Israel is actually Bnei Brak! A ten-minute drive from Tel Aviv will land you, as if in a time capsule, straight inside the “shtetl”—the Jewish town of 19th-century Eastern Europe. Rumors on the streets of Bnei Brak suggest that something extraordinary is happening in the City of Torah and Mitzvot.

Streets crowded with bakeries, Judaica shops, small, packed synagogues from which prayers can be heard throughout the day, uniquely styled shop windows, and distinctive, especially hurried figures. And when night falls, those who know, in confidence, where to squeeze through the alleyways will find amazing bakeries, kugel unlike anything you have ever tasted, and cholent in a variety of forms and flavors.

We will walk along the bustling Rabbi Akiva Street and visit its unique shops, climb up to the Ponevezh Yeshiva to learn about the world of yeshivas, and enter the home of a matchmaker for a fascinating meeting! We will finish at a local restaurant serving traditional Jewish food whose distinctive flavor has been preserved over the years (everyone tastes and pays individually).

During the tour, time will be provided for independent tastings. You will be able to choose from a variety of Jewish cuisine: challah, cholent, kigel, herring, and more. You are invited to decide what you would like to taste and purchase.

You are about to be introduced to a fascinating world and receive answers to some particularly interesting questions:

• Why won’t you find even one woman eating while walking along the street?
• Why is a full-length skirt considered less modest than an ankle-length skirt?
• Why don’t people wear denim clothing?
• What is the difference between “kugel” and “kigel”?
• What makes Vizhnitz Bakery the undisputed challah brand?

This is a rare opportunity to glimpse this fascinating world, uncover local secrets, and have an engaging conversation with the neighbor we have never spoken to.

The tour takes place on Thursdays from 20:30–23:00.

The meeting point and guide details will be sent to registrants on the day of the tour.

Very important! Please arrive in modest clothing!
Women: a long skirt or dress and a blouse with sleeves.

All tastings are kosher; vegetarian options are available.
The tastings are independent—each person tastes and pays accordingly, directly at the delis/bakeries.

Cancellation policy

• 14 days or more before the tour: a full refund is available (a credit-card processing fee may be deducted).
• 3–14 days before the tour: a refund of 50% of the order value.
• 0–48 hours before the tour: no refund and no option to change the date.
• Up to 48 hours before the tour: credit may be retained and a new date coordinated with us, subject to tour availability.