Comments on: Crowne Plaza Jerusalem

By: Suzanne Lieberman

Suzanne Lieberman — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:24:54 +0000

I’ve just read your update, and can’t believe that it’s going to stop being mehadrin as of July 1st - what a great shame!

By: Josh

Josh — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:28:08 +0000

You say that the restaurant is mehadrin: does it have a mehadrin hashgacha (and if so which one) or is it just unofficially being held to a higher standard than the rest of the hotel?

By: Suzanne Lieberman

Suzanne Lieberman — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:48:20 +0000

So you got there then! Glad you enjoyed it! Could you tell me how the Crowne Plaza compares with the Inbal?

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:56:39 +0000

Chaim,

Perhaps it should also be noted that many people daven quite early on Shabbos, especially in E”Y, and thus may want to partake of a light breakfast before a late seudah.

Furthermore, it is not at all obvious to me that women or children cannot easily daven before their meal, which would imply that breakfast may be 100% lechatchila for more than 50% of the population…

By: Moshe

Moshe — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:17:36 +0000

I continue to appreciate your reports and all the personal efforts that go into your investigations. Kashrut here is more complicated than in chutz la-aretz, and distinguishing a reliable hashgacha from those that are unreliable is quite a daunting task for the average Jew.

Have you ever looked into the Ramat Rachel hotel? Many, many frum Jews have affairs there and take its kashrut reliability for granted. I personally had an experience there over a family Shabbat event, and was less than convinced that it’s really reliable, let alone “mehadrin for Shabbat” as claimed on their certifcate.

Again, thank you for the important work you are doing!

By: Yehuda

Yehuda — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:41:53 +0000

“If you feel this taints the report, then it would be wise not to rely on any
of my reports if you think I can be bought out for some curry.” i appreciate your report and i am sure this is true however the torah warns ki hashochad yavir aina PIKKCHIM visalef divrie ZADDIKIM so i dont think that would show a flaw of charechter rather a strong feeling of gratitude

By: Chaim

Chaim — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:42:42 +0000

Outstanding and very informative report!

Just one small point: Regarding the lighter, cold breakfast served on Shabbat morning, the report said, “In addition, this is the norm for Am Yisrael before shul.” Perhaps this would be an appropriate forum to point out that this “norm” has a very tenuous halachic basis, if at all. The Shulchan Aruch makes no distinction between eating before Shacharit during the week and on Shabbat: in general it’s prohibited even on Shabat, unless someone has a concrete health concern, in which case it’s allowed even on a regular yom chol.

By: Eliyahu Skoczylas

Eliyahu Skoczylas — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:21:35 +0000

My wife and I went for our anniversary to Kohinoor. We were quite satisfied with the buffet, which is very reasonably priced, and “all you can eat.” We took advantage of a credit card promotion, and it was even cheaper (I think 120 for two,) to which we added some wine. The portions were fresh and constantly being replenished in the buffet. And I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure that I saw Rav Avital coming in and out of the dining area, checking on the buffet. We liked the place, and would also recommend it, even though we paid for our meals.

Good report on the hotel, BTW. Between the Crowne Plaza and Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center, it sounds like you had a much better week than fingering shysters and forgers in the shuk! Keep up the good work, and thanks for all that you do.