The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem opened in 2014 and is a gem, possibly the finest hotel in the whole country. And best of all you can use Hilton points and free night to stay there. Previously the David Citadel Hotel was a gem in the Hilton portfolio when it opened in 1998, but it left Hilton in 2001.
Globes is reporting that the Reichmann family has sold the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem to Michel Ohayon for $130M while Haaretz is reporting a sale price of $160M. The great news here is that Mr. Ohayon also owns the Waldorf Astoria Trianon Palace in Versailles, France. That means he’s likely going to keep the hotel under the Waldorf flag. He also plans on finally building the pool and spa that have been back-burnered for years. A new upscale restaurant will be added as well.
Aside from the perfect location and luxurious accommodations, it’s worth staying at the Waldorf just for the fantastic daily breakfast, which is free for Hilton Gold and Diamond members even when they’re using points. There is a mind-boggling quantity of awesome kosher food there, from dozens of daily hot dishes to hard cheeses, fresh fruits and pastries to fresh squeezed juices, as well as on-demand dishes like french toast, pancakes, waffles, and eggs. Unlimited wine, hot or cold chocolate drinks, and espresso drinks are included as well!
With a breakfast like this, you may not even be hungry for dinner…
I’m thrilled to hear that the hotel will remain a Waldorf Astoria despite the sale and look forward to staying here again on our next trip to the holy land.
Have you stayed at the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem? Share your experience in the comments!
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111 Comments On "The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem Has Been Sold!"
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Is it Mehadrin?
It’s complicated.
Apparently it’s hard to get a mehadrin hechsher if there are Jews working in the hotel on Shabbos and due to Jews turning on the fire, but not doing all of the cooking.
Personally, I spoke with the mashgiach when we were there, and he assured us that despite the hotel not having a mehadrin hechsher, absolutely all of the food used was mehadrin/badatz/cholov yisroel. I was satisfied with that information after confirming with some other people that it was OK to eat there, but everyone ought to do their own research and not rely on my research from 2015.
We did have our Shabbos meal at the Waldorf next to Avrohom Fried, so if I do go to gehenom over eating there, at least we’ll get an encore of some great nigunim over there 😉
love it
Have to be careful with Ma’aser when it comes to fruits. Also, shemita year can be complicated.
Yes, I asked those exact questions back in 2015 when they were especially relevant and was satisfied with the answers.
But everyone should do their own research.
dan, i would like to ask you a honest question
i have read about all your trips around the globe and at the same time devouring the delicious looking foods out there,
now, has there been any place where you did not eat or any hechser whatsoever is good enough for you?
I sincerely hope you’re joking.
I haven’t eaten at 99% of the meat restaurants in cities like Paris and Rome as nearly all are under the local B”D.
I haven’t eaten at 99% of Israel restaurants for kashrus reasons, the Waldorf is a known exception as they have strived to only use mehadrin food.
I don’t eat at places in my hometown like BlueStar because it’s not Cholov Yisroel
Same goes for places like Bodhi Thai in LA, Cup-K places in NYC, etc, etc.
Dan Is The Man!
With all due respect, if you make laytzanus out of it, you may just end up there.
you are a complete mrohon to make that gehinnom comment learn reisis chachma that disscusses what gehiniom is before you make that statement you have lost your way becoming to overindulged with gashmius. and dont give that chabad anything that is not asur is raised to ruchniyus.
Sorry, but the reason I switched from a litvish to lubavitch education was precisely because I preferred the approach of “ana nosiv malkah” as you can find in the maamor “b’yom ashtei asar” over the mussar approach.
L’chaim 🙂
gehenom is the same for everyone doesn’t matter the “approach”
Of course, but heaven and hell aren’t a part of what motivates a Chabad chosid to serve hashem.
Or as the Alter Rebbe put it, “Ich vil nit dein gan eiden, ich vill nit dein olam haba, ich vil nor dich alein”!”
Dan, thanks for all your work that you do to keep this site up to date with the latest info. Unfortunately not everyone appreciates what you do and sometimes have lots of negativity to share.
All I say is THANK YOU!
@moish How do you know that?
Nah unzere gehenoim iz beser foon zeir gan eiden
Oy! take it easy! and plz adhere to forum and to discussion etiquette!
This was a reply to Chaim…
Giving musser in public in by name calling is not exactly a mitzva either. And how is Raishes Chuchma relevant here?
when making joke in public that is not appropriate Mussar needs to be in public
your right my comment was uncalled i should not have rebuked dan directly. dan please forgive me
Chaim, Im proud of your honesty and ability to own up and take back what you said. It takes a gavra to do so!!
Just keep in mind that in Gehenom, Satan and his band will be joining as well. I hear that admission is free for Hilton gold and diamond members as well 🙂 – lol
Love the humor. Pls save me a seat.
typical chabad;
doesnt care about any aveiros
the main thing is to say afew ma’amorim from the rebbe and put on tfilin for a hippy
Typical sinas chinam and choshed b’kesherim.
I never said I don’t care about aveiros. As I’ve said, I spent many, many hours of my time researching this in 2015 and told people to do their own research as well.
Sorry that you can’t handle my style of humor.
Dan, plz dont pay any attention to the stupidity that some people feel that they have to share…
Dan, I was so happy that you let the antisemites post whatever they wanted about rubashkin. We’re in golus and goyim hate us. Doesn’t bother me one bit. We dont need to answer them. We are one and proud of who we are and dont care that they hate us. But for the sake of ahavas yisroel, can the moderator reserve the right not to publish some comments…
thats why we cant eat in alot of their chabad houses and their schools have issues all meat and poultry are good , all students are great no one has any bad they just need to use their bad for the good
Yup, don’t come to eat in Chabad Houses. Shluchim have better things to do than to feed haters such as yourself.
I don’t think there’s any community in the world that’s as machmir in kashrus as Lubavitch, but why confuse you with facts?
Oh, and G-d forbid we believe that every Jewish child is great. That must be a terrible aveira.
Hello? Why the hate? That is motzie La’az on a whole segment of klal yisrael. you should be very careful that you don’t end up in gehenom…. and believe me it will be a lot more worse then eating from rabbanut foods…
Wow, some really hateful people here. No sense of humor. No ahavas Yisroel. But they’re the holy ones. Barf!
IOW no.
Although it is technically Rabbanut, all of the products–with the possible exception of the pancake mix (which might be OU, you can ask the mashgiach) are mehadrin.
Why would they use pancake mix instead of flour, baking powder, etc? Seems odd to me.
OU-D? If so, it’s a problem with the keilim. IMHO, that’s the problem with relying on representations by a mashgiach that everything is mehadrin/cholov yisroel. What happens if something that’s not somehow slips in–will they kasher the keilim?
I once ate in a pizza shop in Washington Heights. Before ordering, I asked if everything is cholov yisroel and was assured it is. As I’m about to start eating, I notice a jar of Nutella. I go back and ask them what’s going on. They tell me not to worry because they only use cholov yisroel ingredients in their cooking, but they have nutella for customers who don’t keep cholov yisroel. Needless to say, that’s not acceptable for those of us who keep cholov yisroel, as the nutella gets on their keilim etc.
No, there is no cholov stam in the hotel.
WHAT S THE HECHSHER?
Call and ask
Rabbanut
great news!
anyway you can confirm an upgrade at a Hilton hotel if you have gold or diamond statues before arrival date ?
Hotel was always hopping when I was there. Can’t imagine lack of business was the reason to sell.
Quantity of business has zero correlation with profit margins.
When does it go into effect?
So still a Hilton?????
Read the post.
The problem was that they were being forced to build a pool and spa. They held that it couldn’t be done in the religious way. They sold rather than do it immodestly
That’s nonsense. They could have had separate hours.
They sold it because it made business sense to do so.
You hit it right on the head. It is all about money.
@dan don’t mean to negate you,but I tell you as a first hand fact that they didn’t sell it to make money. I Cant say more:)
When you can say more, on or off the record, let me know.
Heard they had some big frum investors who were getting preferred returns which accrued annually. Problem there is that if you start off behind the 8 ball you never really catch up and these investors ate most all the profit leaving reichmanns with less return than anticipated. Probably took a nice asset management fee though but didn’t stand to make much on the sale as the other equity partners got their prefs out first.
just to point out the reichmanns are not the personality type to build pools. They build beautiful office buildings, them and pool dont shtim. plus every yenta is going to come over to them in shul and give their stupid comments about the new pool. “its nice but needs this” , tot hot etc ” they dont want to hear it
Agree, very nice place, but Cramim, Breishit and Elma rival it, though none can be booked with points, as far as I know.
All the places you mentioned are indeed high quality, but there’s one little problem: they’re all in the middle of nowhere!
Or in other words: location, location, location.
Elma? What is that?
Elma Arts Hotel in Zichron Yaakov. Stayed there in October for 12k SPG points. Very art-sy, but nice hotel.
how is the bset way to book it for 12k points for this week? and do you know of any other points deals in isreal.?
SPG.com.
For your 2nd question – I’ll defer to Dan to answer that
Citadel is much better u have A much better view
And no points. And arguably worse food/service.
Why do you think it wasn’t built all these years?
Because it’s a high capital expense without a guarantee of a return?
Wait and see if new ownership has complete seperate swimming
Won’t prove a thing either way.
There were numerous rumors the past year or so that it has been sold. Did you confirm with someone who knows, that it was in fact sold “already”?
Those were published on 2-bit sites and blogs. Not on any real news sites.
It is it is it is it is
You’re guessing but I know
By all means, if you have proof please email it to me.
But otherwise, I’m sticking with nonsense. $130M hotels don’t get sold solely over a detail like that.
Dan is right on the money. We just got back from a 10 day stay there and the service was outstanding, location was killer and rooms most modern in Jerusalem. Glad to hear it may be staying a Hilton property. Only complaint was the poor gym facilities.
Awesome!
Please be very careful when/if eating there. I have spoken to people familiar with the Kashurus at the hotel, and things have changed dramatically since 2015
As I’ve said multiple times, everyone should do their own research.
I was just there last week. Firstly the bartender told me that it was just recently sold to someone mentioning the owner of the hotel in France.
Secondly, I too verified and spoke with the current Mashgaich there who ensured all is mehadrin. The meat is from Rubin. He said the only reason it is not officially mehadrin is because they allow a Jew to turn on the flame and a non Jew to insert the food which is problematic for sefardim and ok for ashkenazim.
He said it is better hechsher than the plaza or any other hotel in the vicinity.
so the mashgiach probably told u what he thought as an American u wanted to hear. One of them tried that on me not realizing I know some of what goes on here and he basically walked off on me when I called him out on his bs, they use alot of weak hechshairim. I’ve been there plenty and depending on day and time is what type of meat they r serving I’ve been told Rubin shearis kehilos. Not all cheeses there are mehadrin which they sometimes get into your breakfast as all food is dairy and when i pressed him for why he said they don’t always wash the utensils off so chance that cheese/dairy goes in. And there r things on menu that Rubin won’t give a hechsher on so can’t be all meat is Rubin.
Just saying can’t always trust them as they r employee of hotel and won’t look good if keep telling everyone it’s not so kosher. Also have to know if it’s up to your standards and what to ask before u just assume it’s all good
you are correct. i spoke to someone in the know in the jerusalem kashrus industry, he told me that i cant trust anything that goes into the ovens there.
also, saying its better hechsher than plaza is simply ignorant.
Yes and I inquired with a rav (who will remain unnamed ) that services an American community there. While he said it may not be the best – it is ok to eat there. With everything (especially in kashrus) you’ll always find someone who says something different.
I’m not sure what you mean saying that the hechsher is better than the plaza is simply ignorant. These aren’t my words, this is what the mashgiach told me. While I can’t verify this, I’m not sure why it can’t be true and that he must be ignorant for suggesting that.
While I hear some of your points, I’m not sure if I agree with all. I’m certainly no expert and I don’t know Who you spoke with. The mashgiach I spoke with was respectful and answered my questions. You can never know if the mashgiach is being honest with you in any establishment. From the looks of it, he seemed like someone who learnt in a regular Israeli yeshiva. I would just argue that in this scenario where the hotel is employing a mashgaich to ensure all is mehadrin it may be better than a food establishment that the entire business is built off profit from the food. While they do certainly make money from the restaurant their main profit is most likely from the room rate and charges. The offfer a restaurant to create a better experience for the customer and offer it mehadrin by employing a mashgiach to appeal to that clientele. To sabotage that status and lose customers one can argue is less likely and counterproductive. Regardless, my understanding is that Halachicly you have what to rely on as there is a mashgiach. If you feel that something isn’t kosher that would be a feeling which each would decide for themselves…
The turning on the fire thing is total BS. How hard is it to make sure that a jew puts on the food?
Which part is BS? If you were ever there you’d know that most of the workers are Arabs…
Just about every kosher takeout or fast food place in the tri state area relies on this. Mostly Mexicans working in these places…
Major American hechsherim have always followed the RaM”A/Ashkenazi custom. I doubt you’ll find any restaurant in the US (at least outside of Sefardic communities) that has cooking done only by frum Jews. Given the labor market in the U.S., that would be prohibitively expensive, for a chumra only observed by a minority, when the RaM”A allows a non-Jew to cook l’chatchila as long as a Jew somehow contributes (starting or turning up the fire or stirring the food suffice–to the point that some hechsherim (e.g., Chof K) consider bread pas yisroel based on a Jew’s turning on a bulb in the oven, which can then last for years, based on the RaM”A’s p’sak that even throwing in a twig is sufficient, but that’s already controversial).
In Israel, however, Mehadrin hechsherim generally require that the Beis Yosef’s chumros be followed. I suppose the difference is due to the higher percentage of Sefardim in Israel. Also, many Ashkenazi communities in Israel have traditionally tried to be machmir according to the Beis Yosef’s more stringent kashrus standards where possible. (In fact, according to Rav Ovadia Yosef, even Ashkenazim are obliged to follow the B”Y’s chumros in Israel, as the B”Y was מרא דארעא דישראל. Needless to say, Ashkenazi poskim don’t agree with that, but I’m mentioning it as a factor in the different standards.)
OTOH, Israeli hechsherim are far less machmir regarding wine, whereas American hechsherim generally only allow Mevushal in restaurants… ואכמ”ל
Do you think it will still stay mehadrin?
The views can be pretty lousy from the lower floors, say 1/2/3–staring at the WA-affiliated apartment building across the narrow street. From the 4th floor and up the views can be better, depending on which side of the building you’re on.
Dan, got a random question. Did you ever fly Royal Jordanian? Is it dangerous to fly their flight to israel with a stopover in Amman?
Totally fine.
Isn’t it a hostile Muslim country. Im equally nervous flying Turkish airlines.
Nothing to be scared about. Thousands of Jews do it daily.
Comedian Avi Liberman even got off in AMM and went across the border without waiting for the connecting flight:
https://i.dansdeals.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/24234055/AUD-20171203-WA0015.mp3
😀
I’ve flown RJ multiple times and would do so again. However, I will just say that out of all the countries I’ve visited (Qatar, UAE, and more), the only time I ever felt uncomfortable was in Amman.
That clip sounds awfully familiar
Years ago, I was once detained for a few hours of “questioning” in Amman due to having lots of Israeli stamps in my passport. It was not a pleasant experience.
Nice, do jews do it with kippas ( hats and jackets) and do they daven with Talis and tefillin on the airplane or in Amman?…
Border crossing is a pain. Worth waiting 2 hours for stop.
Turkish and RJ are both world class airlines with world class hub airports. I feel perfectly comfortable flying them in full ultra Orthodox Jewish regalia, and davening on plane ect.
Wow!! Hilarious! Thanks, dan
Our family was there in 2015 as well. Beautiful hotel. Breakfast and Shabbat dinners were excellent, and our questions regarding kashrut and shemitah were answered to our satisfaction. Looking forward to returning in 2019 BeH!
Haaretz and the Times of Israel are reporting that the sale was for $160 M. Not too shabby.
now that the reichmans are out, is one still allowed to eat there?
Why would you be able to eat there because of them?
You need to talk to the mashgiach and see if it meets your standards.
the rooms are generally small and eccentrically decorated in way that says little, if anything, about Jerusalem. who wants to stay in a hotel room that is indistinguishable from a nice hotel room in Chicago or New York or London or wherever?
Dearest Dante,
1) At least in this hotel you won’t be greeted by the King James Bible in your top drawer and
2) In Jerusalem/Israel, even the toilet paper feels fluffier and more spiritual…Everything is just better in Israel…. 😉
You can say many things about the toilet paper in Israel, but fluffier it certainly isn’t.
This could be one of the best comment threads of all time. Love the fried joke and all the decisive comments it elicited I to the depth of the age old chassidus/avoida/mussar etc machloikes. But a little more civility and gaurdednuess for a fellow yid is warranted and would be greatly appreciated
I have to just say, I love how there are these comments knocking Dan for ‘being so involved in gashmius’, yet the only reason a reader would come here in the first place is to enhance his own gashmius. The proper etiquette would be to say ‘thank you!’ like a mentch.
I once heard a nice vort: people think that Gan eden and gehenom are two different places. Really it’s all one big room, filled with long benches and seforim, and all you do is sit and learn all day. For some people it’s heaven and for some people it’s hell…
BTW, loved the Avrohom Fried comment. Rarely does a blog comment make me actually laugh out loud…
The hashgocho is rabbanut. Not mehadrin.the mashgiach gave me the same speech he gave me last time I was here….every ingredient in the hotels restaurant is mehadrin. Glatt meat. Not mehadrin due to bishul akum issues for sefaradim and because the ball room kitchen uses non mehadrin products.
As an aside I’ve been told by a former employee of the Waldorf who is now a big wig at the orient that the Waldorf is headed away from sticking to mehadrin in the restaurants. So if mehadrin is an issue for you even for milchig then I would suggest confirming when you get here before eating breakfast.
The good news is the milchig restaurant is now open in the evening. Last year it was only open in the afternoon.
As far as the kashrus is concerned. I had personally spoken to one of the gedolim in ey
& he told me that he knows the mashgiach and that he’s very good(I can trust whatever he says).
As of last year, after verifying with the mashgiach- no meat is just rabanut & usually is Rubin.
I would recommend verifying with mashgiach what the current status is.
My point is that he’s a ehrlich trustworthy person.
Fake News hotel has not been sold as of yet , someone keeps leaking that’s it has been but was just at hotel and spoke to manager who said it hasn’t been sold.
isreali news is now reporting that the hotel has been sold to ohayon from france