Shabbat Experience in Tzfat: Wine-Paired Dinner & Torah

Shabbat in Tzfat has its own spiritual weight: the city where these prayers originated.

A Shabbat Experience in Tzfat is a 2.5-hour dinner in a private home hosted by Miriam and Rabbi Amichai Cohen, featuring a multi-course kosher meal with wine pairings, Torah discussion, and conversation with international guests. The gathering centers on the Lecha Dodi and Kabbalat Shabbat services that originated in this sacred city. Your guide speaks English throughout the evening.

The experience

Tzfat holds Shabbat differently than anywhere else: the Lecha Dodi and Kabbalat Shabbat prayers were born here, and that history shapes the atmosphere in the Cohen home. You arrive for an evening that moves through wine and Kiddush, then a progression of dishes: homemade spelt and wholewheat challah, North African salads and hummus, Moroccan spicy fish, overnight chicken soup, roasted chicken with greens and potatoes, meat boreckas, and chocolate cake with non-dairy ice cream. Each course arrives alongside thoughtfully selected wine pairings. The meal is not a performance. It is a family dinner that happens to include guests from around the world, and the conversation and Torah discussion that flow through the evening are what people remember.

The Cohen family has hosted thousands of guests over the past ten years, and the experience is built on that rhythm: the spiritual centerpiece of Shabbat itself, the mix of people at the table, and the gourmet meal that grounds the evening in something tangible. You sit with travelers from different countries and backgrounds, all of you there for the same reason. The guide speaks English, so the Torah and the stories land clearly. What transforms the evening is not a single moment. It is the cumulative effect of the prayers, the food, the wine, and the people around you, all of it held inside the particular sanctity Tzfat brings to Shabbat.

What’s included

• Wine and Kiddush.
• homemade challah, salads, hummus, and North African dishes.
• Moroccan spicy fish.
• overnight chicken soup.
• roasted chicken with greens and potatoes.
• meat boreckas.
• chocolate cake and non-dairy ice cream.
• wine pairings throughout the meal.
• Torah discussion and spiritual guidance from Rabbi Amichai Cohen.
• conversation with international guests.

Before you book

Days and timesFridayDeparts at 18:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 9 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Amichai Cohen

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you can follow the Torah and the spiritual elements of the evening without Hebrew. This works for anyone seeking a genuine Shabbat experience in a home setting, whether you are familiar with the prayers or coming to them for the first time.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (2 to 9 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly happens during a Shabbat dinner in the Cohen home?

The evening opens with wine and Kiddush, then moves through a multi-course kosher meal: challah, salads, hummus, Moroccan fish, overnight chicken soup, roasted chicken with vegetables, meat boreckas, and chocolate cake. Wine pairings accompany the courses. Between and during the meal, Rabbi Amichai Cohen shares Torah discussion and inspirational words, and you talk with guests from around the world. The whole gathering lasts 2.5 hours.

Is the guide's commentary in English, or do I need to speak Hebrew?

The guide speaks English throughout the evening, so you can follow the Torah discussion and the spiritual elements of Shabbat without needing Hebrew.

Who else will be at the dinner, and how many people attend?

The dinner brings together guests from around the world: travelers, families, and individuals who come to experience Shabbat in Tzfat. The Cohen home hosts a gathering of international guests, though the exact number varies by evening.

What makes Shabbat in Tzfat different from celebrating it elsewhere?

Tzfat is the city where the Lecha Dodi and Kabbalat Shabbat prayers originated, making it a spiritual center for Shabbat observance. That history and the city's sacred character shape the atmosphere of the evening in a way that is particular to this place.

Are all the dishes kosher, and are there options for dietary restrictions?

The meal is a kosher Shabbat dinner. The menu includes fish, chicken, vegetables, and dairy-free dessert. Contact the host directly about specific dietary needs before booking to confirm what can be accommodated.