Israelis and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn’t an Israeli holiday, yet late November consistently triggers a travel surge: Tel Aviv–New York air traffic jumps into high gear. In fact, during Thanksgiving week, the number of U.S.-bound flights from Ben-Gurion International Airport typically rises by 15 to 20%. The reason is simple: hundreds of thousands of Israelis have close relatives in North America, and many families choose this time of year to reunite. The Israel–U.S. corridor is already Israel’s busiest long-haul route, and Thanksgiving often drives ticket prices close to summer peaks.

Israel’s kosher turkey market also reaches its high season around Thanksgiving. With an annual per-capita consumption of 13–14 kg (28-31 lbs), Israel ranks among the world’s top turkey-eating nations.

Whole turkeys, however, are not always easy to find. Even where they are available, it’s best to order ahead – and at small butcher shops, it’s wise to specify “whole.” It’s not unheard of for a customer to receive a neatly sliced turkey simply because the butcher wasn’t familiar with American holiday traditions.

This year, food prices are already soaring after two years of war-driven inflation. Turkey prices have jumped even more dramatically after a major Israeli turkey farm took a direct hit, inflicting heavy damage on the stock. A whole 9-kg (20-lb) bird now costs around NIS 450 (about $125). Some Israelis head to Bethlehem for better prices, though the trip to the Judea region can be both logistically and security-wise complicated.

For American-born lone soldiers serving in the IDF, Thanksgiving is far more than a nostalgic footnote. Nearly half come from North America, and on the last Thursday of November, organizations like Friends of the IDF and Nefesh B’Nefesh host special holiday dinners. For a moment – over a plate of turkey – these young soldiers can feel a little closer to the families they left behind.

Across the ocean, Israelis living in the United States embrace the holiday in their own way. Thanksgiving is often the easiest American tradition for them to adopt: it’s not bound to religious doctrine, is family-centered, and many blend it with Israeli flavors – za’atar-rubbed turkey, tahini-based sides, and fresh Middle Eastern salads. Among the estimated 200,000–250,000 Israelis in the U.S., surveys suggest that about 9 out of 10 families take part in some form of Thanksgiving meal.

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