The jewish comunity of Spain of today is not very big. I think there are less then 10 thousand jews in Spain and not all of them appears in the synagogues. Except the high holidays the shuls are almost empty. This situation reflects the low demand to the kosher products and services. If you stay close by to the main synagogue there are two little shops where you can find kosher products. As expected, the prices are much higher than the normal products of the streets. Most of these products comes from France where you have a much bigger comunity (half million of jews approximately in all over the country) and consequently kosher food production.
As for the shabat meals, in Madrid the jewish comunity arranges a dinner for foreign students who live in Madrid far away from there family. But this dinner is open for the tourist who dropps by Madrid for any reason. To participate this dinner you have to reserve place and pay for it in advance (before thursday) as the cathering company needs to know for how many people they need to cook.
Here you have some useful information for your kosher visit in Madrid (Spain):
Here is a list of hotels & hostels that are in walking distance to the main shule:
> BOOK EARLY TO BE SAFE
> HOTEL TRYP ALONDRAS [34]91-447-4000 ***3
> HOTEL BEST WESTERN TRAFALGAR [34]91-445-6200 ***3
> HOTEL MIGUEL ANGEL 91-442-0022 *****5
> HOTEL HESPERIA 91-210-8800 *****5
> HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL 91-310-0200 *****5
> HOTEL CONDE DUQUE 91-447-7000 ****4
> HOTEL BRETON [NH GROUP] 91-442-8300 ***3
> HOTEL GRAN VERSALLES 91-447-5700 ****4
> APARTHOTEL TRIBUNAL 91-522-1455 ***3
>
> HOSTAL SIL & SERRANO 91-593-0993 FUENCARRAL, 95 /2-D
> HOSTEL GALLARDO 91-445-2981 FUENCARRAL, 95/4-D
> HOSTEL NURIA 91-531-9208 / 91-532-9008 FUENCARRAL, 52
>
> NOTE: SOME HOTELS HAVE ELECTRIC DOOR CARD OR ELECTRIC EYES WHICH OPEN MAIN
> DOORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR ORTHODOX RABBI IN ADVANCE HOW TO HANDLE THE
> SITUATION, IF CONFRONTED. NOTE: MADRID HAS NO EIRUV.
> SOME KOSHER IMPORTED FOOD WITH (KNOWN RELIABLE) CERTIFICATION CAN BE BOUGHT
> AT ANY OF THESE LOCATIONS
>
> A. ELIAS SUSANA
> CALLE VIRIATO #35
> MADRID
> TEL. 91-446-7847
>
> B. SHALOM SUSANA
> CALLE MEDELLIN, 13
> MADRID
> TEL. 91-445-5296
>
> C. GDK
> Gourmet Deli Kosher
> Avd. San Luis, 76 (Galería 31 y 32)
> Tel:913 818 453
> e-mail:info@gourmetdelikosher.com
>
> D. EL CORTE INGLES (CASTELLANA)
> Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde, 79
> TEL. 91-418-8800
> IN THE SUPERMARKET - CHECK FOR (KNOWN RELIABLE) KOSHER SEALS
>
> BH
> Parcial Kosher list - Spain
>
> PASTA
> BRAND NAME: GALLO - ONLY WHEN INGREDIENTS ARE ONLY SEMOLINA AND WATER
> CEREALS:
> KELLOGG'S-
> CORN FLAKES
> RICE CRISPIES
> SMACK'S
> CHOCHO KRISPIES
>
> WHEETABIX -
> BISQUITS ORIGINAL (PLAIN)
>
> SUNFLOWER OIL
> BRAND: SAFLOR
>
> GRANOLA BARS
> BRAND: NATURE VALLEY (HAS O-U)
>
> GENERICALLY KOSHER:
> PLAIN RICE CAKES
>
> NATURAL JUICES
> ONLY 100% FRUIT JUICE (ZUMO) OR BASED ON CONCENTRATE
> EXCEPT IF IT CONTAINS "UVA" WHICH IS GRAPE JUICE - NON KOSHER
>
> ALL BREAD & MILK & MILK PRODUCTS ARE TOLD TO BE NON KOSHER EXCEPT IF
> CERTIFIED BY A RABBI.
And of course, I, a jewish guy who arranges private walking tours to Toledo and show the old part of the city to my customers from a jewish perspective. If you come from United Staes and travel to Israel and looking for an entertaining program during your long stop before you take your transfer flight, we offer you a great walking tour in the old jewish quarter of Toledo.
You can contact us by sending a message via the contact form of our web page.
I hope this information is useful for you.
