An Orthodox Jewish businessman from the New York area has opened a hotel for observant Jewish families who prefer a hotel that accommodates their religious needs.
Zalman Gaubert, 35, father of five, saw an opportunity when he realized that Orthodox Jewish families, often averaging eight to ten children, had difficulty finding accommodation when travelling to visit relatives.
Traditional hotels aren’t an easy solution for people who follow religious laws and customs strictly. That’s where The Condor, a 35-room hotel located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn fills a special niche. The same neighbourhood is also home to a synagogue and grocery stores selling kosher food.
In order to accommodate Hasidic Jews who limit their kids’ exposure to popular culture, there are no TVs in the rooms. You won’t find Bibles either, but you will find stands for the wigs traditionally worn by married Hasidic women.
The concierge at the front desk speaks Yiddish, but don’t expect anyone to answer the phone on Jewish holidays or on the Sabbath, which runs Friday sundown to Saturday’s sunset, when the use of phones and other electrical devices is shunned by observant Jews.