San Jose Jewish & Kosher Guide 2025: Kosher Info in San Jose, California

^*{{texts.jofy}} (?)

Are you Looking for Kosher Eatery or Jewish POI near you?

About San Jose

San Jose, sometimes spelled San José, is the third-largest city by population in California, the tenth-largest by population in the United States, and the county seat of Santa Clara County. San Jose was founded on November 19, 1777, as San José de Guadalupe, the first civilian town in the Spanish colony of Alta California. San Jose has an average of 301 days of sunshine and an annual mean temperature of 60.5 °F (15.8 °C). It lies inland, surrounded on three sides by mountains. Public art is an evolving attraction in the city. The city was one of the first to adopt a public art ordinance at 1% of capital improvement building project budgets, and the results of this commitment are beginning to have an impact on the visual landscape of the city. The city is home to many performing arts companies. San Jose possesses about 15,950 acres of parkland in its city limits, including a part of the expansive Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The Best Of San Jose

Are you a San Jose Kosher establishment or tour operator?

Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in San Jose

With a Jewish population of 40,000 in 1005. San Jose was the first capital of California (1849–51). Ten men organized the Jewish community of San Jose in 1861 as the Bickur Cholim Society. By 1869 the membership, made up primarily of merchants, was 35 from San Jose and the vicinity. The Jewish population in 1880 was 165. Until 1953 Congregation Bickur Cholim, now Temple Emanu-El (after a fire in 1848), was the only synagogue. Although its ritual was Reform, separate services were conducted on the High Holidays to accommodate the Orthodox members. In the early 21st century there were over two dozen Jewish organizations in Santa Clara Valley, 16 being synagogues with their own religious schools. There were an additional four synagogues in Monterey County. There are a couple of kosher restaurants and also kosher shops and shops selling kosher items.


{{model.locWeather.today.temp_c}}^oC, {{model.locWeather.today.temp_f}}^oF
{{dayTemp.day}}
{{dayTemp.date}}

{{dayTemp.temp_f}}^oF
{{dayTemp.temp_c}}^oC

What Is *JOFY?

JOFY, or "Jewish Observant Friendly" Establishments are lodging establishments offering special services for Jewish Observant guests such as Shabbat meals, accommodation on lower floors and regular keys for the rooms. It can also be a NON KOSHER establishment located in walking distance from the local Shul, community or kosher restaurants area.

Please note - *JOFY does NOT mean that KOSHER food is served on the premises!

{{field.title}}

{{field.title}}

{{field.title}}