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Amman is Home to 1st Kosher Eatery

June 13, 1995
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Jordan’s first kosher restaurant opened last week in the capital city of Amman. The Istanbul restaurant, which seats 110 people, was the brainchild of Israeli businessmen. It will be jointly run by a Jordanian, Khaled Mohammad Ali, and a three-partner Israeli firm.

A day before the June 8 opening, the restaurant unofficially opened with the slaughter of chicken and sheep, according to strict Jewish rules.

The restaurant is decorated with pictures of Jerusalem and has a menu written in English and Hebrew.

“Our restaurant will be open to Jews, Arabs who want to come in,” said Ali Azza, manager of the restaurant, according to news reports.

Asked whether he was concerned about being targeted for possible attacks from people opposed to Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel, Azza said, “We are afraid, why should we be? We have not received any threats.”

Thousands of Israelis have visited Jordan since the two countries signed a peace treaty in October.

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