The frum family packing list, for Jerusalem.

1. Documents.

Every document below should exist in two places: the original in your carry-on, and a photo or PDF in cloud storage accessible from your phone. Losing a document in Israel is stressful but not catastrophic — losing it with no backup is a genuine crisis.

• · Passport for every traveler — must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. Israel enforces this strictly; airlines will deny boarding if you are under 6 months.
• · ETA-IL authorization — US citizens now require an Electronic Travel Authorization before boarding. Apply at eta.piba.gov.il. Print the confirmation or save it offline; airport Wi-Fi can be unreliable.
• · Travel insurance documentation — policy number, emergency contact number, and coverage summary. Verify the policy covers Israel specifically.
• · Hotel confirmations — one per property, with dates, room type, and paid-deposit confirmation if applicable.
• · Flight itinerary — paper or offline PDF. Your JRM concierge brief, if applicable.
• · Copies of all passports — stored separately from originals. If bags are lost or a passport is stolen, the copy speeds up the replacement process at the US Embassy dramatically.

2. Electronics.

Israel runs on 220V / 50Hz with Type H plugs — three round prongs in a Y-shape found almost nowhere outside Israel. Buy your adapter before you leave. They are not commonly stocked in Israeli hardware stores in frum neighborhoods, and paying airport rates is unnecessary.

• · Type H plug adapter — one per family is usually enough; buy two if you travel with multiple devices that charge simultaneously. Check your devices: if the label says "100–240V," you need only the adapter. If it says "120V only," you also need a voltage converter.
• · Phone chargers for every device — including kids' tablets if they travel with one.
• · Portable battery bank — Jerusalem walking days are long. A 10,000–20,000 mAh battery covers a full family day at the Kotel, the Old City, and back.
• · Israeli SIM or international plan — Cellcom, Hot Mobile, and Partner all sell tourist SIMs at Ben Gurion arrivals hall. Your US carrier's international data plan is often more expensive for a 10-day trip.

Note on hair dryers: Hotels in Israel provide hair dryers rated for 220V. Do not bring your US hair dryer without a heavy-duty voltage converter — a standard adapter alone will burn it out. Leave it home.

3. Clothing by season.

Jerusalem sits at 800 meters elevation. That single fact explains most of what surprises first-time visitors: summer nights are pleasant (not sweltering), winter is genuinely cold, and the afternoon sun in any season is stronger than most Americans expect.

Spring and Fall (March–May, September–November)

• · Light layers — mornings and evenings can be cool even when afternoons are warm
• · Light jacket or cardigan for evenings, especially in the Old City where stone retains cold
• · Comfortable walking shoes — cobblestones in the Old City are uneven; avoid new shoes
• · Sunscreen and a hat for afternoon sightseeing

Summer (June–August)

• · Light, breathable fabrics — linen and cotton are far more comfortable than synthetic blends in the summer heat
• · Wide-brimmed hat — Jerusalem summer sun is intense; the elevation gives no protection
• · Sunscreen SPF 50+ — reapply frequently; buy extra in Israel (locally priced)
• · Thin cardigan for indoor spaces — Israeli restaurants and malls are often heavily air-conditioned
• · Extra socks and undershirts — walking families go through them quickly in the heat

Winter (December–February)

• · Warm coat — Jerusalem gets genuinely cold, down to 4–8°C (39–46°F), and occasional snow
• · Waterproof layer or rain jacket — December through February is the rainy season; umbrellas are sold everywhere but a waterproof outer layer is more practical for walking families
• · Warm layers underneath — the old stone of the Kotel plaza and the Old City is cold in winter wind
• · Waterproof walking shoes — stone streets become slick in rain

4. Shabbos essentials.

Shabbos in Jerusalem is unlike Shabbos anywhere else — the city quiets, the neighborhoods fill with families walking to shul, and the atmosphere is extraordinary. Being dressed well for it matters.

• · Shabbos clothes — full set for each Shabbos of the trip, plus one extra for unexpected spills (children in particular)
• · White shirts for men and boys — standard for Shabbos in most Yerushalmi shuls
• · Hat (for those who wear one) — pack in a hatbox or structured bag; a crushed Shabbos hat is a frustrating start to Shabbos
• · Belt — easy to forget when packing quickly
• · Shabbos shoes — comfortable enough for a 20-minute walk to shul and back; Jerusalem stone is uneven
• · Candle-lighting supplies — if you plan to light in your room; check hotel policy (fire code) and whether they provide a tray. Many frum-friendly hotels supply these; confirm in advance with your JRM concierge.
• · Tallis and tefillin — with a backup bag in checked luggage if the carry-on is lost

Practical note: Hotel irons are generally unavailable on Shabbos. Iron your Shabbos clothes before candle-lighting or use a travel steamer on Friday afternoon.

5. Medications and health.

• · All prescription medications — in original labeled containers; enough for the full trip plus a 3-day buffer. Israel will not fill a US prescription; arrange a refill before you leave.
• · Critical medications in carry-on — EpiPen, insulin, cardiac medications, inhalers. Checked luggage can be delayed, lost, or held in customs.
• · Sunscreen SPF 50+ — Jerusalem's elevation and sun intensity surprise visitors regardless of season. Apply daily even on mild days.
• · Basic first aid kit — bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain reliever, anti-diarrheal, antihistamine. Israeli pharmacies stock all of these, but you don't want to search for a pharmacy on Shabbos or late at night.
• · Dietary supplements and vitamins — Israeli pharmacies carry many brands but specific formulations may not be available. Bring your own.
• · Hand sanitizer — for the Kotel plaza, markets, and travel days

Super-Pharm note: Israel's Super-Pharm pharmacy chain is well-stocked for OTC medications, wound care, baby supplies, and vitamins. There are several in central Jerusalem. However, all pharmacies close for Shabbos and Yom Tov — plan purchases for Sunday through Friday afternoon.

6. Kids.

Jerusalem with children is wonderful — the Kotel, the Old City shuk, Machane Yehuda, the Biblical Zoo. It is also hilly, loud, stimulating, and long on walking days. Pack accordingly.

• · Umbrella stroller (lightweight, foldable) — Jerusalem's sidewalks are old stone and often stepped. A heavy travel system becomes a liability. You will lift a stroller up steps regularly — in restaurants, shuls, the Old City, and buses. Leave the jogger home.
• · Snacks for the flight — pack more than you think you need; kosher options on El Al flights are limited in variety and children are selective
• · Familiar foods for the first two days — specific brands (particular cereals, crackers, snack bars) may not be available in Israel. Israeli equivalents are excellent but a two-year-old insisting on one brand is not the first-day battle you want. Bring a day's supply of known favorites.
• · Car seat if renting a car — Israeli car rental companies offer car seats but availability is not guaranteed for infant/rear-facing seats. Confirm at booking and reconfirm 48 hours before pickup, or bring your own if the trip includes significant driving (e.g., Eilat, Tzfas).
• · Kids' medications — children's Tylenol/ibuprofen in the correct formulation and dose for your child's age; Israeli equivalents exist but a sick child in a foreign country is not the time to dose-convert
• · Small backpack per older child — for carrying their own water, snacks, and a small purchase from the shuk; children feel ownership and walk further

7. What not to pack.

Every experienced Jerusalem traveler has a version of this list. The pattern is always the same: you brought too much food, too many clothes, and too heavy a bag. The corrections are consistent.

• · Excess food — Geulah has full-service kosher supermarkets (Osher Ad, Mahane Yehuda market, dozens of bakeries and takeout shops). You do not need to pack a week's worth of food from Brooklyn. A day's worth of snacks for the flight and the first morning is plenty.
• · Hair dryer — hotels in Israel provide 220V hair dryers in the room. Bringing a US model creates a voltage problem. Leave it.
• · Excessive clothing for long stays — Israeli apartments and most vacation rentals have washing machines; many frum-area laundromats offer same-day service. For a 10-day trip, 5 days of clothing is sufficient. You will return home with lighter bags and room for purchases.
• · Heavy stroller — already noted above, but worth repeating: the hills and steps of Jerusalem will defeat a heavy travel system within the first hour
• · 110V-only appliances — curling irons, some beard trimmers, older electronics rated at 120V only. A Type H adapter will not protect them at 220V.

8. Yom Tov additions.

Being in Yerushalayim for Yom Tov is one of the great privileges of Jewish life. Each Yom Tov adds a short specific list to the standard packing above.

All Yom Tov

• · Machzor — bring your family's established machzor; Israeli machzorim use the local nusach which may differ from yours
• · Extra Yom Tov outfit — Yom Tov in Jerusalem is more public and more social than at home; plan for two seudos per day of Yom Tov

Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

• · Kittel (if applicable) — for those who wear one on Yom Kippur or for kiddush on Rosh Hashana; packs flat
• · Comfortable non-leather shoes for Yom Kippur — confirm with the hotel that the Yom Kippur shoe policy (no leather) is understood

Sukkos

• · Lulav and esrog — with a proper case; Israeli etrogim are widely available and often superior, but if you have a family minhag about your esrog's origin, arrange it before you leave or immediately upon arrival. Lulav sets are sold throughout Geulah in the days before Sukkos.
• · Esrog case — a padded case protects the pitom; many families bring a soft bag even when buying locally

Pesach

• · Haggadah — hotels typically provide haggados at the seder table, but bringing your family's edition (with the margin notes your children recognize) is worth the pocket-space
• · Specific kosher l'Pesach dietary items for children with strong preferences — Israeli Pesach food is excellent and widely available, but specific familiar brands may not be
• · Kittel if worn at the seder

Related reading.

• The Jerusalem eruv — what it covers and which hotels sit inside →
• Shabbos elevators in Jerusalem hotels →
• Shabbos in Jerusalem — full hub →
• Sample Shabbos brief →