Watch Strictly Kosher

Strictly Kosher was a British reality TV show that aired on ITV in 2011. The series followed the lives of Jewish people living in Manchester, exploring their culture, traditions, and way of life. The show featured Jack Aisenberg, the owner of Manchester's premier kosher hotel, the Clarion, Bernette Clarke, a Jewish mother who runs a kosher catering business, and Joel Lever, a Jewish wedding photographer.

The series aimed to take viewers behind the scenes of Jewish life, providing a glimpse into the rituals, customs, and beliefs that make up this fascinating community. Manchester has a vibrant Jewish population, and the show highlighted the diverse range of people who live there, from the ultra-orthodox to the more secular.

The series began with an introduction to each of the main characters, who spoke about their lives, families, and businesses. Jack Aisenberg was the first to appear, and viewers learned about his hotel, which caters exclusively to Jewish guests. The Clarion is one of the few hotels in the UK that has a fully certified kosher kitchen, meaning that all the food served there is prepared and served in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.

Bernette Clarke was then introduced, and viewers were taken behind the scenes of her catering business. Bernette runs a kosher catering company from her home, which provides food for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and other events. She talked about the challenges of running a catering business that adheres to strict Jewish dietary laws and how important it is to keep traditions alive.

Joel Lever was the final character introduced. Joel is a Jewish wedding photographer who has been photographing Jewish weddings for over a decade. He explained the importance of the wedding ceremony in Jewish culture and how different families approach the event in their own way.

Throughout the series, viewers were treated to a range of different scenes and situations, from weddings and bar mitzvahs to family dinners and religious ceremonies. The show's cameras followed Jack, Bernette, and Joel as they went about their daily lives, providing viewers with an intimate and insightful look into Jewish culture.

One episode focused on the preparations for a bar mitzvah, which is the coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys. The episode explored the meaning behind the ceremony and the importance of studying the Torah. Viewers were also introduced to the boy's family and friends, who spoke about their excitement and nerves ahead of the big day.

Another episode focused on the wedding of a young couple, and viewers were taken behind the scenes of the preparations. From the catering to the decorations, the show provided an in-depth look at the different elements that make up a traditional Jewish wedding.

The series also explored the challenges that Jewish people face in modern-day Britain. For example, in one episode, Jack Aisenberg discussed the difficulties of running a kosher hotel in a predominantly non-Jewish area. He talked about the misconceptions that people have about Jewish dietary laws and how he works to overcome these.

In another episode, Bernette Clarke talked about the challenges of keeping kosher in a world where there are so many foods that are not permitted. She discussed the importance of finding alternative ingredients and adapting traditional recipes to fit in with Jewish dietary laws.

Overall, Strictly Kosher was a fascinating and insightful look into Jewish culture. The show provided viewers with a rare glimpse into the lives of Jewish people in Britain, highlighting the customs, traditions, and beliefs that make this community so unique. For anyone interested in learning more about Jewish culture and way of life, this series is definitely worth watching.