Welcome to Williamsburg, VA, known worldwide for its preservation and interpretation of the nation's founding.
Frequent Asked Questions:
Q. Are there Minyanim in the Williamsburg area ?
A. During tourist season like yeshivah week, Chol Hamoed, Chabad facilitates Minyanim based on sign ups from frum visitors. See the calendar and count of men here. If you plan on joining Minyan in Williamsburg please sign-up via our online form and Chabad will notify you when a Minyan is confirmed with the location and times .
Throughout the year:
- Chabad facilitates Shabbas morning services at the "Chabad House" but not always is there a Minyan.
- Williamsburg does not currently have a daily Minyan.
- The nearest confirmed daily Minyan is about an hour each way from Williamsburg:
Norfolk VA: (2 locations)
Bnai Israel - 420 Spotswood Ave. Norfolk
Shachris - Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00 AM
Monday & Thursday: 6:45
Mincha & Maariv and for more info, click HERE
Yeshivas Aish Kodesh - 612 Colonial Ave Norfolk, VA 23507 Shacharis 7:45
Mincha & Maariv and for more info, click HERE
Richmond VA: (1 location)
Knesset Beth Israel (KBI) - 6300 Patterson Ave, Richmond, VA 23226
Shacharis (weekday): 6:30 AM
Mincha & Maariv and for more info, click HERE
Q. Where would Chabad recommend to stay:
A. Chabad suggests the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Williamsburg as a preferred accommodation.
- Enjoy exclusive Chabad rates by booking via this link.
- Minyanim (at tourists season) usually take place at this convenient location.
- There will be a Sukkah this Chol Hamoed Sukkos 5785 at the Hotel.
- The hotel offers excellent amenities for families, including fun arcades for children, a fitness room, and a swimming pool.
- Conveniently located near Busch Gardens.
- Take advantage of the well-lit outdoor area for evening BBQs in the parking vicinity.
- Please note: this hotel is over an hour walk to the Chabad House.
If you are looking for a resort style accommodation with a kitchen in the room, many frum tourists have recommended:
- Club Wyndham Governor’s Green,
- Greensprings Vacation Resort
- Hilton Vacation Club The Historic Powhatan Williamsburg
Q. What to do in Williamsburg, VA?
A. We are thrilled you asked, here are a few suggestions:
- Busch Gardens (double check they are open)
- Colonial Williamsburg (Walk Colonial Williamsburg for free, but to go into many of the shops, Governor's Palace Etc, you will need to buy a pass)
- Historic Jamestowne
- Jamestown Settlement
- Jamestown Glasshouse
- Ripleys Believe it or not Williamsburg
- Go Ape TreeTop Adventure
- Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg
- Schooner Alliance
- Segway Tours and Rentals
- The Jamestown Ferry (Free ride with your car to 'surry')
- Go karts plus
- Sail Yorktown
- Ed Allen's Boats & Bait, LLC (Lanexa)
- Virginia Living Museum (Newport News)
- Virginia Air & Space Center: (Hampton)
- Casemate Museum of Fort Monroe (Hampton)
- Battleship museum (Norfolk)
- Virginia Zoo (Norfolk)
- Norfolk Botanical Garden (Norfolk, VA)
- Rudee Tours - Cruise and Dolphin Watching (Virginia Beach)
- Motor World Virginia Beach (Virginia Beach)
- Virginia Aquarium (Virginia Beach, VA)
- Cape Henry Lighthouse (Virginia Beach)
- Childrens Museum of Virginia (Portsmouth)
- Museum | Jewish Museum and Cultural Center (Portsmouth)
- And more...
Q. Is ther a list of Pas Yisrael breads I can shop in the area?
A. Yes! Click here for a list compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Brickman with the Norfolk Kollel.
Q. Is ther a Kosher Restaurant/take out in the area?
A. Yes! (you must call to make sure they are opened)
1. In Williamsburg:
The Kosher deli in town is called Fran's Kosher Deli, located in the Raymond Mason Business School at the College of William & Mary.
The deli is under the supervision of the Vaad of Tidewater here is a copy of their Kosher certification.
Please note:
They are only opened during the college semester.
Additionally, you can order food for Shabbas (with optional delivery) by calling Meredith directly at 757-561-7512
2. In Richmond, VA. (about an hour from Williamsburg):
Kosher pops dairy is the Kosher Cholov Yisrael Pizza place located at 210 Giant Dr, Richmond, VA 23224 and opens 4:00PM daily.
See their full menu and website at https://popsrva.com/bar-grill-2/
Kosher pops dairy is under the supervision of the Vaad Hakashrut of Richmond.
Alternatively, there are several supermarkets in Williamsburg that carry Kosher products and have a Kosher section.
- Aldi - Carries some Kosher essential items.
- Food Lion- Has a small Kosher section as well as Kosher essentials.
- Harris Teeter - Has a small Kosher section as well as Kosher essentials.
- Trader Joe's- at times carry kosher chicken & meat (Empire). See the list of updated Kosher items here.
- Currently, there is no Chalav Yisrael Milk in Williamsburg but periodically the Food lion in Virginia Beach will carry.
- Krispy Kreme Newport news (a 25 Minute drive from Williamsburg) is a doughnut place under the Vaad of Tidewater (Not Cholov Yisrael)
Chabad Williamsburg does not have a catering option at the moment.
The Jewish community in Norfolk put together a resource file with kosher options in the area (please note that the dairy is not Cholov Yisrael).
Q. Is there a Mikvah in the area?
A. Chabad plans to build a Mikvah in the future, contact us to be a part of this big project.
Closest Mikvah's are approximately in hour from Williamsburg.
- Norfolk - B'nai Israel
- Henrico - Chabad of Richmond
- Richmond - KBI (Search for KBI Tish Marmorstein ע"ה Mikvah at the Sharon Jaffa Women’s Community Center)
Q. Will there be a Sukkah Chol Hamoed in Williamsburg?
A. Yes! a 30ft Sukkah at the back of the Double-Tree Hilton Williamsburg. For exact location of the Sukkah in Google Map, click here.
Q. If I bring my own grill, is there a place we can grill?
A. Yes! The Doubletree Hilton Williamsburg has allowed us in the past to use their lighted Parking lot to Grill.
Q. Is there a WhatsApp group I can join with frum visitors?
A. Yes. Receive the link by signing up here.
Q. Do you have any tips for our vacation?
A. Yes! Read this fascinating article by Dan's Deals.
Q. Was this web-page helpful?
A. Chabad Williamsburg is supported by donations from our friends and visitors. Your support and friendship will ensure the continued success and activities of Chabad Williamsburg, VA - Serving the "Historic Triangle."
Please Donate HERE.
⚠️ Warning ⚠️
Save yourself time, energy, and money!
If you exceed a speed of 85 mph in Virginia, you can be charged with reckless driving. It is also considered reckless driving to exceed the speed limit by 20 MPH. Therefore, if you are driving 75 mph in a 55 mph speed zone, you may be charged with reckless driving.
In Virginia, reckless driving is considered a serious criminal offense. As a class 1 misdemeanor, a conviction of this will leave you with a permanent criminal record. The penalties for reckless driving speeding in Virginia include:
court costs and fines.
time in jail.
a suspension of your driver's license.
a significant increase in your insurance rates.
If you are charged with driving at a 90 mph or above speed, you may receive 2 days in jail for every mph over 90 that you were driving. If you exceed a speed of 100 mph, then you may get as many as 30 days in jail added to the previous total.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions.
Wishing you a safe trip.
We look forward to greeting you!
Rabbi Mendy & Esther Heber