Kosher in Alaska: a traveler's guide

HIGHLIGHT · MIKVAH

Mikvahs in Alaska

Yes, Alaska has mikvahs, and the newest is something special.

The new Mat-Su Valley mikvah

On June 30, 2026, the Mat-Su Jewish Center in Palmer, about an hour north of Anchorage, opened a brand new mikvah: one of the northernmost mikvahs in the world, and the first in Alaska outside Anchorage. More than 350 people in the Mat-Su Valley contributed to building it. Rabbi Mendy and Chaya Greenberg run the center; contact them ahead of your visit.

The Mat-Su mikvah

On our trips

Our 8-day family trip spends Shabbat in Palmer, the same town as the new mikvah. If you'd like to use a mikvah during your trip, just ask us.

WHERE TO BUY

Kosher food in Anchorage

Anchorage is the easiest place in Alaska to shop for kosher food. Stock up here before you head out.

• Natural Pantry has a small kosher refrigerator section. On occasion it carries Empire chicken and some Empire meat, but when it's in stock it's expensive: at least twice what it costs in New York.
• Carrs, Safeway, Fred Meyer, Costco and Walmart carry all the standard kosher-certified dry goods.
• Chalav Yisrael and Pas Yisrael are next to impossible to find in Alaska.
• Kosher wine: standard Manischewitz, Barkan and Bartenura wines, including Bartenura Moscato, at Carrs Oaken Keg liquor stores.
• There are no kosher bakeries or places to buy hot kosher food.
• Pre-made meals: some kosher caterers in New York can prepare meals and ship them overnight to Alaska, if you arrange it ahead.

Fairbanks, Juneau and smaller towns

The large supermarkets in Fairbanks and Juneau carry the common kosher-certified brands. In smaller towns and on the road, choices thin out fast, so bring what you need from Anchorage.

Chabad in Alaska

Alaska has three Chabad houses:

• Anchorage: the Lubavitch Jewish Center of Alaska, with a regular minyan on Shabbos and Shabbat meals by reservation. Hotels are nearby.
• Mat-Su Valley, about an hour north of Anchorage in Palmer: the Mat-Su Jewish Center, home of the brand new mikvah.
• Fairbanks: the brand new Fairbanks Jewish Center.

The Alaska Jewish Museum

In midtown Anchorage, the Alaska Jewish Museum tells the story of Jewish life in Alaska, with rotating exhibits and community programs. It's at 1221 E. 35th Avenue, open in the afternoons and closed on Shabbat; check the hours before you go. It makes a good stop on an Anchorage day, before or after your trip.

Shabbat under the midnight sun

In June and July, candle lighting in Anchorage comes late in the evening, and Shabbat ends after midnight. Look up the exact times for your town by zip code on chabad.org. On our trips, in midsummer, we go to sleep after Shabbat and make Havdalah over breakfast on Sunday. How Shabbat works on our trips

Kosher fish in Alaska

Many of Alaska's prized game fish are kosher: halibut, trout, salmon and rockfish. Check out the local fish markets in Anchorage for fresh fish, especially in midsummer. Fishing on our private trips

Kosher tour options in Alaska

1. Kosher cruises. A ship with its own kosher kitchen, stopping in each port for a few hours. Cruises are big productions: they hurry you from one place to the next, without much room to explore, to breathe and to enjoy the places you're in.

2. Alaska Kosher Expeditions. Kosher trips on land, for families all the way to avid backpackers. We hike, we get immersed in the landscape, and we take our time: if you want to stay a few more minutes, there's room to explore. With an expert local guide, you step into Alaska and make the most of your time here. Coming on a cruise? We can plan custom kosher land excursions around it. Custom private trips

Last checked: November 2026