For Americans who moved to Israel, Thanksgiving is the holiday that doesn't come with them. There is no day off, the office is open, and half the friends you'd want at the table have never celebrated it. Family is 7 to 10 hours behind. So the table here is usually a Friendsgiving: Americans, other olim, Israeli partners and colleagues, and a video call home.
One thing to say plainly before anything else: Ezra's menu is dairy-vegetarian. There is no turkey. What there is: a long evening of sharing plates from the taboon, a gratitude toast, and the people you chose to spend the holiday with.
The date: Thursday 26 November 2026
A working day here
Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, and in 2026 that is 26 November. In Israel it's a normal working Thursday, so plan an evening, starting between 19:00 and 20:00 and running to midnight. Guests come straight from work, and nobody has to take a day off.
Book ahead for Thursday
Thursday is the most requested night of the week in Tel Aviv. If you want the holiday itself, book 4 to 6 weeks ahead.
The weekend after
If Thursday is taken or the guests can't do a weeknight, Friday noon on 27 November or Saturday evening on 28 November work well. Friday noon (shishi tzohorayim) is a real party slot here, and it suits guests with children.
| Option | Date | Hours | Works for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The holiday itself | Thu 26 Nov | 19:30 to 00:00 | Americans who want the real day |
| Friday noon | Fri 27 Nov | 13:00 to 17:00 | Families and guests with kids |
| Saturday evening | Sat 28 Nov | 20:00 to 00:00 | A long, relaxed evening |
No turkey: a vegetarian Friendsgiving
The menu at Ezra is sharing-style and dairy-vegetarian, from the taboon, a stone oven: no meat, no fish or seafood. If turkey is the part of the holiday you can't give up, it's better to know now. If what you miss is the long table and the people around it, a vegetarian Friendsgiving gives you all of that.
Ask the team about autumn flavours when you plan the menu. Plates that come to the table to share keep the feeling of a family meal, where everyone passes things down the table.
7 ideas for the evening
1. A gratitude toast
One host, one microphone, 2 minutes: why this group, why this year. It sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
2. A 'what I'm thankful for in Israel' round
Every guest gets 30 seconds, or a card to write on. For olim it turns into something specific: the neighbour who helped with the move, the first Hebrew conversation that worked, the friend who explained the bureaucracy. For 40 guests, do it on cards and read the best ones aloud.
3. One minute of explaining for the Israelis
Israeli friends know Thanksgiving from TV. A one-minute version from the host, what the day means at home and what your family did, makes them part of it instead of guests at someone else's holiday.
4. American football on the projector
The US afternoon games land in the Tel Aviv evening, so the projector and fold-out screen can carry the game with sound through the room. Agree in advance whether it's the background or the main event, and bring the stream on a laptop.
5. A call home
Family on the US East Coast is usually 7 hours behind, so at 20:00 in Tel Aviv it's early afternoon there, before their own dinner. A 10-minute live call on the big screen lets both tables wave at each other.
6. A long table
Ask for one long table, or a few pushed together, rather than separate groups. Thanksgiving is the one meal where everyone sits together.
7. A playlist from home
The songs that played in your parents' kitchen. Send it to the team before the evening and it plays through the room's sound system.
Before you send the invitation
- Pick Thursday, Friday noon or Saturday night
- Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead for Thursday
- Say 'vegetarian Friendsgiving' on the invitation
- Tell guests who keep kosher about the kitchen
- Ask for one long table
- Arrange the call home and test it
- Bring the game stream on a laptop
- Prepare cards for the gratitude round
Ezra for Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving
One group per event
Ezra is a private event space in Tel Aviv that closes for one group per event, so the long table is only yours.
20 to 50 guests, up to 60
Most groups are 20 to 50 guests, with up to 60. A smaller table of 15 to 30 gets a seated layout.
Projector, screen and two microphones
A projector and fold-out screen, two microphones and a PA with two main speakers, a subwoofer, four monitors and a mixer are in the room, for the toast, the game and the call home.
Dairy-vegetarian menu, no kashrut certificate
The menu is sharing-style and dairy-vegetarian, with no meat, fish or seafood, so there is no turkey. Ezra has no kashrut certificate and is open on Shabbat, so tell any guests who keep kosher early.
An English-speaking team
The team speaks English. See the formats on events at Ezra, and if someone at the table has a big birthday coming up, the milestone birthday guide covers celebrating with people in two countries.
The bottom line
Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday 26 November, a working day in Israel, so it's an evening event from about 19:30. Thursday books up first, so reserve 4 to 6 weeks ahead, or take Friday noon or Saturday night that weekend. At Ezra it's a vegetarian Friendsgiving: no turkey, but the long table, the gratitude toast and the call home.
A vegetarian Friendsgiving for up to 60 guests
Sharing plates from the taboon, a bar, a projector for the game and the call home, and an English-speaking team. A proposal within 24 hours.
See events at Ezra Ask on WhatsAppFrequently asked questions
When is Thanksgiving 2026 in Israel?
Thursday 26 November 2026, the fourth Thursday of November. In Israel it's a regular working day, so a celebration here is usually an evening event.
Is there Thanksgiving in Israel?
Not as a public holiday. Offices and schools are open as usual. Americans in Israel celebrate in the evening, or move the dinner to Friday noon or Saturday evening that weekend.
Where to have Thanksgiving dinner in Tel Aviv without turkey?
Ezra, a private event space in Tel Aviv, hosts a vegetarian Friendsgiving for 20 to 50 guests, up to 60. The menu is dairy-vegetarian with no meat, fish or seafood, so there is no turkey.
Can we watch American football at the party?
Yes. The projector, fold-out screen and sound system are in the room. Bring the stream on a laptop, since the US afternoon games fall in the Tel Aviv evening.
How far ahead to book a Thanksgiving dinner in Tel Aviv?
4 to 6 weeks for Thursday 26 November, because Thursday is the most requested night in Tel Aviv. Friday noon or Saturday evening that weekend are the alternatives.