Congregation Or Chadash Kashrut Policy (revised and updated 1/11)
The purpose of this document is to define how Congregation Or Chadash adheres to the laws of kashrut in the purchasing, preparation, and serving of food for events sponsored by the synagogue, congregational affiliated groups, and all private rental parties and caterers that use Or Chadash for both member and non member functions. As a Conservative congregation, linked with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, one of our most sacred obligations is to inspire, teach, and uphold the laws, traditions, values and customs of Judaism. The Mitzvah of Kashrut is one of the basic tenets of Conservative Judaism. While we recognize different members of our community observe Kashrut in different ways, it is our goal to make sure that everyone who enters Congregation Or Chadash, be they members or guests of our community are comfortable in both participating in and eating at all events and programs. These rules and customs that are listed below will apply and will be implemented both at the synagogue and in member homes or in other locations when they are Congregation Or Chadash programs.
Kashrut Supervision
The rabbi is the Congregation Or Chadash Mashgiach. The mashgiach is the one who supervises all Kashrut in the building and approves all food at all events on premises or associated with Congregation Or Chadash.
Guidelines for Events in the Synagogue Building
Congregation Or Chadash’s kitchen is currently a dairy kitchen. Therefore, no meat of any kind is allowed in the kitchen. At this time, as the kitchen is dairy, all events in the synagogue, which require use of our synagogue kitchen (even when using an outside approved kosher caterer) must be dairy or pareve. All caterers must be approved by the rabbi. The kitchen may be turned over for meat from time to time (Passover Seders, Special Shabbat Dinners or Bnai Mitzvah Receptions). If such requests are desired, the kitchen will be kashered accordingly for appropriate use under the rabbi’s supervision, and following the event, the kitchen will be transferred back into its dairy status, also under the rabbi’s supervision.
Guidelines for Foods Allowed in Kitchen
The following products DO NOT require a hechsher (a symbol noted on the item stating that it is kosher.)
• Eggs
• Fresh vegetables and fruit
• Bagged lettuce or vegetables
• Dairy creamer
• Milk and all dairy products (yogurts, ice creams, butters and vegetarian
margarines)
• Grains, nuts, rices, and pastas
• Fresh fish (fins and scales, swordfish is permitted)
• Coffee and tea (Coffee and Tea Urns may be turned on and used for Shabbat)
• Dried fruits
• Soda
• All cheeses
• All juices
• All breads (including bagels)
• All wines and hard alcohol which can be used for social drinking
The following products must have a hechsher (When there is a question as to whether the hechsher is acceptable or not, please consult the rabbi).
• Non-dairy creamer
• Challah for Hamotzi
• Grape juice and Wine for Kiddush
• Powdered drink mixes
• Processed foods (e.g. baked goods, pretzels, candy, crackers, salad dressing, etc.)
Any prepared or processed foods that are not listed should be brought to the rabbi for approval.
Reheating Food on Shabbat
It is forbidden to COOK FOOD on Shabbat. However, if food is already cooked, it is permissible to reheat such food. Our kitchen has an electric oven, and food can be placed and warmed in the oven on Shabbat. The oven temperature is not to exceed 180F degrees. If it does, that constitutes re-cooking, which is forbidden on Shabbat.
Food Prepared Outside the Synagogue
Only dairy or pareve prepared food (including fish) is permissible in the synagogue. Congregation Or Chadash permits dairy or pareve food prepared and cooked in a private home or in a restaurant, subject to the rabbi’s approval. However, food prepared in homes or restaurants without the rabbi’s approval is NOT allowed in the Or Chadash building. If food is prepared in congregant homes, the appropriate serving utensils and pans should be disposable so when finished with food, they can be put into garbage receptacles without the need for cleaning or storage. Any food brought into the synagogue building from a non-kosher restaurant or home is not to be brought into the Or Chadash kitchen.
Kosher Caterers
The following is a list of approved Kosher Caterers and locations that are permitted into Congregation Or Chadash’s kitchen to prepare for both member and non member functions as of 1/3/11:
Simply Scrumptious
Gourmet Touch
Karsh’s Bakery
Levi’s Catering
Nir Joels Catering
Chompie’s Kosher Catering
Imperial Kosher
Segal’s
King Solomon’s Pizza
Fresh Mint
Scottsdale Kosher Market
Any other caterers that deem themselves as Kosher and are not on this list must go through the rabbi for approval.
Friday Night Shabbat Sensitivity at Ongei Shabbat
Due to many of our services taking place after Shabbat dinner, many of our congregants have dinner before. With respect for what people eat for dinner and to enable individuals to know what we serve at Ongei Shabbat, all processed foods will be clearly labeled as dairy, pareve, and sugar free. It is with this sensitivity that those who wish to partake may do so.
Passover
For Passover, the kitchen shall be kashered for the holiday. Only Passover hechshered food products are allowed in the synagogue during this time with the exception of unopened dairy products and fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, fish, coffee and tea. Fruits and vegetables must be cut and prepared in the kitchen. With rabbinic supervision, unopened dairy products may be brought into the synagogue kitchen, but they must all be purchased BEFORE PESACH BEGINS or they must be hechshered for Pesach. NO FOOD is permitted in the building from any home (congregant or non congregant) during the holiday of Passover.
Kashrut Guidelines for Events Held Outside the Synagogue
This applies to Havurah, Socialite, Youth Group, Religious School and all other events affiliated with Congregation Or Chadash.
Non-kosher home – The event must be dairy, vegetarian OR must be catered by an approved kosher caterer listed above or another caterer may be used subject to the rabbi’s approval.
Kosher home – subject to the rabbi’s approval, the event can be meat, dairy, vegetarian OR catered by an approved kosher caterer listed above or another caterer may be used subject to the rabbi’s approval.
Restaurant – All food eaten must be either dairy or vegetarian. Meat may be purchased and eaten in Kosher Restaurants only that have a Te’udah (A Kosher Certificate on Premises).
Public places (i.e. baseball game) – If Kosher food is available for purchase, this is acceptable. If it is not, Congregation Or Chadash members will be asked to purchase and eat only dairy and vegetarian options.
Any further questions that are raised and the answers are not provided in this document must be brought to the rabbi for further exploration and resolution.
