Kashrut and Kiddush at Kehillat Israel – November 2021

The Kehillat Israel kitchen is a kosher dairy kitchen—absolutely NO meat products may be used. People bringing food into the kitchen are responsible for ensuring that the ingredients contain no animal products except eggs, butter, milk, or other dairy item. Any package marked with a kashrut hechsher identifying the contents as “Pareve” or “Dairy” is acceptable to use. If there is no kashrut mark, careful examination of the label must be performed to make sure there is no non-dairy animal component in the product (e.g., chicken broth, lard, animal fat).

Covid KI Kiddush Guidelines

Starting in the summer of 2021, the KI kiddush is to be minimal due to Covid guidelines from the KI Reopening Committee and Executive Board. All food served is to be individually packaged. The Executive Board voted to allow a simple, no contact kiddush either at the outdoor picnic tables or the indoor social hall tables. People are to remain masked when not eating, and chairs are to be set socially distant from each other with no person in close proximity with another. Masks are to be worn except to take a sip of wine or juice and take a bite of challah.

          The person setting up the kiddush is to wear disposable gloves. A slice of challah can be served in an individual baggie. Juice and wine should be poured using this same sanitary procedure.

          Filtered water is available from the hallway dispenser.

When kiddush is over:

• Wash, wipe, and put away all dishes and trays. (Cabinets and drawers are labeled with categories of items to be stored in each.)
• Clean counters and stovetop, wipe up around sink, use disinfectant spray with paper towels.
• Run garbage disposal.
• Reline trash cans. (Extra trash can liners are in the top drawer directly under the dish drainer or at the bottom of the trash can.)
• Take the trash to the dumpsters in back of the building.

We are hoping to return to normal kiddush practice when approved by the Reopening Committee and the Executive Board.

 

KI Kiddush Guidelines — Pre-Covid

In normal circumstances, volunteers keep the kitchen stocked with ritual items of wine, juice, and challah. In addition, supplies of butter, cream cheese, and staples such as coffee, tea, sugar, etc. are maintained, along with cleaning supplies and disposable table coverings, plates, cups, knives, forks, spoons, and serving utensils.

In normal kiddush settings, the meal is potluck; volunteers set out the necessary items for serving the meal (details posted in the kitchen) and set up the coffee and hot water for tea.

Attendees are encouraged to help with clean-up after the meal. Clean-up includes putting dishes away and taking used dishtowels home to be washed and returned within two weeks.

Saturday kiddush can range from very simple to as elaborate as you wish.  Set-up for kiddush can be done as early as 10:00 am or as late as 11:30 am. Typically, the service concludes between noon and 12:15 pm. If you wish to set up earlier, contact a kitchen coordinator.

In 2017, individuals signed up to be the kitchen coordinator for a particular week. When we again have normal kiddushes, we will return to having a kiddush coordinator.  [Link to “Kitchen Coordinator” document].

Do not use items labeled “Rabbi” or “KIRS.”  Challah and sometimes cream cheese and butter are stored in the freezer. At times, leftover bagels may also be found in the freezer.

If you are having a special event and will have a large group of visitors for a meeting, program, or simcha, please provide paper goods, paper cups, wine, wine cups, and plastic utensils for the event.

Those providing a Saturday kiddush are responsible for: setting up two tables, end to end, for the food buffet with appropriate paper goods and plastic tableware; plugging in a hot water heater (brewing coffee is an option if served in addition to hot water); and pouring wine and grape juice into one-ounce cups. The KI kitchen has plenty of serving bowls, trays, service pieces, and flatware.

On a regular shabbat, plan food for 20-25 people. If a special event or school shabbat is scheduled, expect more people and perhaps ask for RSVPs.

Smaller meetings at KI that may involve food rely on attendees to plan what food to bring and for set up and clean up. Large events at KI such as bar/bat mitzvahs are generally facilitated by hiring help in the kitchen at the host’s expense.

Basic kiddush — The amounts listed are for 20 people.

Please try to provide a few non-dairy dishes for those who are lactose-intolerant.

• Kosher wine in one-ounce plastic cups for 3/4 of those attending
• Grape juice for 1/4 of those attending
• One challah
• Two doz. bagels
• Cream cheese and butter
• 1-2 packages of sliced cheese
• Trays of vegetables: sliced tomatoes, onions, peppers, cucumbers, etc.
• Salad(s): green salad or pasta salad
• Dessert such as cookies, cake, or brownies (read labels – no animal shortening)

Some folks add the following: Feel free to be as creative as you wish!)

• Cold or hot soup
• Kugel or veggie quiche
• Veggie casserole/lasagna
• Lox, herring, smoked fish of any kind
• Tuna salad, egg salad
• Homemade desserts

When kiddush is over:

• Wash, wipe, and put away all dishes and silverware. (Cabinets and drawers are labeled with categories of items to be stored in each.)
• Clean counters and stovetop, wipe up around sink.
• Run garbage disposal.
• Unplug coffee machines and electric kettle.
• Turn off the oven.
• Clean up spills in the microwave.
• Reline trash cans. (Extra trash can liners are in the top drawer directly under the dish drainer or at the bottom of the trash can.)
• Take the trash to the dumpsters in back of the building.
• Take home used towels/linens to be washed and return them within two weeks.
• Report any inventory needs (paper plates, cups, plastic tableware, wine, grape juice, coffee, tea, half & half, challah, cream cheese, butter) by e-mailing the KI Office Manager, who will forward the message to the appropriate person.