Congregation
Netivot Shalom Kashrut Policy
Adopted: Kislev 5769 / December
2008
For
any question of Kashrut, please contact Rabbi Creditor.
Kavanah / Our Approach: The term "kosher" is a
statement of purposefulness. Torah Scrolls, food, and choices can be
"kosher" (or not). This document deals primarily with our
food guidelines but reflects the larger approach of healthy & holy living
we teach and live at Netivot Shalom. In other words, our integrated
commitments to ethical, environmental, and ritual elevation are Kashrut standards
by which we abide as a community. While individual members of the
congregation have a wide variety of observances in their own homes, we have
adopted the following rules as our kashrut policy for events, and expect everyone
who purchases or prepares food for shul functions to follow this Kashrut
policy.
Note: Netivot
Shalom allows only dairy and pareve food at events held on our premises.
ALL processed food products need to
have a recognized hechsher* (Kashrut certification). A hechsher is a
symbol of approval stamped on the packaging of a product, which certifies that
the facility manufacturing the product is under supervision of a rabbi who
attests to the kashrut of the product. The only exception to this rule is
hard cheese. All wine, juices, and purchased baked goods must have
a hechsher. *Note: If a label has simply the
letter "K", that alone does not signify that a product has a
recognized hechsher. The hechsher with the symbol "Tablet K" 
is
not acceptable.
is
not acceptable.
Kashrut Standards for the Synagogue
Kitchen: Netivot
Shalom members are welcome to cook pareve and dairy meals in the synagogue
kitchen, provided all ingredients adhere to our kashrut standards. We
encourage members to cook together and to use the synagogue kitchen to prepare
food for Netivot Shalom functions. This is one way we build community and share
fun experiences together!
Kashrut
Standards for Food Cooked in a Member's Home for a Synagogue Event in the
Synagogue or Elsewhere:
If you keep a kosher kitchen: You can
bring dairy or pareve food cooked in your home that adheres to
our kashrut standards using hechshered ingredients where
required. If your home is kosher and you keep "ingredient kosher", or
if your home is vegan or vegetarian, use only hechshered ingredients
when preparing food for community use and prepare and bring them in new
recyclable/disposable containers. You are responsible for determining that your
kitchen is kosher. Feel free to approach Rabbi Creditor with any
questions.
If you do not yet keep a kosher kitchen: You can still bring food cooked or baked in your kitchen by using hechshered ingredients and by following these guidelines, (which, in effect, describe how easy it truly is to have a kosher kitchen):
§ Begin by creating a separate space in your
kitchen by scrubbing and cleaning your work area.
§ Use only new utensils, pots, pans, and
cutlery.
§ Stovetop Cooking: You may cook on an
electric or gas stove, using a new or kosher pot.
§ Microwave Cooking: You may cook in
a microwave after kashering it by cleaning the inside thoroughly and then
bringing a glass of water in it to a boil.
§ Baking: You may bake in the oven, after
running the cleaning cycle. If the oven does not have a cleaning cycle, you can
clean it thoroughly and run it at its highest temperature setting for 15
minutes prior to cooking.
§ Cleaning: Use only new sponges when cleaning
implements.
§ Transporting: Foods should be brought to shul
in new recyclable/disposable containers. Food should not be transported
on Shabbat or Holidays.
§ For Kashering one’s home kitchen
- MAZAL TOV!! - please contact Rabbi Creditor.