Kashrut Policy

Category: ResourcesNetivot Shalom Kashrut Policy - June 2006
For members of Congregation Netivot Shalom Berkeley, CA

Basic Principles

At Netivot Shalom, we base our kashrut policy on halacha (Jewish law). At Netivot Shalom we trust all of our members to abide by our community's interpretations of halacha when preparing food for the community.

The observance of kashrut is one path through which Jews express our relationship with the Holy. Keeping kosher serves as a way of sanctifying our eating and our daily life. In keeping with that spirit, our congregation approaches our observance of the laws of kashrut with trust, mutual respect, and the fact that we come together as a Conservative congregation.

While individual members of the congregation may have a wide variety of observances in their own homes, we have adopted the following principles as our kashrut policy for communal events. We expect our members to meet these standards whenever they are preparing or providing food for the community. If others who are not members wish to bake or cook, it is up to the Netivot Shalom member who is sponsoring the kiddush or the event to ensure that our policies are followed.

Commercially processed food products need to have a recognized hechsher (rabbinic certification).

While many foods (in addition to those listed below) such as fruits and vegetables do not need a hechsher, all commercially processed foods brought into our shul do require a
hechsher. In the past, we have considered products to be kosher simply by reading the
ingredients on the labels. From what we have recently learned, this is simply not an
accurate record of the contents of the product nor is this a guarantee that the product has
been manufactured according to our standards of kashrut. This is why we are now requiring
processed products to have a hechsher. A hechsher is a symbol of rabbinic 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. A list of
some of those products which do and do not require a hechsher is found below. At the
moment, if a label has simply the letter K, that letter standing alone does not signify that a
product has a recognized hechsher since it often does not indicate a supervising rabbi.
Also, the hechsher with the symbol Tablet K was found by the Rabbinical Assembly not to be recommended.

Netivot Shalom allows only dairy and pareve food at events held on our premises.

Kashrut requires separating foods into broad categories of permitted and prohibited. Within
the realm of permissible foods, kashrut requires the separation of dairy and meat products.
In order to require a minimum of supervision and stress regarding food production, all
Netivot Shalom events and functions are to be strictly dairy/pareve when held at our
building. Should the congregation wish to hold a Kosher fleishig (meat) event, it may be
held at another location (such as a barbeque at a park or a tailgate party). Fish is
considered to be pareve. During Passover, additional kashrut regulations apply. This
document does not cover kashrut policies for Passover.

Netivot Shalom follows Conservative kashrut standards.

In addition, Netivot Shalom adheres to the kashrut standards defined by the Committee of
Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement. We
adhere to the following standards of kashrut for community functions:

Milk and other pure dairy products do not require a hechsher. Cheese also
does not require a hechsher. All commercially produced cheeses, including those that use
rennet as a curdling agent, are kosher.

Grape products do not require a hechsher. For the kiddush (blessing over
wine) or for other ritual purposes, it is preferable to use wine or grape juice with a hechsher
or that which comes from Israel.

Gelatin is considered a davar chadash -- an entirely new substance -- that
does not affect the kashrut of the product.

Commonly available kosher fish with fins and scales include salmon, tuna,
whitefish, halibut, herring, trout, bass, mahi mahi, and tilapia. The Committee on Jewish
Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly has deemed swordfish kosher. Catfish and
marlin are commonly available fish that are not kosher. Kosher fish is considered pareve
and can be eaten with dairy meals.

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 and they are brought to
the synagogue in their original packaging or in new, disposable containers. We encourage
members to cook together and to use the synagogue kitchen to prepare food for Netivot
Shalom functions. This is one way to build community.

To ensure the kashrut standards of our community, the kitchen will be locked at all times
with the keys available only from specifically designated individuals (mashgichim) and/or
our Executive Director who will be trained to assist and answer questions of kashrut.

Non-members or outside groups may use our kitchen provided they arrange for the services
of one of Netivot Shalom's approved mashgichim.

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", use only hechshered ingredients when preparing food for
community use and bring them in disposable containers. You are responsible for
determining that your kitchen is kosher. Feel free to approach the rabbi or Netivot Shalom's
Kashrut Coordinator or mashgichim with any questions.

Even if your home is completely vegetarian (or vegan), use only hechshered ingredients when preparing food for synagogue programs.

If you do not have a kosher kitchen:

You can still bring food cooked or baked in your kitchen by using hechshered ingredients
and by following these guidelines.

Begin by creating a separate space in your kitchen by covering your work area with a clean
cloth, foil, or cooking parchment.

Use only new or kosher utensils, pots, and pans. Netivot Shalom has a kosher kit, which
members may borrow. You may use the synagogue kosher kit or use new and/or
disposable utensils, pots, and pans.

Stovetop Cooking: You may cook on an electric or gas stove, using a new or kosher pot.

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. Place a new plastic container in
the sink to do the washing of these implements.

Transporting: Foods should be brought to shul in new, disposable containers.

A scrupulously washed knife (with a non-wooden handle) may be used to cut fruit,
vegetables, pickles, etc. on a clean covered surface and served on kosher or disposable
trays.

Kashering Ones Kitchen: This is a separate and individual matter. Please address all
questions to the rabbi or the Kashrut Coordinator. We are always here to assist.

Better still, come to the shul's kitchen and bake and cook together!

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Kashrut Policy