Kashruth Policy As Jews, We Have Always Been Known for Our Hospitality
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Kashruth Policy As Jews, we have always been known for our hospitality. Visitors have always been welcome to our homes and to our synagogues. It is important that the standard of Kashruth observed in the Temple Kitchen be such that every Jew will be able to sit at our table without any hesitation or question. Therefore, the following rules for the use of our Kitchen have been approved by the Rabbi and the Board of Trustees. Dairy Foods Prepared at Home Only dairy foods may be prepared at home and brought to the Temple. They shall not be heated or served on Temple dishes and pots. All service shall be on disposable plates using disposable utensils. In preparing food, use only glass utensils and dishes, as well as mixing and measuring utensils set aside for Temple use. It is preferable that metal containers not be used. We suggest the use of recyclable, disposable aluminum baking sheets, etc. All ingredients used for preparing food for the Temple shall either be marked with an approved Kashruth symbol, or appear on the Temple’s list of approved foods, stores, and bakeries. Dairy Foods Prepared at the Temple or by an Approved Caterer These foods shall be prepared by a caterer approved by the Rabbi, on Temple plates and equipment, or on dishes specifically approved by the Rabbi for this purpose. All ingredients used in preparing food for the Temple shall either be marked with an approved Kashruth symbol, or appear on the Temple’s list of approved foods, stores, and bakeries. Meat Meals Prepared at the Temple or by an Approved Caterer All meat must be kosher. The Rabbi is to be notified at least one week before an affair of the menu and of the supplier of the Kosher meat. These foods shall be prepared on the Temple’s meat dishes and equipment or on meat dishes specifically approved by the Rabbi for this purpose. Glass, Pyrex or similar glass-like materials approved by the Rabbi must be used. All ingredients used in preparing food for the Temple shall either be marked with an approved Kashruth symbol, or appear on the Temple’s list of approved foods, stores, and bakeries. IN ADDITION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT NONE OF THESE PRODUCTS BE DAIRY. If any questions or problems arise in connection with these policies, the Rabbi should be consulted. The names of approved caterers may also be obtained from the Rabbi. Please feel free to call. General Rules All ingredients used in preparing food for the Temple shall either be marked with an approved Kashruth symbol, or appear on the Temple’s list of approved foods, stores, and bakeries. In all cases, it is preferable to utilize packaged goods or store-bought items prepared under rabbinical supervision rather than home-cooked or baked items. You may want to consider working in the Temple Kitchen and using our utensils. If any questions or problems arise in connection with these policies, the Rabbi should be consulted. The last 2 pages show some of the many symbols indicating that a product is certified by some rabbinical authority. The symbols have been enlarged here for clarification: In order to aid the congregation, a list of some brand names of products displaying these symbols is attached. The individual package used should always have one of the symbols shown on the attached pages. Products made by the following companies are considered Kosher (check if item is pareve or dairy): Carmel, Croyden-House, Elite, Goodmans, Horowitz-Margaretan, Kedem, Lieber’sManischewitz, Migdal, Miller’s, Mother’s Osem, Paskesz, Rokeach, Streits, Telma. Many local store brands (P & C-Sunny Square, Tops& Wegmans for example) are under rabbinical supervision. Baked Goods may be purchased from the following: In Syracuse - (under the supervision of the VaadHa’Ir, Syracuse): Harrison Bakery (315-422-1468) All breads end rolls are Pareve. Pareve cakes and cookies may be special ordered in advance. All other cakes are Dairy. In Rochester - Malek’s Bakery (585-461-1720), delivers monthly. KOSHER FOODS (DAIRY AND PAREVE ONLY) Special Foods The following items are acceptable for use in the Temple though lacking specific Kosher markings. These items have been approved specifically by the Rabbi AND THE Temple Board of Trustees. Additional items may be submitted to the Rabbi for his approval: --All fresh, liquid milk (whole, skim, buttermilk, etc.), butter. --Eggs without blood-spots. The entire egg must be destroyed if a blood-spot has been found. --All fresh and frozen fish. (The fish may not be treated, cooked or breaded in anyway). All fish must have fins and scales. According to the Conservative Rabbinical Authorities, this includes swordfish and sturgeon. --All aged, ripened cheeses such as cheddar, swiss, gouda, etc., manufactured in the United States, are acceptable. Fresh cheeses such as cottage, cream, ricotta, etc. must have Kosher marking. Similarly, all processed cheeses and cheese foods must have a Kosher marking. As it is now possible to obtain cheeses produced under Supervision, this should always be the preference. (See Kosher Product Guide for further details.) --Canned vegetables and fruits that do not contain tomatoes, beans, or grapes as an ingredient, are acceptable. They shall also be acceptable if the vegetables and fruits contain only the following ingredients: salt, sugar, water, corn syrup, dextrose, invert sugar, honey. --The following items are acceptable: corn meal, corn starch, cream-style corn, flour, plain oatmeal, rice, butter. The Use of the Temple Kitchen for Special Events 1. When planning an event which involves the use of the Temple Kitchen, the following people should be notified: The Temple Office, the Rabbi, and the Kitchen Coordinator, who will in turn notify the Temple Custodian. The Custodian, should be informed in writing regarding the nature of the celebration, the set-up you require, and whether you will need dairy or meat utensils and dishes available. 2. You will find that the cabinets and drawers are marked: meat, dairy, pareve, etc. Most of the utensils and pots and pans are also marked accordingly. Do not leave your study of the kitchen for the last minute. You should make a thorough study of the kitchen at least two weeks in advance of your celebration. You will find it much easier to work in the kitchen if you are familiar with the layout. 3. If you are using the Temple’s serving trays, please cover them with a solid doily or with plastic wrap. When in doubt, use the glass trays. 4. Even if the custodian is going to clean up, please try to leave the premises as neat as possible, dishes scraped and stacked, cutlery soaking, serving pieces neatly stacked, etc. It makes his job, and that of others using the kitchen, much easier. Inform the custodian in writing if dishes and utensils are meat, dairy or pareve. The Use of the Temple Kitchen for Special Events (cont’d) 5. Above all, if you have a problem or a question, call the Rabbi. He will be happy to help you in any way he can. Kosher Product Guide This is only a partial list of kosher products available in local supermarkets. Please be sure to check the package for a Kashruth marking. The status may have changed. If you are in doubt, please do not hesitate to call Rabbi Glass. Thank you. In some cases, a product listed with a particular certification may be supervised by that certifier only at one of several manufacturing plants. The products manufactured at other plants may be under different certification, or not certified at all. Always check the package label for the mark of certification, and consult the Rabbi for details. In certain cases, some varieties may be pareve and some dairy. Incomplete information and limited space have made it impossible to list all varieties. Check the label on each variety of a listed product. When in doubt, consult the Rabbi. The dairy/pareve status of a listed product is always subject to change due to change of ingredients by the manufacturer. In many instances, the dairy/pareve status could not be ascertained, and no status is listed. Always check the label before purchase or use, and consult the Rabbi for specific information. Manufacturers may drop, add, or change certification abruptly. Always check the package label. We make no claim to completeness. Many products which are certified kosher have been omitted. (A Partial List) Kosher Product Guide Baking Products: Gold Medal, Pillsbury, Robin Hood Chili Sauce: Heinz Frostings, Icings: Duncan Hines (some are dairy), Fats, Oils, Dressings Pillsbury (dairy) Baking Chocolate: Baker’s, Hershey’s, Nestles Dressings: Cains, Hidden Valley (some varieties), Ken’s (not Red Wine & Vinegar), Pfeiffer (not Red Wine & Vinegar), Seven Seas Baking Powder: Davis Margarines—Dairy: Blue Bonnet, Fleischmann’s, Imperial Baking Soda: Arm & Hammer Margarines: Kraft (Parkay), Land O’Lakes, Mazola, Mrs. Filbert’s, Shedd’s Chocolate Chips: Hershey, Nestle Margarines—Pareve: Fleischmann’s (green box), Mazola (white & green box), Mother’s, Mrs. Filbert’s Family Spread, Parkay Light Corn Oil Spread, Parkay Light Spread, Weight Watcher’s Corn Starch: Argo Mayonnaise: Hellmann’s, Kraft, Weight Watcher’s Coconut: Baker Oils: Crisco, Hollywood, Mazola, Planters, Puritan, Sunlite, Wesson Mixes: Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines Shortenings: Crisco, Sprays, Mazola (dairy), Pam Pie & Dessert Fillings: French’s, Hunt’s, Lucky Leaf, Bagels: Fleischer’s, Lender’s, Thomas’s, Minute, Royal, Solo Ready-Made Doughs: Apollo, Oronoque Orchards Breads: Abel’s, Arnold, Bellacicco, Freihofer’s, Kaufman’s, Land O’Lakes, Rubschlager’s, Stroehman Yeast: Fleischmann Crackers: Generic,